🙂A single person spends $592 per month in Grenada vs $1,676 in Costa Rica, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $944 per month in Grenada vs $2,636 in Costa Rica, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,295 per month in Grenada vs $3,595 in Costa Rica, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Grenada is roughly 65% lower than in Costa Rica on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Grenada sits 57% below the global median, while Costa Rica is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.97EC$29.63
$11.06₡4,916
-0.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.1EC$149
$56.5₡25.1K
-2.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.16EC$24.74
$10.92₡4,855
-16.12%
Cappuccino
$3.50EC$9.46
$4.48₡1,992
-21.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81EC$4.90
$2.34₡1,042
-22.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43EC$3.86
$1.90₡843
-24.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05EC$5.54
$3.31₡1,471
-38.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66EC$9.88
$4.44₡1,975
-17.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.29EC$11.59
$2.43₡1,081
76.54%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17EC$5.87
$3.65₡1,621
-40.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95EC$5.26
$2.85₡1,268
-31.58%
Eggs
$4.63EC$12.49
$4.15₡1,844
11.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.00EC$32.40
$10.13₡4,504
18.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.53EC$28.42
$10.55₡4,690
-0.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.17EC$49.07
$13.81₡6,136
31.57%
Apples(1kg)
$14.76EC$39.85
$5.12₡2,278
188.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60EC$7.03
$1.72₡763
51.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74EC$7.39
$3.71₡1,649
-26.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.37EC$17.19
$3.40₡1,511
87.35%
Potato(1kg)
$4.63EC$12.49
$3.46₡1,536
33.82%
Onion(1kg)
$3.29EC$8.88
$3.11₡1,384
5.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53EC$4.13
$1.14₡509
34.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46EC$6.65
$2.77₡1,231
-11.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.38EC$19.93
$5.47₡2,429
34.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.87EC$34.75
$16.31₡7,249
-21.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93EC$5.21
$2.69₡1,196
-28.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67EC$7.22
$3.33₡1,480
-19.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14EC$3.08
$1.12₡500
1.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.3EC$155
$65.7₡29.2K
-12.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.60EC$39.42
$2.19₡971
566.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89EC$5.09
$2.07₡922
-8.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.45EC$25.53
$9.41₡4,181
0.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34EC$3.61
$1.56₡692
-14.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KEC$70.7K
$33.9K₡15.1M
-22.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KEC$85.4K
$37.4K₡16.6M
-15.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227EC$612
$96.4₡42.8K
135.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.01EC$89.1
$31.48₡14.0K
4.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.49EC$128
$59.5₡26.4K
-20.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.39EC$106
$65.9₡29.3K
-40.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.70EC$66.7
$22.45₡9,978
10.02%
Cinema Ticket
$10.36EC$27.96
$8.90₡3,957
16.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$212EC$571
$748₡332.4K
-71.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,784EC$7,517
$12.8K₡5.7M
-78.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.8EC$175
$76.9₡34.2K
-15.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$83.5EC$226
$56.8₡25.2K
47.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7EC$215
$133₡59.2K
-40.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113EC$306
$107₡47.7K
5.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$672EC$1,815
$873₡388.1K
-23.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$504EC$1,361
$650₡288.9K
-22.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,705EC$4,605
$1,779₡790.8K
-4.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$914EC$2,467
$1,193₡530.0K
-23.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,552EC$9,590
$2,452₡1.1M
44.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$57.0KEC$153.9K
$1,642₡729.8K
3370.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grenada
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$778EC$2,100
$1,059₡470.5K
-26.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.8
9.56
-28.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grenada: September 12, 2026
Last update for Costa Rica: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $309 in Grenada vs $833 in Costa Rica. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,156 in Saint George's and $965 in San Jose.
💰Average salary: $689 in Grenada vs $1,101 in Costa Rica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 170% higher in Costa Rica.
⭐Dining out costs 39% more in Costa Rica.
⭐Public transport is 19% more expensive in Grenada.
⭐Salaries are 60% higher in Costa Rica, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Grenada.
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 94% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Costa Rica or in 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 94% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Costa Rica and Grenada on $2,500 per month?
$2,500 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.