Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

For one person, living is cheaper in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: $1,282 a month against $1,830 in Costa Rica, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Costa Rica
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,830
/mo nomad
🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$1,282
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Costa Rica and in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Costa Rica and in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,830 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,282 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, rent included.

  • Costa Rica $1,830
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $1,282

A couple spends around $2,781 per month in Costa Rica vs $2,043 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, rent included.

  • Costa Rica $2,781
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $2,043

A family of three spends $3,733 per month in Costa Rica vs $2,803 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, rent included.

  • Costa Rica $3,733
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $2,803

The regional cost range is wider in Costa Rica ($1,006–$2,121) than in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ($1,318–$1,318), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 43% higher than in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on average.

Costa Rica sits 35% above the global median, while Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is 5% 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
$11.72 ₡5,252
$5.42 EC$14.62
116.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.0 ₡25.1K
$62.2 EC$168
-9.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 ₡5,013
$11.06 EC$29.87
1.08%
Cappuccino
$4.63 ₡2,076
$4.61 EC$12.46
0.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₡1,050
$1.98 EC$5.35
18.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ₡830
$1.81 EC$4.88
2.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$1.90 EC$5.14
70.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 ₡2,048
$2.55 EC$6.89
79.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.41 ₡1,078
$3.20 EC$8.64
-24.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 ₡1,610
$2.10 EC$5.67
70.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.79 ₡1,252
$1.48 EC$3.99
88.51%
Eggs
$3.87 ₡1,735
$4.54 EC$12.27
-14.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.38 ₡4,652
$12.80 EC$34.56
-18.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.01 ₡4,486
$4.07 EC$10.98
145.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.77 ₡6,174
$12.14 EC$32.79
13.43%
Apples (1kg)
$4.76 ₡2,135
$9.46 EC$25.55
-49.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 ₡768
$3.42 EC$9.22
-50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.42 ₡1,534
$9.53 EC$25.73
-64.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 ₡1,449
$5.88 EC$15.87
-45.07%
Potato (1kg)
$3.29 ₡1,475
$3.80 EC$10.25
-13.42%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 ₡1,403
$3.92 EC$10.57
-20.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡491
$2.71 EC$7.31
-59.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,235
$2.26 EC$6.11
21.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34 ₡2,396
$4.16 EC$11.23
28.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.23 ₡7,274
$16.68 EC$45.02
-2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 ₡1,179
$2.76 EC$7.45
-4.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 ₡1,459
$2.36 EC$6.37
37.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡482
$1.16 EC$3.15
-6.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.1 ₡30.1K
$50.1 EC$135
33.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 ₡979
$11.28 EC$30.46
-80.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 ₡900
$1.83 EC$4.94
9.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 ₡3,621
$29.24 EC$79.0
-72.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡694
$3.18 EC$8.60
-51.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K ₡15.2M
$37.6K EC$101.6K
-9.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5K ₡16.8M
$30.4K EC$82.0K
23.45%
🧾 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)
$98.2 ₡44.0K
$73.0 EC$197
34.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.64 ₡13.7K
$34.24 EC$92.4
-10.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 ₡26.8K
$52.1 EC$141
14.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 ₡29.2K
$31.82 EC$85.9
104.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.65 ₡10.2K
$4.53 EC$12.24
400.00%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17 ₡3,661
$4.50 EC$12.14
81.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$733 ₡328.6K
$105 EC$284
598.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ₡7.9M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.7 ₡33.5K
$65.3 EC$176
14.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$61.4 EC$166
-9.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 ₡58.5K
$74.3 EC$201
75.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 ₡48.6K
$90.7 EC$245
19.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 ₡418.1K
$403 EC$1,088
131.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$706 ₡316.6K
$298 EC$804
137.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 ₡790.1K
$681 EC$1,839
158.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ₡538.3K
$487 EC$1,316
146.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,692 ₡1.2M
$604 EC$1,632
345.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,834 ₡822.1K
$601 EC$1,623
205.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,076 ₡482.2K
$1,056 EC$2,851
1.86%
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: November 2, 2026

Last update for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
$706
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$298 57.9% $409
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
$379
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$417 10% $38
Eating Out
Costa Rica
$225
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$162 28.1% $63
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
$189
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$159 15.5% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
$166
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$131 21.1% $35
Getting Around
Costa Rica
$84
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$75 10.1% $8.5
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
$81
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$41 49.9% $41

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $849 in Costa Rica vs $278 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,170 in San Jose and $278 in Kingstown.

Average salary: $1,092 in Costa Rica vs $1,053 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 205% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 46% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 34% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
🕒 Local time
01:26 1:26 AM
03:26 3:26 AM
2 h ahead of Costa Rica
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,044,197
109,897
Exchange rates and currency converter

XCD, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 9, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 500 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2 EUR).

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of November 9, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.01 XCD (1 XCD = 0.332 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Costa Rica Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2,510 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Costa Rica
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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 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 30% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Costa Rica or in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
Housing costs more in Costa Rica: a central one-bedroom averages $849 versus $278 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
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. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Costa Rica vs other spots: cost of living compared

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