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

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 35.2% more expensive than Mexico without rent, and 27.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 33.8% more expensive than Mexico without rent, and 26.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Mexico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,833
$10.46 MX$198
-7.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.3K
$42.67 MX$807
37.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 ₡4,957
$8.15 MX$154
21.47%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₡1,954
$3.32 MX$62.7
17.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 ₡1,100
$1.29 MX$24.34
70.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡827
$0.98 MX$18.47
68.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,517
$2.33 MX$44.09
30.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,278
$4.27 MX$80.7
6.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Mexico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₡1,033
$1.53 MX$28.95
34.64%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$2.61 MX$49.42
17.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 ₡1,261
$1.71 MX$32.3
47.37%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,646
$2.46 MX$46.46
33.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,650
$8.8 MX$166
5.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 ₡4,775
$7.84 MX$148
21.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 ₡6,808
$10.85 MX$205
25.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 ₡2,337
$2.75 MX$51.9
69.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡782
$1.44 MX$27.16
8.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 ₡1,672
$1.84 MX$34.7
81.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$1.8 MX$34.07
67.22%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,524
$2 MX$37.78
52.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$2.05 MX$38.71
39.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡506
$1.27 MX$24.02
-20.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,273
$1.06 MX$19.99
139.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,434
$4.35 MX$82.3
11.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 ₡7,442
$10.69 MX$202
39.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,137
$1.65 MX$31.16
37.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₡1,366
$2.95 MX$55.8
-7.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Mexico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡476
$0.66 MX$12.48
43.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 ₡24.8K
$26.9 MX$508
83.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡904
$2.71 MX$51.2
-33.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 ₡969
$2 MX$37.8
-3.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 ₡3,850
$10.54 MX$199
-27.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡735
$1.31 MX$24.69
12.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₡18.7M
$20K MX$377.7K
87.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡17.4M
$23.4K MX$441.6K
48.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Mexico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 ₡43.5K
$62.3 MX$1,177
39.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.7K
$23.41 MX$442
8.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 ₡27.4K
$27.74 MX$524
97.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Mexico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡28.9K
$35.15 MX$664
64.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 ₡14.2K
$17.96 MX$339
58.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₡4,546
$4.65 MX$87.9
95.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Mexico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 ₡275.9K
$254 MX$4,795
117.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 ₡4.9M
$5,582 MX$105.5K
75.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Mexico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 ₡36.2K
$53.2 MX$1,006
35.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 ₡27.6K
$41.56 MX$786
32.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₡59.3K
$92.3 MX$1,744
28.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₡52.1K
$87.7 MX$1,658
18.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Mexico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡408.8K
$651 MX$12.3K
25.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 ₡269.6K
$453 MX$8,561
18.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 ₡748.3K
$1,248 MX$23.6K
19.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ₡510.2K
$856 MX$16.2K
19.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 ₡1.3M
$2,146 MX$40.6K
17.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 ₡693K
$1,480 MX$28K
-6.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Mexico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.8K
$743 MX$14.1K
34.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
11.45
-8.03%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mexico: October 28, 2025

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