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

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 34.9% more expensive than Guatemala without rent, and 29.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 33.4% more expensive than Guatemala without rent, and 33% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,833
$5.81 Q 44.63
66.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.3K
$49.29 Q 379
18.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 ₡4,957
$6.67 Q 51.2
48.43%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₡1,954
$3.55 Q 27.26
9.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 ₡1,100
$1.31 Q 10.05
67.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡827
$1.03 Q 7.91
60.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,517
$3.3 Q 25.32
-8.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,278
$5.25 Q 40.32
-13.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₡1,033
$1.92 Q 14.79
7.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$2.68 Q 20.62
14.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 ₡1,261
$1.83 Q 14.07
37.70%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,646
$2.34 Q 17.96
40.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,650
$7.48 Q 57.5
24.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 ₡4,775
$7.82 Q 60.1
21.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 ₡6,808
$9.95 Q 76.4
36.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 ₡2,337
$3.75 Q 28.8
24.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡782
$1.69 Q 13.01
-7.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 ₡1,672
$3.27 Q 25.15
2.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$1.5 Q 11.49
100.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,524
$1.51 Q 11.62
101.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$1.86 Q 14.32
53.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡506
$0.75 Q 5.79
34.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,273
$1.13 Q 8.72
124.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,434
$3.76 Q 28.91
29.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 ₡7,442
$7.8 Q 59.9
90.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,137
$1.92 Q 14.75
18.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₡1,366
$2.84 Q 21.85
-3.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡476
$1.07 Q 8.2
-11.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 ₡24.8K
$13.16 Q 101
275.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡904
$3.53 Q 27.11
-48.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 ₡969
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 ₡3,850
$10.23 Q 78.6
-24.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡735
$1.12 Q 8.58
31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₡18.7M
$18K Q 138.6K
107.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡17.4M
$22.6K Q 173.7K
53.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 ₡43.5K
$59.6 Q 458
45.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.7K
$29.47 Q 226
-13.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 ₡27.4K
$52.6 Q 404
3.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡28.9K
$44.32 Q 340
30.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 ₡14.2K
$25.89 Q 199
9.77%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₡4,546
$6.47 Q 49.68
40.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 ₡275.9K
$258 Q 1,983
113.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 ₡4.9M
$8,089 Q 62.1K
21.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 ₡36.2K
$51.8 Q 398
39.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 ₡27.6K
$51.2 Q 393
7.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₡59.3K
$97.6 Q 750
21.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₡52.1K
$102 Q 785
1.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡408.8K
$669 Q 5,143
21.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 ₡269.6K
$434 Q 3,334
24.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 ₡748.3K
$1,313 Q 10.1K
13.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ₡510.2K
$693 Q 5,325
47.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 ₡1.3M
$1,461 Q 11.2K
71.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 ₡693K
$1,016 Q 7,804
36.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.8K
$550 Q 4,223
81.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
8.71
20.90%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Guatemala: October 27, 2025

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