Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Grenada

For one person, living is cheaper in Grenada: $1,749 a month against $1,821 in Costa Rica, rent and utilities included – about $860 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Costa Rica outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Costa Rica
Grenada
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,821
/mo nomad
🇬🇩 Grenada
$1,749
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Costa Rica and in Grenada

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Costa Rica and in Grenada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,821 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,749 in Grenada, rent included.

  • Costa Rica $1,821
  • Grenada $1,749

A couple spends around $2,773 per month in Costa Rica vs $2,700 in Grenada, rent included.

  • Costa Rica $2,773
  • Grenada $2,700

A family of three spends $3,725 per month in Costa Rica vs $3,652 in Grenada, rent included.

  • Costa Rica $3,725
  • Grenada $3,652

Cost ranges are similar: Costa Rica spans $1,004–$2,114, Grenada $269–$1,613. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 4% higher than in Grenada on average.

Both Costa Rica and Grenada are pricier than the global median – Costa Rica by 34%, Grenada by 29%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.26 ₡5,065
$11.19 EC$30.20
0.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.5 ₡24.5K
$55.0 EC$149
-0.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 ₡4,956
$9.31 EC$25.15
18.37%
Cappuccino
$4.43 ₡1,991
$3.39 EC$9.15
30.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₡1,051
$1.83 EC$4.94
27.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₡825
$1.41 EC$3.80
30.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 ₡1,467
$2.02 EC$5.47
61.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,046
$3.71 EC$10.02
22.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.45 ₡1,101
$4.30 EC$11.60
-43.02%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 ₡1,602
$2.08 EC$5.62
71.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.76 ₡1,240
$1.96 EC$5.28
40.82%
Eggs
$3.97 ₡1,787
$4.63 EC$12.49
-14.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.47 ₡4,710
$11.99 EC$32.37
-12.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.98 ₡4,490
$10.51 EC$28.37
-5.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.91 ₡6,254
$17.83 EC$48.15
-21.99%
Apples (1kg)
$5.06 ₡2,274
$14.76 EC$39.84
-65.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ₡761
$2.62 EC$7.07
-35.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.45 ₡1,552
$2.71 EC$7.33
27.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 ₡1,454
$6.20 EC$16.74
-47.90%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 ₡1,549
$4.61 EC$12.44
-25.38%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,460
$3.36 EC$9.08
-3.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡490
$1.52 EC$4.12
-28.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 ₡1,199
$2.34 EC$6.31
14.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38 ₡2,418
$7.51 EC$20.29
-28.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.50 ₡6,969
$12.97 EC$35.02
19.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,237
$1.94 EC$5.22
41.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ₡1,483
$2.62 EC$7.06
25.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.14 EC$3.08
-0.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.5 ₡29.5K
$54.8 EC$148
19.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡975
$14.67 EC$39.62
-85.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 ₡909
$1.81 EC$4.88
11.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.94 ₡4,020
$9.21 EC$24.86
-2.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 ₡723
$1.36 EC$3.68
18.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$25.6K EC$69.1K
34.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K ₡16.8M
$32.3K EC$87.1K
15.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.9 ₡42.7K
$233 EC$630
-59.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.42 ₡14.1K
$33.23 EC$89.7
-5.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.6 ₡26.3K
$48.74 EC$132
20.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.7 ₡29.5K
$39.26 EC$106
67.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.20 ₡9,981
$24.07 EC$65.0
-7.77%
Cinema Ticket
$8.10 ₡3,642
$10.35 EC$27.95
-21.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$722 ₡324.7K
$217 EC$587
232.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K ₡5.8M
$2,729 EC$7,369
372.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5 ₡33.9K
$63.6 EC$172
18.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.4 ₡25.4K
$83.9 EC$226
-32.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡57.7K
$80.1 EC$216
60.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 ₡48.6K
$114 EC$308
-5.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$960 ₡431.7K
$661 EC$1,785
45.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$708 ₡318.4K
$489 EC$1,321
44.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,749 ₡786.3K
$1,659 EC$4,479
5.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 ₡546.4K
$905 EC$2,444
34.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,656 ₡1.2M
$3,463 EC$9,351
-23.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,839 ₡826.8K
$55.2K EC$148.9K
-96.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,058 ₡476.0K
$765 EC$2,065
38.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
6.8
40.59%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 26, 2026

Last update for Grenada: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
$708
Grenada
$489 30.9% $219
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
$380
Grenada
$459 20.8% $79
Eating Out
Costa Rica
$218
Grenada
$189 13.6% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
$185
Grenada
$315 70.5% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
$166
Grenada
$154 7.2% $12
Getting Around
Costa Rica
$82
Grenada
$83 1% $0.8
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
$82
Grenada
$60 26.8% $22

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $855 in Costa Rica vs $898 in Grenada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,164 in San Jose and $1,128 in Saint George’s.

Average salary: $1,087 in Costa Rica vs $687 in Grenada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 5% higher in Grenada.

Dining out costs 39% more in Grenada.

Public transport is 18% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 58% higher in Costa Rica, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Costa Rica.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇬🇩 Grenada
🕒 Local time
21:55 9:55 PM
23:55 11:55 PM
2 h ahead of Costa Rica
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,044,197
114,299
Exchange rates and currency converter

XCD, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.03 XCD (1 XCD = 0.33 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Costa Rica Grenada 2,450 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Costa Rica
  • Grenada

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 4% lower on average.
Is everything cheaper in Grenada?
Not necessarily. Overall, Costa Rica costs about 4% more, but the gap varies by category, and some expenses can be lower in Costa Rica. Compare the categories that matter most for your budget.
Which country is better for expats: Costa Rica or Grenada?
Grenada is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Costa Rica vs other spots: cost of living compared

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