Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Spain Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Spain

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 12.9% more expensive than Spain without rent, and 13.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 11.1% more expensive than Spain without rent, and 3.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,833
$16.02 €13.83
-39.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.3K
$57.6 €49.75
1.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 ₡4,957
$10.6 €9.15
-6.60%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₡1,954
$2.39 €2.06
63.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 ₡1,100
$2.6 €2.24
-15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡827
$1.91 €1.65
-13.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,517
$3.44 €2.97
-11.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,278
$4.11 €3.55
10.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₡1,033
$1.18 €1.02
74.58%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$1.53 €1.32
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 ₡1,261
$1.61 €1.39
56.52%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,646
$3.1 €2.68
6.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,650
$14.26 €12.32
-34.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 ₡4,775
$8.6 €7.42
10.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 ₡6,808
$15.7 €13.56
-13.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 ₡2,337
$2.45 €2.12
90.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡782
$2.07 €1.78
-24.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 ₡1,672
$2.03 €1.75
64.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$2.65 €2.29
13.58%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,524
$1.83 €1.58
66.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$1.96 €1.69
45.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡506
$1.36 €1.17
-25.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,273
$0.74 €0.64
243.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,434
$6.43 €5.55
-24.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 ₡7,442
$5.72 €4.94
159.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,137
$1.32 €1.14
71.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₡1,366
$2.08 €1.8
31.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡476
$1.79 €1.54
-46.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 ₡24.8K
$34.46 €29.75
43.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡904
$4.56 €3.94
-60.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 ₡969
$1.33 €1.15
45.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 ₡3,850
$26.41 €22.8
-70.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡735
$1.83 €1.58
-19.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₡18.7M
$39.3K €33.9K
-4.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡17.4M
$31.2K €27K
11.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 ₡43.5K
$149 €128
-41.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.7K
$20.46 €17.67
24.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 ₡27.4K
$33.3 €28.75
64.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡28.9K
$47.32 €40.85
22.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 ₡14.2K
$15.64 €13.5
81.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₡4,546
$9.52 €8.22
-4.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 ₡275.9K
$522 €451
5.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 ₡4.9M
$9,960 €8,600
-1.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 ₡36.2K
$87.2 €75.3
-17.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 ₡27.6K
$37.22 €32.13
48.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₡59.3K
$91.5 €79
29.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₡52.1K
$108 €93
-3.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡408.8K
$1,050 €907
-22.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 ₡269.6K
$812 €701
-33.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 ₡748.3K
$1,692 €1,460
-11.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ₡510.2K
$1,239 €1,069
-17.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 ₡1.3M
$4,233 €3,655
-40.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 ₡693K
$2,725 €2,353
-49.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.8K
$1,998 €1,725
-50.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
3.51
200.00%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Spain: October 28, 2025

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