Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Saint Lucia Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Saint Lucia

🙂 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 2.5% cheaper than Saint Lucia without rent, and 16.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 1.9% more expensive than Saint Lucia without rent, and 13.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.74 ₡4,470
$7.70 EC$20.79
26.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 ₡27.7K
$74.5 EC$201
-18.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 ₡4,549
$8.21 EC$22.18
20.83%
Cappuccino
$4.04 ₡1,855
$3.53 EC$9.53
14.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ₡973
$1.37 EC$3.71
54.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₡752
$1.05 EC$2.83
56.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 ₡1,338
$2.80 EC$7.55
4.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 ₡2,045
$3.28 EC$8.85
35.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 ₡957
$2.28 EC$6.15
-8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.18 ₡1,459
$1.53 EC$4.14
107.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.41 ₡1,104
$1.63 EC$4.41
47.85%
Eggs
$3.43 ₡1,574
$4.10 EC$11.08
-16.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.52 ₡4,367
$10.19 EC$27.50
-6.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,231
$10.24 EC$27.64
-9.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 ₡6,066
$17.45 EC$47.12
-24.24%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 ₡2,158
$7.50 EC$20.26
-37.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡715
$1.67 EC$4.51
-6.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.35 ₡1,535
$5.85 EC$15.81
-42.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.00 ₡1,377
$7.50 EC$20.25
-60.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 ₡1,343
$4.10 EC$11.08
-28.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 ₡1,245
$2.33 EC$6.29
16.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ₡466
$2.06 EC$5.56
-50.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₡1,111
$1.22 EC$3.31
98.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.01 ₡2,297
$7.53 EC$20.32
-33.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.31 ₡7,479
$12.51 EC$33.78
30.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₡1,058
$2.16 EC$5.83
6.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ₡1,305
$4.46 EC$12.06
-36.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ₡433
$1.09 EC$2.94
-13.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.31 ₡22.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡829
$9.46 EC$25.55
-80.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.00 ₡917
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.43 ₡3,410
$18.41 EC$49.72
-59.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ₡664
$1.53 EC$4.13
-5.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K ₡16.6M
$29.2K EC$79.0K
24.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡16.0M
$27.0K EC$72.9K
28.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.1 ₡40.4K
$105 EC$282
-15.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.36 ₡11.6K
$37.82 EC$102
-32.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1 ₡24.8K
$45.27 EC$122
19.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 ₡26.5K
$47.71 EC$129
20.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.04 ₡13.3K
$37.33 EC$101
-22.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.05 ₡4,151
$7.69 EC$20.77
17.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$550 ₡252.1K
$196 EC$529
180.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K ₡4.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.5 ₡32.8K
$56.1 EC$151
27.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.9 ₡24.7K
$53.0 EC$143
1.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 ₡55.3K
$100 EC$271
20.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ₡46.4K
$109 EC$295
-7.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$812 ₡372.7K
$512 EC$1,382
58.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$553 ₡253.9K
$383 EC$1,034
44.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ₡684.6K
$872 EC$2,354
71.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,057 ₡485.1K
$666 EC$1,798
58.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,263 ₡1.0M
$144 EC$389
1469.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,634 ₡749.6K
$159 EC$428
930.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 ₡489.3K
$837 EC$2,260
27.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
7.75
35.87%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: April 13, 2026

Last update for Saint Lucia: April 14, 2026

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

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