Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Turks And Caicos Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Turks And Caicos Islands

Name: Turks And Caicos Islands
Address: TC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,674 per month in Costa Rica vs $943 in Turks And Caicos Islands, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,639 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,606 in Turks And Caicos Islands, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,604 per month in Costa Rica vs $2,269 in Turks And Caicos Islands, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 78% higher than in Turks And Caicos Islands on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 22% above the global median, while Turks And Caicos Islands is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.02 ₡4,944

$19.18 $19.18

-42.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.4 ₡24.9K

$118 $118

-53.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 ₡4,943

$10.94 $10.94

0.73%

Cappuccino

$4.45 ₡1,996

$5.86 $5.86

-24.06%

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

$2.47 ₡1,106

$3.03 $3.03

-18.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₡880

$2.75 $2.75

-28.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 ₡1,490

$5.13 $5.13

-35.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,981

$7.16 $7.16

-38.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 ₡1,110

$4.86 $4.86

-49.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 ₡1,608

$4.90 $4.90

-26.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 ₡1,202

$4.87 $4.87

-44.97%

Eggs

$4.09 ₡1,837

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.90 ₡4,443

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.29 ₡4,617

$20.24 $20.24

-49.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.19 ₡6,365

$17.97 $17.97

-21.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 ₡2,240

$3.91 $3.91

27.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₡804

$2.36 $2.36

-24.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 ₡1,627

$2.52 $2.52

44.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 ₡1,546

$6.68 $6.68

-48.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 ₡1,518

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,387

$2.01 $2.01

53.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ₡514

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 ₡1,282

$3.40 $3.40

-15.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.42 ₡2,432

Wine (Bottle)

$15.44 ₡6,927

$20.06 $20.06

-23.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₡1,212

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 ₡1,530

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₡505

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.7 ₡29.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 ₡998

$3.07 $3.07

-27.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 ₡891

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₡4,020

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 ₡707

$2.17 $2.17

-27.19%

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

$33.6K ₡15.1M

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

$37.0K ₡16.6M

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

$97.1 ₡43.6K

$392 $392

-75.25%

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

$31.32 ₡14.1K

$69.1 $69.1

-54.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 ₡26.8K

$145 $145

-58.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.5 ₡29.4K

$101 $101

-35.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.48 ₡10.5K

Cinema Ticket

$8.59 ₡3,853

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

$748 ₡335.6K

$510 $510

46.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.7M

$12.8K $12.8K

-0.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.6 ₡33.9K

$80.7 $80.7

-6.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 ₡24.3K

$59.8 $59.8

-9.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 ₡58.1K

$151 $151

-14.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₡50.8K

$98.6 $98.6

14.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 ₡392.7K

$1,795 $1,795

-51.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₡296.8K

$1,858 $1,858

-64.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,772 ₡795.1K

$4,740 $4,740

-62.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 ₡540.4K

$5,040 $5,040

-76.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,413 ₡1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,634 ₡733.0K

$2,185 $2,185

-25.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,078 ₡483.5K

$4,410 $4,410

-75.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.56

36.57%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: August 30, 2026

Last update for Turks And Caicos Islands: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $1,106 in Costa Rica vs $5,194 in Turks And Caicos Islands. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 87% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 77% more in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 370% higher in Turks And Caicos Islands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Turks And Caicos Islands.

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 Turks And Caicos Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Rica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 8% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Turks And Caicos Islands, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Turks And Caicos Islands consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Costa Rica, contributing to the overall 8% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Costa Rica, but in Turks And Caicos Islands 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.