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.
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
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.26₡5,065
$11.19EC$30.20
0.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.5₡24.5K
$55.0EC$149
-0.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.02₡4,956
$9.31EC$25.15
18.37%
Cappuccino
$4.43₡1,991
$3.39EC$9.15
30.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34₡1,051
$1.83EC$4.94
27.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84₡825
$1.41EC$3.80
30.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.26₡1,467
$2.02EC$5.47
61.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55₡2,046
$3.71EC$10.02
22.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45₡1,101
$4.30EC$11.60
-43.02%
White Bread(500g)
$3.56₡1,602
$2.08EC$5.62
71.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.76₡1,240
$1.96EC$5.28
40.82%
Eggs
$3.97₡1,787
$4.63EC$12.49
-14.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.47₡4,710
$11.99EC$32.37
-12.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.98₡4,490
$10.51EC$28.37
-5.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.91₡6,254
$17.83EC$48.15
-21.99%
Apples(1kg)
$5.06₡2,274
$14.76EC$39.84
-65.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69₡761
$2.62EC$7.07
-35.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.45₡1,552
$2.71EC$7.33
27.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.23₡1,454
$6.20EC$16.74
-47.90%
Potato(1kg)
$3.44₡1,549
$4.61EC$12.44
-25.38%
Onion(1kg)
$3.25₡1,460
$3.36EC$9.08
-3.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09₡490
$1.52EC$4.12
-28.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.67₡1,199
$2.34EC$6.31
14.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38₡2,418
$7.51EC$20.29
-28.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.50₡6,969
$12.97EC$35.02
19.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75₡1,237
$1.94EC$5.22
41.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30₡1,483
$2.62EC$7.06
25.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13₡507
$1.14EC$3.08
-0.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.5₡29.5K
$54.8EC$148
19.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.17₡975
$14.67EC$39.62
-85.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.02₡909
$1.81EC$4.88
11.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.94₡4,020
$9.21EC$24.86
-2.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61₡723
$1.36EC$3.68
18.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K₡15.5M
$25.6KEC$69.1K
34.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K₡16.8M
$32.3KEC$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
$233EC$630
-59.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.42₡14.1K
$33.23EC$89.7
-5.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.6₡26.3K
$48.74EC$132
20.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.7₡29.5K
$39.26EC$106
67.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.20₡9,981
$24.07EC$65.0
-7.77%
Cinema Ticket
$8.10₡3,642
$10.35EC$27.95
-21.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$722₡324.7K
$217EC$587
232.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9K₡5.8M
$2,729EC$7,369
372.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5₡33.9K
$63.6EC$172
18.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.4₡25.4K
$83.9EC$226
-32.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128₡57.7K
$80.1EC$216
60.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108₡48.6K
$114EC$308
-5.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$960₡431.7K
$661EC$1,785
45.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$708₡318.4K
$489EC$1,321
44.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,749₡786.3K
$1,659EC$4,479
5.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215₡546.4K
$905EC$2,444
34.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,656₡1.2M
$3,463EC$9,351
-23.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,839₡826.8K
$55.2KEC$148.9K
-96.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,058₡476.0K
$765EC$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.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
$708 38.9%
Grenada
$489 28% ↓ 30.9%$219
🛒Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
$380 20.9%
Grenada
$459 26.2% ↑ 20.8%$79
🍽Eating Out
Costa Rica
$218 12%
Grenada
$189 10.8% ↓ 13.6%$30
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
$185 10.2%
Grenada
$315 18% ↑ 70.5%$130
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
$166 9.1%
Grenada
$154 8.8% ↓ 7.2%$12
🚌Getting Around
Costa Rica
$82 4.5%
Grenada
$83 4.8% ↑ 1%$0.8
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
$82 4.5%
Grenada
$60 3.4% ↓ 26.8%$22
🏠Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
$1.2K 32.6%
Grenada
$905 24.8% ↓ 25.5%$310
🛒Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
$866 23.3%
Grenada
$1.1K 29.8% ↑ 25.7%$223
🍽Eating Out
Costa Rica
$706 19%
Grenada
$655 17.9% ↓ 7.2%$51
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
$216 5.8%
Grenada
$348 9.5% ↑ 61.1%$132
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
$368 9.9%
Grenada
$342 9.4% ↓ 7.2%$27
🚌Getting Around
Costa Rica
$167 4.5%
Grenada
$169 4.6% ↑ 1%$1.6
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
$186 5%
Grenada
$144 3.9% ↓ 22.6%$42
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.
Costa Rica→Grenada2,450 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