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 19% cheaper than United States without rent, and 46.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 17% cheaper than United States without rent, and 38.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.65 ₡4,833

$20.33 $20.33

-52.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡29.3K

$74.4 $74.4

-21.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.9 ₡4,957

$11.49 $11.49

-13.84%

Cappuccino

$3.9 ₡1,954

$5.09 $5.09

-23.38%

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

$2.2 ₡1,100

$2.54 $2.54

-13.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡827

$2.11 $2.11

-21.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 ₡1,517

$6.09 $6.09

-50.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ₡2,278

$7.1 $7.1

-35.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,033

$1.08 $1.08

90.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.06 ₡1,530

$3.7 $3.7

-17.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 ₡1,261

$4.65 $4.65

-45.81%

Eggs

$3.29 ₡1,646

$4.21 $4.21

-21.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.29 ₡4,650

$12.75 $12.75

-27.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.54 ₡4,775

$12.24 $12.24

-22.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.6 ₡6,808

$16.08 $16.08

-15.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 ₡2,337

$5.41 $5.41

-13.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₡782

$1.73 $1.73

-9.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 ₡1,672

$4.37 $4.37

-23.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.01 ₡1,507

$4.94 $4.94

-39.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 ₡1,524

$2.88 $2.88

5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,426

$3.07 $3.07

-7.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡506

$2.25 $2.25

-55.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,273

$2.21 $2.21

14.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.86 ₡2,434

$10.09 $10.09

-51.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 ₡7,442

$14.73 $14.73

0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₡1,137

$1.91 $1.91

18.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₡1,366

$3.54 $3.54

-22.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡476

$2.56 $2.56

-62.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.46 ₡24.8K

$63.9 $63.9

-22.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡904

$3.81 $3.81

-52.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 ₡969

$1.77 $1.77

9.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 ₡3,850

$30.4 $30.4

-74.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡735

$0.94 $0.94

56.38%

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

$37.4K ₡18.7M

$30K $30K

24.83%

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

$34.8K ₡17.4M

$25.8K $25.8K

34.98%

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

$86.9 ₡43.5K

$209 $209

-58.38%

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

$25.46 ₡12.7K

$57.9 $57.9

-55.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 ₡27.4K

$71.1 $71.1

-23.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡28.9K

$45.88 $45.88

25.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.42 ₡14.2K

$22.25 $22.25

27.73%

Cinema Ticket

$9.08 ₡4,546

$14.14 $14.14

-35.79%

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

$551 ₡275.9K

$1,373 $1,373

-59.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,816 ₡4.9M

$22.4K $22.4K

-56.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.3 ₡36.2K

$51.5 $51.5

40.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.2 ₡27.6K

$41.96 $41.96

31.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₡59.3K

$88.3 $88.3

34.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₡52.1K

$112 $112

-6.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ₡408.8K

$1,731 $1,731

-52.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₡269.6K

$1,446 $1,446

-62.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,495 ₡748.3K

$2,846 $2,846

-47.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 ₡510.2K

$2,366 $2,366

-56.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,511 ₡1.3M

$3,245 $3,245

-22.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,384 ₡693K

$2,667 $2,667

-48.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.8K

$4,312 $4,312

-76.89%

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: October 28, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Barcelona

🇪🇸 Spain

Athens

🇬🇷 Greece

Madrid

🇪🇸 Spain

Rome

🇮🇹 Italy

Brisbane

🇦🇺 Australia

Turin

🇮🇹 Italy

Tokyo

🇯🇵 Japan

Abu Dhabi

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates