Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Sint Maarten Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Sint Maarten

Name: Sint Maarten
Address: SX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,535 per month in Costa Rica vs $3,373 in Sint Maarten, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,322 per month in Costa Rica vs $6,072 in Sint Maarten, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,108 per month in Costa Rica vs $8,771 in Sint Maarten, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is roughly 54% lower than in Sint Maarten on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Costa Rica and Sint Maarten are pricier than the global median – Costa Rica by 15%, Sint Maarten by 152%.

The regional cost range is wider in Costa Rica ($1,125–$2,081) than in Sint Maarten ($3,135–$3,648), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.10 ₡4,505

$16.97 ANG 30.29

-40.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡26.8K

$86.3 ANG 154

-30.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 ₡4,516

$8.66 ANG 15.45

16.86%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,738

$3.83 ANG 6.83

1.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 ₡982

$2.91 ANG 5.19

-24.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₡743

$3.54 ANG 6.31

-52.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 ₡1,367

$2.91 ANG 5.20

5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,969

$4.52 ANG 8.07

-2.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₡937

$3.56 ANG 6.35

-41.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 ₡1,437

$2.72 ANG 4.85

18.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 ₡1,115

$2.70 ANG 4.82

-7.41%

Eggs

$3.37 ₡1,505

$5.17 ANG 9.23

-34.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.57 ₡4,268

$18.57 ANG 33.14

-48.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 ₡4,212

$15.45 ANG 27.58

-38.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.43 ₡5,992

$16.17 ANG 28.86

-16.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 ₡2,084

$4.50 ANG 8.03

3.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₡700

$3.27 ANG 5.83

-51.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,428

$5.97 ANG 10.66

-46.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ₡1,330

$4.84 ANG 8.64

-38.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 ₡1,329

$3.21 ANG 5.72

-7.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 ₡1,264

$3.49 ANG 6.24

-18.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡452

$3.85 ANG 6.87

-73.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,117

$1.71 ANG 3.06

46.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,270

$7.97 ANG 14.22

-36.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.14 ₡7,200

$11.55 ANG 20.61

39.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₡1,047

$2.09 ANG 3.73

12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,255

$2.13 ANG 3.80

31.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡452

$2.24 ANG 4.00

-54.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.99 ₡22.3K

$91.2 ANG 163

-45.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡833

$10.17 ANG 18.15

-81.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 ₡877

$5.30 ANG 9.47

-62.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 ₡3,397

$5.87 ANG 10.49

29.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ₡645

$1.48 ANG 2.65

-2.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.5K ₡16.3M

$18.5K ANG 33.0K

97.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.4K ₡15.8M

$15.3K ANG 27.4K

130.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$87.3 ₡38.9K

$373 ANG 665

-76.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.16 ₡11.2K

$38.15 ANG 68.1

-34.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.0 ₡23.7K

$67.7 ANG 121

-21.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 ₡25.6K

$63.8 ANG 114

-9.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.74 ₡12.8K

$23.19 ANG 41.40

23.93%

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 ₡4,035

$12.94 ANG 23.10

-30.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$553 ₡246.7K

$697 ANG 1,245

-20.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,994 ₡4.5M

$11.8K ANG 21.1K

-15.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.6 ₡32.0K

$69.3 ANG 124

3.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.2 ₡23.7K

$45.90 ANG 81.9

15.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡53.0K

$79.2 ANG 141

50.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ₡45.6K

$69.3 ANG 124

47.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 ₡360.7K

$2,268 ANG 4,049

-64.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₡242.5K

$2,300 ANG 4,105

-76.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 ₡654.2K

$6,518 ANG 11.6K

-77.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 ₡454.0K

$6,522 ANG 11.6K

-84.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,398 ₡1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,638 ₡730.9K

$11.8K ANG 21.1K

-86.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 ₡476.1K

$1,811 ANG 3,233

-41.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.53

5.5

91.45%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sint Maarten: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $750 in Costa Rica vs $2,194 in Sint Maarten. For reference, capital cities sit at $860 in San Jose and $1,988 in Philipsburg.

Average salary: $1,096 in Costa Rica vs $2,039 in Sint Maarten. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 193% higher in Sint Maarten.

Dining out costs 39% more in Sint Maarten.

Public transport is 138% more expensive in Sint Maarten.

Salaries are 86% higher in Sint Maarten, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Costa Rica.

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 Sint Maarten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Rica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 112% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Sint Maarten, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Sint Maarten consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Costa Rica, contributing to the overall 112% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Costa Rica, but in Sint Maarten it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Costa Rica 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.