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 $1,540 per month in Costa Rica vs $509 in Grenada, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,324 per month in Costa Rica vs $775 in Grenada, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,107 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,041 in Grenada, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 203% higher than in Grenada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 16% 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
$10.13 ₡4,542
$8.22 EC$22.21
23.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.8 ₡26.8K
$79.9 EC$216
-25.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 ₡4,447
$11.20 EC$30.25
-11.43%
Cappuccino
$4.06 ₡1,822
$3.88 EC$10.48
4.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ₡949
$1.69 EC$4.56
25.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₡774
$1.26 EC$3.41
37.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 ₡1,342
$1.80 EC$4.85
66.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50 ₡2,016
$3.00 EC$8.09
50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡907
$3.96 EC$10.70
-48.99%
White Bread (500g)
$3.09 ₡1,385
$1.85 EC$4.98
67.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 ₡1,089
$1.96 EC$5.30
23.98%
Eggs
$3.32 ₡1,487
$4.27 EC$11.54
-22.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 ₡4,116
$11.00 EC$29.69
-16.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.31 ₡4,176
$7.44 EC$20.09
25.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 ₡5,929
$15.35 EC$41.45
-13.88%
Apples (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,124
$9.55 EC$25.79
-50.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.70 EC$4.58
-5.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,456
$2.34 EC$6.32
38.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.96 ₡1,325
$5.42 EC$14.62
-45.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 ₡1,310
$3.34 EC$9.01
-12.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 ₡1,245
$2.03 EC$5.49
36.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ₡460
$1.74 EC$4.71
-41.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 ₡1,100
$1.77 EC$4.79
38.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06 ₡2,270
$5.44 EC$14.69
-6.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.79 ₡7,530
$10.24 EC$27.66
63.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 ₡1,030
$1.83 EC$4.94
25.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,259
$2.33 EC$6.29
20.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ₡460
$1.04 EC$2.82
-0.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.91 ₡21.9K
$36.85 EC$99.5
32.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡811
$14.83 EC$40.03
-87.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 ₡903
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.68 ₡3,443
$9.05 EC$24.44
-15.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡674
$1.39 EC$3.74
7.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K ₡16.2M
$26.3K EC$70.9K
37.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K ₡16.1M
$32.0K EC$86.5K
12.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.9 ₡39.4K
$224 EC$605
-60.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.69 ₡11.5K
$36.21 EC$97.8
-29.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 ₡24.4K
$45.75 EC$124
18.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 ₡25.5K
$39.79 EC$107
42.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 ₡12.9K
$24.59 EC$66.4
16.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.00 ₡4,034
$10.16 EC$27.42
-11.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ₡249.4K
$219 EC$591
154.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K ₡4.6M
$2,722 EC$7,348
273.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.4 ₡32.9K
$57.5 EC$155
27.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 ₡23.8K
$100 EC$270
-46.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 ₡53.3K
$81.9 EC$221
45.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ₡46.3K
$129 EC$348
-19.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$799 ₡358.2K
$621 EC$1,676
28.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ₡243.5K
$401 EC$1,082
35.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,471 ₡659.7K
$1,284 EC$3,468
14.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 ₡473.3K
$785 EC$2,121
34.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,461 ₡1.1M
$940 EC$2,539
161.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,640 ₡735.2K
$56.7K EC$153.1K
-97.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Grenada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,084 ₡486.0K
$853 EC$2,303
27.06%
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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Grenada: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $752 in Costa Rica vs $196 in Grenada. For reference, capital cities sit at $873 in San Jose and $568 in Saint George's.

Average salary: $1,101 in Costa Rica vs $894 in Grenada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 284% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 117% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 117% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 23% 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 141% 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 141% 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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