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

🙂 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 11.3% cheaper than Germany without rent, and 28.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 12.5% cheaper than Germany without rent, and 23.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Germany
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,833
$17.11 €14.78
-43.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.3K
$74.9 €64.7
-21.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 ₡4,957
$11.47 €9.91
-13.69%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₡1,954
$4.01 €3.46
-2.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 ₡1,100
$3.33 €2.88
-33.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡827
$2.89 €2.5
-42.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,517
$5.24 €4.52
-42.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,278
$4.58 €3.95
-0.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Germany
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₡1,033
$1.26 €1.08
63.49%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$2.19 €1.89
39.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 ₡1,261
$3.46 €2.99
-27.17%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,646
$3.79 €3.28
-13.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,650
$14.73 €12.72
-36.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 ₡4,775
$13.83 €11.94
-31.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 ₡6,808
$19.93 €17.21
-31.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 ₡2,337
$3.18 €2.75
46.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡782
$1.79 €1.55
-12.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 ₡1,672
$2.32 €2
43.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$4.73 €4.09
-36.36%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,524
$1.58 €1.37
92.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$1.62 €1.4
75.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡506
$1.86 €1.6
-45.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,273
$1.07 €0.92
137.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,434
$9.84 €8.5
-50.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 ₡7,442
$6.85 €5.92
117.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,137
$1.1 €0.95
106.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₡1,366
$1.7 €1.46
60.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Germany
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡476
$3.68 €3.18
-74.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 ₡24.8K
$68 €58.7
-27.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡904
$5.87 €5.07
-69.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 ₡969
$2.23 €1.92
-13.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 ₡3,850
$37.69 €32.54
-79.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡735
$1.97 €1.7
-25.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₡18.7M
$31.7K €27.4K
18.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡17.4M
$37.3K €32.2K
-6.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Germany
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 ₡43.5K
$350 €302
-75.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.7K
$27.07 €23.37
-5.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 ₡27.4K
$51.9 €44.83
5.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Germany
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡28.9K
$40.64 €35.09
42.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 ₡14.2K
$24.54 €21.19
15.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₡4,546
$14.15 €12.22
-35.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Germany
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 ₡275.9K
$463 €400
19.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 ₡4.9M
$15.1K €13K
-34.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Germany
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 ₡36.2K
$94.4 €81.5
-23.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 ₡27.6K
$43.6 €37.65
26.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₡59.3K
$100 €86.7
17.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₡52.1K
$133 €115
-21.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Germany
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡408.8K
$1,042 €900
-21.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 ₡269.6K
$765 €660
-29.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 ₡748.3K
$1,909 €1,648
-21.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ₡510.2K
$1,445 €1,247
-29.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 ₡1.3M
$6,341 €5,475
-60.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 ₡693K
$4,896 €4,227
-71.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Germany
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.8K
$3,362 €2,903
-70.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
3.98
164.57%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Germany: October 29, 2025

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