Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Seattle, WA
For one person, living is cheaper in Costa Rica: $1,735 a month against $3,744 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $24,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Costa Rica Living Index86Cost of Living Index in Costa RicaLearn more -
Seattle, WA Living Index184Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WALearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 34.8% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 53.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 37% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 51.9% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78 ₡5,312
$24.56 $24.56
-52.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5 ₡25.0K
$99.5 $99.5
-44.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 ₡4,831
$15.30 $15.30
-29.93%
Cappuccino
$4.49 ₡2,023
$6.62 $6.62
-32.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 ₡1,051
$3.25 $3.25
-28.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₡815
$3.11 $3.11
-41.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 ₡1,455
$7.77 $7.77
-58.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 ₡1,992
$7.93 $7.93
-44.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.30 ₡1,037
$1.21 $1.21
90.08%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 ₡1,600
$4.94 $4.94
-28.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 ₡1,221
$6.17 $6.17
-56.08%
Eggs
$4.05 ₡1,825
$4.96 $4.96
-18.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.92 ₡4,473
$19.00 $19.00
-47.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.49 ₡4,729
$18.69 $18.69
-43.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ₡6,111
$23.14 $23.14
-41.40%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 ₡2,312
$5.93 $5.93
-13.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ₡758
$1.94 $1.94
-13.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 ₡1,639
$5.19 $5.19
-30.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 ₡1,463
$6.55 $6.55
-50.53%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 ₡1,534
$3.62 $3.62
-6.08%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 ₡1,394
$3.16 $3.16
-2.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 ₡501
$2.91 $2.91
-61.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 ₡1,192
$2.38 $2.38
10.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,446
$12.36 $12.36
-56.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 ₡7,048
$15.02 $15.02
4.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$4.30 $4.30
-36.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ₡1,472
$5.69 $5.69
-42.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 ₡480
$3.05 $3.05
-64.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 ₡29.4K
$109 $109
-39.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 ₡981
$2.64 $2.64
-17.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 ₡916
$1.74 $1.74
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.82 ₡3,977
$30.02 $30.02
-70.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 ₡688
$1.46 $1.46
4.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K ₡14.8M
$36.7K $36.7K
-10.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K ₡16.2M
$25.7K $25.7K
40.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.1K
$299 $299
-68.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.19 ₡13.6K
$69.7 $69.7
-56.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1 ₡25.7K
$90.1 $90.1
-36.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 ₡29.3K
$80.0 $80.0
-18.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.13 ₡9,976
$35.62 $35.62
-37.87%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 ₡3,645
$17.33 $17.33
-53.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$740 ₡333.8K
$2,986 $2,986
-75.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ₡5.7M
$31.3K $31.3K
-59.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5 ₡34.0K
$77.7 $77.7
-2.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6 ₡24.6K
$54.9 $54.9
-0.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 ₡57.4K
$126 $126
1.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡48.3K
$165 $165
-35.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$833 ₡375.3K
$2,407 $2,407
-65.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$641 ₡289.1K
$1,963 $1,963
-67.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 ₡800.8K
$4,788 $4,788
-62.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,191 ₡536.9K
$3,561 $3,561
-66.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,437 ₡1.1M
$7,430 $7,430
-67.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,631 ₡735.2K
$5,010 $5,010
-67.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,033 ₡465.8K
$6,280 $6,280
-83.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
6.85
39.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Costa Rica: October 5, 2026
Last update for Seattle, WA: October 6, 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%
Seattle, WA $2K 51.6% 206% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $379 21.7%
Seattle, WA $541 14.2% 42.7% $162
Eating Out
Costa Rica $222 12.7%
Seattle, WA $402 10.6% 81.2% $180
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $181 10.3%
Seattle, WA $459 12.1% 154% $279
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $164 9.4%
Seattle, WA $191 5% 16.2% $27
Getting Around
Costa Rica $82 4.7%
Seattle, WA $132 3.5% 61.3% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $81 4.6%
Seattle, WA $115 3% 41.1% $33
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica $1.2K 32.2%
Seattle, WA $3.6K 46.9% 199% $2.4K
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $864 23.3%
Seattle, WA $1.2K 16.3% 43.2% $373
Eating Out
Costa Rica $719 19.4%
Seattle, WA $1.3K 17.2% 81.6% $587
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $211 5.7%
Seattle, WA $529 7% 151% $318
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $365 9.9%
Seattle, WA $424 5.6% 16.2% $59
Getting Around
Costa Rica $166 4.5%
Seattle, WA $270 3.6% 62.9% $104
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $185 5%
Seattle, WA $265 3.5% 43.5% $80
Good to know
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
Weather
Population
5,044,197
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Costa Rica Seattle, WA 5,510 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
- Costa Rica
- Seattle, WA
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
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