Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Saint Vincent And The Grenadines Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Saint Vincent And The Grenadines

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,676 per month in Costa Rica vs $660 in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,636 per month in Costa Rica vs $989 in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,595 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,318 in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 154% higher than in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 23% above the global median, while Saint Vincent And The Grenadines is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.06 ₡4,916
$5.42 EC$14.63
104.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.5 ₡25.1K
$60.6 EC$164
-6.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.92 ₡4,855
$10.89 EC$29.40
0.28%
Cappuccino
$4.48 ₡1,992
$4.59 EC$12.39
-2.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₡1,042
$2.23 EC$6.02
4.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₡843
$1.79 EC$4.83
6.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.31 ₡1,471
$1.88 EC$5.06
76.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 ₡1,975
$2.26 EC$6.11
96.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 ₡1,081
$3.25 EC$8.77
-25.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 ₡1,621
$2.17 EC$5.85
68.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,268
$1.44 EC$3.88
97.92%
Eggs
$4.15 ₡1,844
$4.47 EC$12.08
-7.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 ₡4,504
$12.84 EC$34.67
-21.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.55 ₡4,690
$3.87 EC$10.45
172.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 ₡6,136
$12.27 EC$33.13
12.55%
Apples (1kg)
$5.12 ₡2,278
$9.68 EC$26.13
-47.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ₡763
$3.62 EC$9.77
-52.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.71 ₡1,649
$9.79 EC$26.42
-62.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 ₡1,511
$5.97 EC$16.11
-43.05%
Potato (1kg)
$3.46 ₡1,536
$3.89 EC$10.50
-11.05%
Onion (1kg)
$3.11 ₡1,384
$3.87 EC$10.46
-19.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 ₡509
$2.76 EC$7.45
-58.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 ₡1,231
$2.17 EC$5.85
27.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47 ₡2,429
$4.16 EC$11.22
31.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.31 ₡7,249
$16.64 EC$44.92
-1.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 ₡1,196
$2.65 EC$7.15
1.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 ₡1,480
$2.38 EC$6.43
39.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡500
$1.17 EC$3.15
-4.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.7 ₡29.2K
$49.09 EC$133
33.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.19 ₡971
$11.02 EC$29.74
-80.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 ₡922
$1.89 EC$5.11
9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.41 ₡4,181
$30.12 EC$81.3
-68.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡692
$3.08 EC$8.33
-49.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K ₡15.1M
$37.8K EC$102.1K
-10.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K ₡16.6M
$30.5K EC$82.3K
22.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ₡42.8K
$74.9 EC$202
28.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.48 ₡14.0K
$34.38 EC$92.8
-8.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 ₡26.4K
$53.4 EC$144
11.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.9 ₡29.3K
$32.16 EC$86.8
104.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.45 ₡9,978
$4.51 EC$12.18
397.78%
Cinema Ticket
$8.90 ₡3,957
$4.68 EC$12.65
90.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$748 ₡332.4K
$106 EC$287
603.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡5.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.9 ₡34.2K
$65.0 EC$176
18.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.8 ₡25.2K
$60.8 EC$164
-6.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 ₡59.2K
$73.5 EC$198
81.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡47.7K
$92.2 EC$249
16.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$873 ₡388.1K
$407 EC$1,098
114.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₡288.9K
$296 EC$799
119.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,779 ₡790.8K
$683 EC$1,843
160.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 ₡530.0K
$496 EC$1,340
140.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,452 ₡1.1M
$600 EC$1,620
308.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,642 ₡729.8K
$588 EC$1,588
179.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,059 ₡470.5K
$1,053 EC$2,842
0.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
7.5
27.47%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: September 13, 2026

Last update for Saint Vincent And The Grenadines: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $833 in Costa Rica vs $141 in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines. For reference, capital cities sit at $965 in San Jose and $282 in Kingstown.

Average salary: $1,101 in Costa Rica vs $1,041 in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 491% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 179% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 56% more expensive in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines.

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 Saint Vincent And The Grenadines: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Costa Rica or Saint Vincent And The Grenadines?
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 136% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Costa Rica or in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines?
Housing costs more in Costa Rica, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Costa Rica consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Costa Rica vs Saint Vincent And The Grenadines?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, contributing to the overall 136% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Costa Rica and Saint Vincent And The Grenadines on $1,500 per month?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Saint Vincent And The Grenadines, but in Costa Rica it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Costa Rica or Saint Vincent And The Grenadines?
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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