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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $509 per month in Grenada vs $1,536 in Costa Rica, rent included.

A couple spends around $772 per month in Grenada vs $2,320 in Costa Rica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,035 per month in Grenada vs $3,104 in Costa Rica, rent included.

Grenada is roughly 67% cheaper than Costa Rica on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Grenada sits 62% below the global median, while Costa Rica is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.44 EC$22.78
$9.69 ₡4,405
-12.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 EC$215
$59.8 ₡27.2K
32.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 EC$30.07
$9.65 ₡4,390
15.44%
Cappuccino
$3.72 EC$10.03
$3.99 ₡1,814
-6.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 EC$4.60
$2.18 ₡991
-22.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 EC$3.53
$1.64 ₡744
-20.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.88 EC$5.09
$3.05 ₡1,385
-38.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 EC$7.95
$4.42 ₡2,008
-33.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.94 EC$10.64
$2.05 ₡932
92.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 EC$4.75
$3.21 ₡1,462
-45.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 EC$5.51
$2.49 ₡1,131
-18.07%
Eggs
$4.24 EC$11.45
$3.29 ₡1,495
28.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.89 EC$29.41
$9.11 ₡4,141
19.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.40 EC$19.99
$9.70 ₡4,409
-23.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.63 EC$42.21
$13.19 ₡5,999
18.50%
Apples (1kg)
$9.82 EC$26.52
$4.53 ₡2,059
116.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 EC$4.81
$1.57 ₡713
13.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 EC$6.27
$3.20 ₡1,457
-27.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.51 EC$14.88
$2.94 ₡1,337
87.41%
Potato (1kg)
$3.34 EC$9.01
$2.99 ₡1,359
11.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 EC$5.51
$2.71 ₡1,233
-24.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.73 EC$4.68
$1.03 ₡468
67.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 EC$4.66
$2.50 ₡1,136
-30.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52 EC$14.90
$5.05 ₡2,296
9.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.23 EC$27.61
$16.18 ₡7,359
-36.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 EC$4.88
$2.39 ₡1,089
-24.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 EC$6.42
$2.77 ₡1,258
-14.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 EC$2.82
$0.95 ₡430
9.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.38 EC$101
$48.97 ₡22.3K
-23.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$14.88 EC$40.17
$1.86 ₡846
700.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.01 ₡914
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.99 EC$24.27
$7.75 ₡3,526
16.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 EC$3.75
$1.50 ₡683
-7.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K EC$69.6K
$36.8K ₡16.7M
-29.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K EC$83.3K
$35.5K ₡16.1M
-13.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 EC$605
$87.5 ₡39.8K
156.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.91 EC$97.0
$25.82 ₡11.7K
39.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.35 EC$122
$54.5 ₡24.8K
-16.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.98 EC$105
$56.4 ₡25.7K
-30.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.70 EC$66.7
$29.13 ₡13.2K
-15.21%
Cinema Ticket
$10.20 EC$27.55
$9.14 ₡4,156
11.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$212 EC$572
$555 ₡252.3K
-61.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,754 EC$7,436
$9,828 ₡4.5M
-71.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 EC$155
$73.9 ₡33.6K
-22.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$97.8 EC$264
$54.2 ₡24.6K
80.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.5 EC$223
$119 ₡53.9K
-30.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 EC$355
$102 ₡46.4K
28.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$604 EC$1,630
$822 ₡373.9K
-26.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 EC$1,071
$549 ₡249.6K
-27.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 EC$3,395
$1,469 ₡667.9K
-14.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$793 EC$2,140
$1,023 ₡465.3K
-22.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$944 EC$2,547
$2,327 ₡1.1M
-59.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$56.3K EC$152.1K
$1,612 ₡733.2K
3392.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$875 EC$2,363
$1,076 ₡489.4K
-18.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
10.53
-35.90%

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

Last update for Grenada: April 27, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $200 in Grenada vs $776 in Costa Rica. For reference, capital cities sit at $583 in Saint George's and $872 in San Jose.

Average salary: $896 in Grenada vs $1,110 in Costa Rica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 288% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 104% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 117% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 24% higher in Costa Rica, giving Grenada stronger purchasing power.

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
Grenada vs Costa Rica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Costa Rica or Grenada?
Grenada is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 144% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Costa Rica or Grenada?
Housing costs more in Costa Rica, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Costa Rica consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Costa Rica vs Grenada?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Grenada, contributing to the overall 144% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Costa Rica and Grenada on $1,500 per month?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Grenada, but in Costa Rica it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Costa Rica or Grenada?
Grenada 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.

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