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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,538 per month in Costa Rica vs $501 in Grenada, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,321 per month in Costa Rica vs $775 in Grenada, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,103 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,048 in Grenada, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 207% higher than in Grenada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 15% above the global median, while Grenada is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83 ₡4,428
$8.40 EC$22.67
17.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4 ₡26.7K
$80.5 EC$217
-26.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.08 ₡4,544
$11.08 EC$29.92
-9.03%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,749
$3.86 EC$10.42
0.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₡977
$1.69 EC$4.58
28.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡742
$1.26 EC$3.41
30.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.02 ₡1,362
$1.90 EC$5.14
58.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 ₡1,977
$3.04 EC$8.21
44.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.07 ₡933
$4.01 EC$10.82
-48.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,389
$1.76 EC$4.76
75.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 ₡1,080
$1.99 EC$5.38
20.60%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,484
$4.30 EC$11.62
-23.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.04 ₡4,072
$10.81 EC$29.19
-16.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.50 ₡4,280
$7.30 EC$19.71
30.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.14 ₡5,921
$15.71 EC$42.41
-16.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$9.68 EC$26.15
-53.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 ₡722
$1.77 EC$4.77
-9.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.22 ₡1,452
$2.35 EC$6.36
37.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,371
$5.45 EC$14.71
-44.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 ₡1,344
$3.52 EC$9.51
-15.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.80 ₡1,264
$2.05 EC$5.53
36.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡457
$1.71 EC$4.62
-40.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 ₡1,111
$1.78 EC$4.80
38.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.00 ₡2,251
$5.52 EC$14.91
-9.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.59 ₡7,475
$10.28 EC$27.75
61.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,022
$1.82 EC$4.93
24.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,264
$2.31 EC$6.24
21.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 ₡437
$1.01 EC$2.72
-3.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.86 ₡22.5K
$36.51 EC$98.6
36.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₡842
$14.87 EC$40.15
-87.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 ₡916
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.81 ₡3,517
$9.17 EC$24.75
-14.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ₡652
$1.40 EC$3.78
3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K ₡16.7M
$26.1K EC$70.5K
41.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K ₡15.9M
$31.8K EC$85.9K
10.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.3 ₡39.3K
$232 EC$627
-62.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 ₡11.4K
$36.60 EC$98.8
-31.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9 ₡24.7K
$46.69 EC$126
17.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.7 ₡25.1K
$38.87 EC$105
43.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.69 ₡12.9K
$23.85 EC$64.4
20.29%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ₡3,998
$10.13 EC$27.36
-12.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$555 ₡250.1K
$213 EC$574
161.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,989 ₡4.5M
$2,751 EC$7,427
263.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 ₡32.4K
$58.9 EC$159
22.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.7 ₡24.7K
$99.0 EC$267
-44.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 ₡54.6K
$84.0 EC$227
44.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ₡45.8K
$131 EC$354
-22.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$795 ₡358.2K
$609 EC$1,644
30.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$545 ₡245.8K
$389 EC$1,050
40.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ₡680.0K
$1,267 EC$3,420
19.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 ₡461.7K
$797 EC$2,153
28.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,455 ₡1.1M
$942 EC$2,544
160.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,619 ₡729.4K
$55.5K EC$149.8K
-97.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,069 ₡481.5K
$859 EC$2,318
24.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
6.75
56.00%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: June 14, 2026

Last update for Grenada: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $749 in Costa Rica vs $197 in Grenada. For reference, capital cities sit at $864 in San Jose and $569 in Saint George's.

Average salary: $1,099 in Costa Rica vs $904 in Grenada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 280% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 104% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 117% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 22% higher in Costa Rica, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Grenada.

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 Grenada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Costa Rica or Grenada?
Grenada is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 143% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Costa Rica or in Grenada?
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.
How do daily expenses compare in Costa Rica vs Grenada?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Grenada, contributing to the overall 143% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Costa Rica and Grenada on $1,500 per month?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Grenada, but in Costa Rica it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Costa Rica or Grenada?
Grenada 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.

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