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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 1.3% cheaper than Puerto Rico without rent, and 17% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Costa Rica is 5.1% cheaper than Puerto Rico without rent, and 12.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 โ‚ก4,833
$15.18 $15.18
-36.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 โ‚ก29.3K
$76 $76
-22.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 โ‚ก4,957
$8.77 $8.77
12.88%
Cappuccino
$3.9 โ‚ก1,954
$3.19 $3.19
22.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 โ‚ก1,100
$1.63 $1.63
34.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 โ‚ก827
$1.23 $1.23
34.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 โ‚ก1,517
$2.55 $2.55
18.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 โ‚ก2,278
$4.1 $4.1
10.98%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 โ‚ก1,033
$2.08 $2.08
-0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 โ‚ก1,530
$3.04 $3.04
0.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 โ‚ก1,261
$2.25 $2.25
12.00%
Eggs
$3.29 โ‚ก1,646
$5.21 $5.21
-36.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 โ‚ก4,650
$9.37 $9.37
-0.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 โ‚ก4,775
$8.85 $8.85
7.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 โ‚ก6,808
$11.33 $11.33
20.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 โ‚ก2,337
$5.25 $5.25
-11.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 โ‚ก782
$2.69 $2.69
-42.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 โ‚ก1,672
$4.03 $4.03
-17.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 โ‚ก1,507
$4.64 $4.64
-35.13%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 โ‚ก1,524
$3.13 $3.13
-2.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 โ‚ก1,426
$2.82 $2.82
1.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 โ‚ก506
$2.67 $2.67
-62.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 โ‚ก1,273
$1.87 $1.87
35.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 โ‚ก2,434
$10.91 $10.91
-55.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 โ‚ก7,442
$15.03 $15.03
-1.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 โ‚ก1,137
$2.35 $2.35
-3.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 โ‚ก1,366
$3.4 $3.4
-19.71%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 โ‚ก476
$1.77 $1.77
-46.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 โ‚ก24.8K
$40.01 $40.01
23.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 โ‚ก904
$5.88 $5.88
-69.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 โ‚ก969
$0.98 $0.98
96.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 โ‚ก3,850
$27.73 $27.73
-72.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 โ‚ก735
$1 $1
47.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K โ‚ก18.7M
$35.4K $35.4K
5.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K โ‚ก17.4M
$26.8K $26.8K
29.81%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 โ‚ก43.5K
$298 $298
-70.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 โ‚ก12.7K
$70 $70
-63.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 โ‚ก27.4K
$67.8 $67.8
-19.21%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 โ‚ก28.9K
$34.83 $34.83
65.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 โ‚ก14.2K
$33.83 $33.83
-15.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 โ‚ก4,546
$9.16 $9.16
-0.87%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 โ‚ก275.9K
$426 $426
29.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 โ‚ก4.9M
$7,616 $7,616
28.89%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 โ‚ก36.2K
$48.15 $48.15
50.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 โ‚ก27.6K
$45.42 $45.42
21.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 โ‚ก59.3K
$85.9 $85.9
37.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 โ‚ก52.1K
$99.5 $99.5
4.58%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 โ‚ก408.8K
$809 $809
0.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 โ‚ก269.6K
$623 $623
-13.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 โ‚ก748.3K
$1,584 $1,584
-5.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 โ‚ก510.2K
$1,115 $1,115
-8.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 โ‚ก1.3M
$2,735 $2,735
-8.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 โ‚ก693K
$1,580 $1,580
-12.38%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 โ‚ก498.8K
$2,584 $2,584
-61.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
5.62
87.37%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Puerto Rico: October 29, 2025

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