🇮🇹 Italy
89
Cost of Living Index in Italy
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Santiago
For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,206 a month against $1,735 in Costa Rica, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 53.7% more expensive than Santiago without rent, and 43.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 44.5% more expensive than Santiago without rent, and 43.7% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78 ₡5,312
$10.19 CLP 9,931
15.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5 ₡25.0K
$52.2 CLP 50.9K
6.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 ₡4,831
$8.54 CLP 8,323
25.53%
Cappuccino
$4.49 ₡2,023
$3.19 CLP 3,115
40.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 ₡1,051
$1.68 CLP 1,637
38.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₡815
$1.22 CLP 1,191
48.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 ₡1,455
$4.21 CLP 4,101
-23.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 ₡1,992
$4.66 CLP 4,539
-5.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.30 ₡1,037
$1.32 CLP 1,283
74.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 ₡1,600
$1.80 CLP 1,756
97.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 ₡1,221
$1.58 CLP 1,543
71.52%
Eggs
$4.05 ₡1,825
$4.25 CLP 4,141
-4.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.92 ₡4,473
$11.19 CLP 10.9K
-11.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.49 ₡4,729
$6.75 CLP 6,580
55.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ₡6,111
$10.67 CLP 10.4K
27.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 ₡2,312
$2.04 CLP 1,991
151.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ₡758
$1.53 CLP 1,497
9.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 ₡1,639
$1.59 CLP 1,549
128.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 ₡1,463
$1.75 CLP 1,708
85.14%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 ₡1,534
$1.08 CLP 1,051
214.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 ₡1,394
$1.51 CLP 1,476
104.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 ₡501
$1.17 CLP 1,145
-5.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 ₡1,192
$1.07 CLP 1,041
146.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,446
$5.14 CLP 5,015
5.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 ₡7,048
$5.88 CLP 5,732
165.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$1.55 CLP 1,513
77.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ₡1,472
$2.27 CLP 2,218
44.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 ₡480
$0.85 CLP 829
25.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 ₡29.4K
$41.50 CLP 40.5K
57.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 ₡981
$0.39 CLP 383
458.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 ₡916
$0.84 CLP 820
141.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.82 ₡3,977
$11.94 CLP 11.6K
-26.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 ₡688
$1.50 CLP 1,467
2.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K ₡14.8M
$18.1K CLP 17.7M
81.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K ₡16.2M
$21.6K CLP 21.1M
66.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.1K
$151 CLP 147.3K
-38.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.19 ₡13.6K
$12.04 CLP 11.7K
150.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1 ₡25.7K
$18.93 CLP 18.5K
201.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 ₡29.3K
$33.81 CLP 33.0K
92.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.13 ₡9,976
$11.72 CLP 11.4K
88.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 ₡3,645
$7.37 CLP 7,185
9.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$740 ₡333.8K
$434 CLP 423.3K
70.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ₡5.7M
$11.0K CLP 10.7M
14.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5 ₡34.0K
$50.9 CLP 49.6K
48.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6 ₡24.6K
$29.16 CLP 28.4K
87.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 ₡57.4K
$67.4 CLP 65.7K
88.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡48.3K
$80.3 CLP 78.2K
33.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$833 ₡375.3K
$555 CLP 540.8K
50.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$641 ₡289.1K
$372 CLP 363.2K
72.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 ₡800.8K
$1,009 CLP 984.3K
75.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,191 ₡536.9K
$779 CLP 759.1K
52.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,437 ₡1.1M
$2,671 CLP 2.6M
-8.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,631 ₡735.2K
$2,622 CLP 2.6M
-37.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,033 ₡465.8K
$791 CLP 771.7K
30.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
5.39
77.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Costa Rica: October 5, 2026
Last update for Santiago: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica $641 36.7%
Santiago $372 31.6% 41.9% $269
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $379 21.7%
Santiago $236 20% 37.7% $143
Eating Out
Costa Rica $222 12.7%
Santiago $187 15.9% 15.5% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $181 10.3%
Santiago $182 15.5% 0.8% $1.4
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $164 9.4%
Santiago $102 8.7% 37.6% $62
Getting Around
Costa Rica $82 4.7%
Santiago $50 4.2% 39.6% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $81 4.6%
Santiago $49 4.1% 40.3% $33
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica $1.2K 32.2%
Santiago $779 30% 34.6% $412
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $864 23.3%
Santiago $553 21.3% 35.9% $310
Eating Out
Costa Rica $719 19.4%
Santiago $633 24.4% 12% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $211 5.7%
Santiago $194 7.5% 7.9% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $365 9.9%
Santiago $228 8.8% 37.6% $137
Getting Around
Costa Rica $166 4.5%
Santiago $101 3.9% 39.3% $65
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $185 5%
Santiago $109 4.2% 41.1% $76
Good to know
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇨🇱 Santiago
Weather
Population
5,044,197
6,139,087 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Costa Rica Santiago 5,030 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
- Costa Rica
- Santiago
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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