Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Puerto Rico Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Puerto Rico

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 2.9% cheaper than Puerto Rico without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Costa Rica is 6.6% cheaper than Puerto Rico without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.67 β‚‘4,599
$14.74 $14.74
-34.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 β‚‘27.9K
$74.7 $74.7
-21.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 β‚‘4,868
$8.82 $8.82
15.99%
Cappuccino
$3.97 β‚‘1,890
$3.16 $3.16
25.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 β‚‘1,032
$1.57 $1.57
38.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 β‚‘823
$1.27 $1.27
36.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.89 β‚‘1,375
$2.65 $2.65
9.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 β‚‘2,096
$4.10 $4.10
7.32%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 β‚‘977
$2.03 $2.03
0.99%
White Bread (500g)
$3.09 β‚‘1,469
$3.17 $3.17
-2.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 β‚‘1,194
$2.23 $2.23
12.56%
Eggs
$3.30 β‚‘1,569
$5.20 $5.20
-36.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.16 β‚‘4,359
$9.29 $9.29
-1.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.29 β‚‘4,421
$8.44 $8.44
10.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.16 β‚‘6,263
$11.26 $11.26
16.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 β‚‘2,131
$5.26 $5.26
-14.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 β‚‘771
$2.56 $2.56
-36.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.22 β‚‘1,530
$4.00 $4.00
-19.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.98 β‚‘1,419
$4.73 $4.73
-37.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.01 β‚‘1,432
$3.17 $3.17
-5.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 β‚‘1,354
$2.75 $2.75
3.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 β‚‘481
$2.56 $2.56
-60.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 β‚‘1,194
$1.81 $1.81
38.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94 β‚‘2,350
$11.08 $11.08
-55.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 β‚‘7,481
$15.38 $15.38
2.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 β‚‘1,130
$2.35 $2.35
1.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 β‚‘1,290
$3.31 $3.31
-18.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 β‚‘448
$1.76 $1.76
-46.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.94 β‚‘23.3K
$39.92 $39.92
22.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 β‚‘853
$5.97 $5.97
-70.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 β‚‘956
$0.94 $0.94
113.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.82 β‚‘3,723
$27.95 $27.95
-72.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 β‚‘719
$0.95 $0.95
58.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K β‚‘17.5M
$35.2K $35.2K
4.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K β‚‘16.5M
$27.1K $27.1K
28.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.8 β‚‘41.3K
$305 $305
-71.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.69 β‚‘12.2K
$70.5 $70.5
-63.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8 β‚‘25.6K
$67.0 $67.0
-19.77%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 β‚‘26.6K
$34.19 $34.19
63.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.78 β‚‘13.7K
$33.06 $33.06
-12.95%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 β‚‘4,303
$8.90 $8.90
1.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$560 β‚‘266.6K
$431 $431
29.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K β‚‘4.8M
$7,499 $7,499
33.40%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.4 β‚‘34.4K
$48.28 $48.28
49.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4 β‚‘25.9K
$45.80 $45.80
18.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 β‚‘55.7K
$85.8 $85.8
36.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 β‚‘49.0K
$100 $100
2.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 β‚‘386.1K
$815 $815
-0.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 β‚‘262.0K
$617 $617
-10.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,482 β‚‘705.3K
$1,575 $1,575
-5.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 β‚‘492.9K
$1,148 $1,148
-9.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,301 β‚‘1.1M
$5,139 $5,139
-55.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,575 β‚‘749.6K
$1,952 $1,952
-19.28%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,030 β‚‘490.1K
$2,624 $2,624
-60.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
5.62
87.37%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: March 2, 2026

Last update for Puerto Rico: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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