🙂A single person spends $502 per month in Grenada vs $1,536 in Costa Rica, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $771 per month in Grenada vs $2,325 in Costa Rica, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,039 per month in Grenada vs $3,113 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 63% below the global median, while Costa Rica is 14% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.14EC$21.98
$9.92₡4,484
-17.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9EC$213
$60.2₡27.2K
31.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.06EC$29.87
$9.80₡4,429
12.86%
Cappuccino
$3.69EC$9.96
$4.11₡1,859
-10.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75EC$4.72
$2.10₡951
-16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24EC$3.36
$1.70₡770
-27.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84EC$4.96
$3.01₡1,359
-38.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92EC$7.89
$4.39₡1,986
-33.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.93EC$10.61
$2.01₡909
95.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85EC$4.99
$3.10₡1,401
-40.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08EC$5.60
$2.45₡1,105
-15.10%
Eggs
$4.40EC$11.89
$3.37₡1,524
30.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.07EC$29.90
$9.13₡4,127
21.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.29EC$19.69
$9.46₡4,275
-22.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.85EC$42.81
$13.21₡5,970
19.98%
Apples(1kg)
$9.57EC$25.83
$4.54₡2,052
110.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73EC$4.67
$1.61₡729
7.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41EC$6.51
$3.19₡1,440
-24.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.70EC$15.40
$3.07₡1,387
85.67%
Potato(1kg)
$3.46EC$9.33
$2.98₡1,346
16.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07EC$5.58
$2.72₡1,228
-23.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.74EC$4.70
$1.01₡458
72.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73EC$4.67
$2.44₡1,102
-29.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.63EC$15.21
$5.04₡2,277
11.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.01EC$27.04
$15.95₡7,205
-37.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83EC$4.93
$2.35₡1,063
-22.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34EC$6.32
$2.72₡1,228
-13.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00EC$2.69
$0.97₡438
3.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.92EC$99.7
$49.77₡22.5K
-25.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.87EC$40.15
$1.89₡855
686.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.94₡879
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.46EC$25.55
$7.78₡3,513
21.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44EC$3.90
$1.51₡683
-4.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KEC$70.6K
$37.3K₡16.9M
-29.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3KEC$84.5K
$35.7K₡16.1M
-12.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$226EC$609
$86.7₡39.2K
160.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.60EC$98.8
$25.28₡11.4K
44.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.83EC$124
$54.7₡24.7K
-16.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.96EC$105
$57.8₡26.1K
-32.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.02EC$64.8
$29.25₡13.2K
-17.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.98EC$26.95
$9.10₡4,112
9.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$212EC$572
$542₡244.9K
-60.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,700EC$7,290
$10.0K₡4.5M
-73.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6EC$155
$73.6₡33.3K
-21.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$99.8EC$270
$54.3₡24.5K
84.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.4EC$225
$119₡53.9K
-30.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130EC$351
$104₡46.9K
25.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$617EC$1,667
$799₡360.9K
-22.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389EC$1,050
$545₡246.3K
-28.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,255EC$3,390
$1,482₡669.5K
-15.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$793EC$2,141
$1,037₡468.4K
-23.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$924EC$2,495
$2,403₡1.1M
-61.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$57.4KEC$154.9K
$1,603₡724.1K
3479.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$870EC$2,349
$1,079₡487.7K
-19.42%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Costa Rica: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $196 in Grenada vs $777 in Costa Rica. For reference, capital cities sit at $574 in Saint George's and $880 in San Jose.
💰Average salary: $901 in Grenada vs $1,089 in Costa Rica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 296% higher in Costa Rica.
⭐Dining out costs 108% more in Costa Rica.
⭐Public transport is 117% more expensive in Costa Rica.
⭐Salaries are 21% 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 150% 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 150% 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.