Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Curacao Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Curacao

Name: Curacao
Address: CW

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,543 per month in Costa Rica vs $637 in Curacao, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,324 per month in Costa Rica vs $955 in Curacao, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,105 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,272 in Curacao, rent included.

Costa Rica costs about 142% more than Curacao on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 15% above the global median, while Curacao is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.97 ₡4,535

$16.11 ANG 28.76

-38.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.4 ₡27.0K

$79.5 ANG 142

-25.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 ₡4,432

$9.90 ANG 17.68

-1.62%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,791

$3.74 ANG 6.68

5.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₡959

$2.94 ANG 5.26

-28.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡752

$1.77 ANG 3.16

-6.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ₡1,327

$5.82 ANG 10.39

-49.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 ₡1,996

$4.98 ANG 8.89

-11.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ₡940

$1.71 ANG 3.05

21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,441

$2.38 ANG 4.24

33.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,098

$2.66 ANG 4.75

-9.40%

Eggs

$3.34 ₡1,518

$3.69 ANG 6.59

-9.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 ₡4,202

$9.68 ANG 17.28

-4.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.40 ₡4,276

$7.87 ANG 14.04

19.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ₡6,169

$9.76 ANG 17.42

38.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 ₡2,037

$4.96 ANG 8.86

-9.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₡708

$3.23 ANG 5.76

-51.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.36 ₡1,527

$2.98 ANG 5.32

12.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.08 ₡1,401

$4.33 ANG 7.72

-28.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 ₡1,316

$3.00 ANG 5.36

-3.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₡1,301

$2.76 ANG 4.93

3.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡467

$2.27 ANG 4.06

-54.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₡1,145

$2.02 ANG 3.60

24.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 ₡2,227

$8.25 ANG 14.73

-40.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.18 ₡7,359

$14.07 ANG 25.12

15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 ₡1,086

$2.57 ANG 4.59

-7.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ₡1,264

$3.31 ANG 5.91

-16.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₡428

$1.77 ANG 3.15

-46.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.22 ₡22.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡848

$24.71 ANG 44.11

-92.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 ₡916

$2.60 ANG 4.63

-22.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 ₡3,461

$50.7 ANG 90.4

-84.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₡686

$1.26 ANG 2.25

19.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.3K ₡16.5M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.7K ₡16.2M

$19.1K ANG 34.1K

86.74%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.7 ₡40.4K

$237 ANG 423

-62.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.67 ₡11.7K

$80.2 ANG 143

-67.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 ₡24.5K

$66.5 ANG 119

-19.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₡26.2K

$57.8 ANG 103

-0.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.09 ₡13.2K

$63.7 ANG 114

-54.36%

Cinema Ticket

$9.00 ₡4,095

$8.83 ANG 15.77

1.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$544 ₡247.4K

$273 ANG 488

99.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K ₡4.6M

$9,322 ANG 16.6K

7.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.3 ₡33.8K

$89.5 ANG 160

-17.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.2 ₡24.2K

$92.1 ANG 164

-42.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₡54.5K

$144 ANG 258

-16.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₡45.8K

$107 ANG 191

-5.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ₡363.1K

$794 ANG 1,418

0.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₡243.0K

$579 ANG 1,034

-7.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ₡686.5K

$1,723 ANG 3,075

-12.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 ₡473.5K

$1,177 ANG 2,101

-11.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,382 ₡1.1M

$843 ANG 1,506

182.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,603 ₡728.9K

$168 ANG 300

854.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,062 ₡482.9K

$1,262 ANG 2,253

-15.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.53

5.19

102.89%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Costa Rica: June 1, 2026

Last update for Curacao: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $776 in Costa Rica vs $181 in Curacao. For reference, capital cities sit at $879 in San Jose and $724 in Willemstad.

Average salary: $1,098 in Costa Rica vs $1,238 in Curacao. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 329% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 183% more in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 13% higher in Curacao, giving Curacao stronger purchasing power.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Costa Rica vs Curacao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Curacao is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 71% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Costa Rica, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Costa Rica consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Curacao, contributing to the overall 71% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Curacao, but in Costa Rica it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Curacao is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.