Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

🙂 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 21.5% cheaper than United States without rent, and 45% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 20.9% cheaper than United States without rent, and 36.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.19 ₡5,052

$20.22 $20.22

-49.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 ₡30.0K

$75.7 $75.7

-20.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 ₡5,041

$11.47 $11.47

-11.33%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,933

$5.13 $5.13

-23.98%

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

$2.19 ₡1,086

$2.61 $2.61

-16.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡819

$2.14 $2.14

-22.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ₡1,460

$6.17 $6.17

-52.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₡2,142

$7.07 $7.07

-38.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ₡1,005

$1.08 $1.08

87.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 ₡1,576

$3.74 $3.74

-14.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 ₡1,234

$4.57 $4.57

-45.51%

Eggs

$3.41 ₡1,688

$4.20 $4.20

-18.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 ₡4,584

$13.02 $13.02

-28.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.42 ₡4,670

$12.18 $12.18

-22.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.28 ₡6,583

$16.14 $16.14

-17.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₡2,235

$5.31 $5.31

-15.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₡763

$1.72 $1.72

-10.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 ₡1,673

$4.59 $4.59

-26.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,458

$4.96 $4.96

-40.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 ₡1,475

$3.00 $3.00

-1.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 ₡1,403

$3.04 $3.04

-6.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡502

$2.18 $2.18

-53.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,257

$2.19 $2.19

15.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.03 ₡2,494

$10.16 $10.16

-50.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.31 ₡7,589

$15.16 $15.16

0.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₡1,145

$1.99 $1.99

16.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₡1,347

$3.71 $3.71

-26.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡475

$2.48 $2.48

-61.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.97 ₡24.3K

$63.9 $63.9

-23.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡893

$3.69 $3.69

-51.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 ₡995

$1.76 $1.76

14.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.51 ₡3,723

$30.06 $30.06

-75.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡752

$0.96 $0.96

58.33%

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

$36.6K ₡18.2M

$30.2K $30.2K

21.23%

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

$36.0K ₡17.9M

$26.3K $26.3K

36.96%

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

$85.9 ₡42.6K

$207 $207

-58.58%

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

$25.46 ₡12.6K

$57.0 $57.0

-55.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.9 ₡26.7K

$71.5 $71.5

-24.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₡28.4K

$45.91 $45.91

24.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.36 ₡14.6K

$22.25 $22.25

31.96%

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 ₡4,466

$14.13 $14.13

-36.23%

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

$540 ₡267.8K

$1,385 $1,385

-60.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K ₡5.0M

$22.2K $22.2K

-54.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.5 ₡35.5K

$52.1 $52.1

37.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 ₡27.2K

$42.53 $42.53

29.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₡58.2K

$89.9 $89.9

30.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₡50.8K

$114 $114

-10.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$810 ₡401.7K

$1,743 $1,743

-53.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 ₡272.9K

$1,422 $1,422

-61.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,488 ₡737.8K

$2,821 $2,821

-47.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,043 ₡516.9K

$2,370 $2,370

-56.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,335 ₡1.2M

$3,338 $3,338

-30.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,607 ₡796.5K

$2,615 $2,615

-38.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$981 ₡486.2K

$4,230 $4,230

-76.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.53

6.51

61.75%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: January 12, 2026

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and United States

Similar countries

🇵🇱 Poland

🇬🇷 Greece

🇭🇷 Croatia

🇸🇰 Slovakia

🇰🇷 South Korea

🇱🇹 Lithuania

🇺🇾 Uruguay

🇵🇦 Panama