🇮🇹 Italy
88
Cost of Living Index in Italy
Learn more Last update: Nov 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and New York, NY
For one person, living is cheaper in Costa Rica: $1,830 a month against $4,906 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $36,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
-
🙂 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 37.2% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 62.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 40.3% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 61.3% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 ₡5,268
$26.93 $26.93
-56.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.0 ₡25.2K
$117 $117
-52.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 ₡5,028
$14.60 $14.60
-23.42%
Cappuccino
$4.63 ₡2,082
$6.54 $6.54
-29.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₡1,053
$3.86 $3.86
-39.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ₡832
$2.95 $2.95
-37.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,455
$8.08 $8.08
-59.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 ₡2,054
$9.85 $9.85
-53.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.41 ₡1,082
$1.31 $1.31
83.97%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 ₡1,615
$4.97 $4.97
-27.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.79 ₡1,255
$7.70 $7.70
-63.77%
Eggs
$3.87 ₡1,741
$6.09 $6.09
-36.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.38 ₡4,666
$19.55 $19.55
-46.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.01 ₡4,499
$17.59 $17.59
-43.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.77 ₡6,192
$20.26 $20.26
-32.03%
Apples (1kg)
$4.76 ₡2,142
$6.99 $6.99
-31.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 ₡771
$2.21 $2.21
-22.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.42 ₡1,539
$6.72 $6.72
-49.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 ₡1,453
$7.12 $7.12
-54.63%
Potato (1kg)
$3.29 ₡1,479
$4.61 $4.61
-28.63%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 ₡1,407
$4.78 $4.78
-34.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡492
$2.87 $2.87
-62.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,239
$2.69 $2.69
2.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34 ₡2,403
$19.14 $19.14
-72.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.23 ₡7,296
$19.63 $19.63
-17.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 ₡1,183
$3.32 $3.32
-20.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 ₡1,463
$4.19 $4.19
-22.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡483
$3.02 $3.02
-64.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.1 ₡30.2K
$139 $139
-51.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 ₡982
$3.04 $3.04
-28.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 ₡903
$2.20 $2.20
-8.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 ₡3,632
$41.33 $41.33
-80.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.13 $1.13
37.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K ₡15.2M
$34.5K $34.5K
-1.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5K ₡16.9M
$25.8K $25.8K
45.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.2 ₡44.1K
$232 $232
-57.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.64 ₡13.8K
$71.0 $71.0
-56.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 ₡26.8K
$67.7 $67.7
-11.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 ₡29.3K
$115 $115
-43.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.65 ₡10.2K
$76.8 $76.8
-70.51%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17 ₡3,672
$22.41 $22.41
-63.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$733 ₡329.6K
$3,606 $3,606
-79.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ₡8.0M
$68.7K $68.7K
-74.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.7 ₡33.6K
$79.3 $79.3
-5.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$51.4 $51.4
8.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 ₡58.7K
$121 $121
7.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 ₡48.7K
$140 $140
-22.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 ₡419.3K
$4,555 $4,555
-79.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$706 ₡317.6K
$3,040 $3,040
-76.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 ₡792.5K
$9,742 $9,742
-81.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ₡540.0K
$5,331 $5,331
-77.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,692 ₡1.2M
$18.2K $18.2K
-85.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,834 ₡824.6K
$6,685 $6,685
-72.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,076 ₡483.7K
$5,096 $5,096
-78.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
6.89
38.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Costa Rica: November 2, 2026
Last update for New York, NY: November 1, 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 $706 38.6%
New York, NY $3K 62% 330% $2.3K
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $379 20.7%
New York, NY $567 11.6% 49.8% $189
Eating Out
Costa Rica $225 12.3%
New York, NY $425 8.7% 89% $200
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $189 10.3%
New York, NY $371 7.6% 96.8% $183
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $166 9.1%
New York, NY $176 3.6% 6.1% $10
Getting Around
Costa Rica $84 4.6%
New York, NY $165 3.4% 97.8% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $81 4.5%
New York, NY $160 3.3% 96.8% $79
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica $1.2K 32.2%
New York, NY $5.3K 55.3% 344% $4.1K
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $861 23.1%
New York, NY $1.3K 13.5% 50.8% $437
Eating Out
Costa Rica $727 19.5%
New York, NY $1.4K 15% 98.4% $716
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $219 5.9%
New York, NY $442 4.6% 102% $223
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $369 9.9%
New York, NY $392 4.1% 6.1% $23
Getting Around
Costa Rica $169 4.5%
New York, NY $337 3.5% 98.8% $167
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $185 5%
New York, NY $397 4.1% 114% $212
Good to know
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇺🇸 New York, NY
Weather
Population
5,044,197
8,804,190
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Costa Rica New York, NY 3,550 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
- Costa Rica
- New York, NY
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Similar countries
🇪🇸 Spain
85
Cost of Living Index in Spain
Learn more 
🇵🇹 Portugal
83
Cost of Living Index in Portugal
Learn more 
🇸🇮 Slovenia
85
Cost of Living Index in Slovenia
Learn more 
🇵🇸 Palestine
84
Cost of Living Index in Palestine
Learn more 
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
90
Cost of Living Index in the Solomon Islands
Learn more 
🇬🇩 Grenada
83
Cost of Living Index in Grenada
Learn more 
🇦🇽 Aland Islands
85
Cost of Living Index in the Aland Islands
Learn more 
