Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Encarnacion Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Encarnacion

😐 Solo nomad: Guanacaste is 59% more expensive than Encarnacion without rent, and 87.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Guanacaste is 61.5% more expensive than Encarnacion without rent, and 112.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guanacaste
Encarnacion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.94 ₡4,727
$3.37 ₲21.9K
194.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.59 ₡21.2K
$28.32 ₲183.8K
57.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.09 ₡4,801
$4.68 ₲30.4K
115.60%
Cappuccino
$3.82 ₡1,819
$1.08 ₲6,992
253.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡933
$1.45 ₲9,403
35.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₡763
$0.51 ₲3,295
213.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.89 ₡1,376
$2.24 ₲14.5K
29.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 ₡2,026
$2.11 ₲13.7K
101.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guanacaste
Encarnacion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ₡902
$0.83 ₲5,369
127.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 ₡1,377
$0.46 ₲3,002
528.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ₡1,036
$0.88 ₲5,710
147.73%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,400
$1.71 ₲11.1K
71.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.94 ₡2,352
$5.32 ₲34.5K
-7.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 ₡1,848
$3.34 ₲21.6K
16.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.11 ₡4,809
$5.76 ₲37.4K
75.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,104
$2.15 ₲13.9K
7.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ₡699
$0.84 ₲5,424
75.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.87 ₡1,841
$0.88 ₲5,715
339.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 ₡642
$1.73 ₲11.3K
-21.97%
Potato (1kg)
$3.45 ₡1,641
$0.86 ₲5,581
301.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 ₡953
$0.88 ₲5,697
127.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 ₡399
$0.60 ₲3,878
40.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.93 ₡1,393
$0.58 ₲3,749
405.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 ₡1,931
$1.46 ₲9,454
178.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.87 ₡9,455
$5.46 ₲35.4K
263.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 ₡1,187
$0.84 ₲5,478
196.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₡1,126
$1.51 ₲9,824
56.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Guanacaste
Encarnacion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 ₡463
$0.47 ₲3,019
106.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$35.32 ₲229.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ₡846
$1.29 ₲8,370
37.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 ₡854
$0.66 ₲4,284
172.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.68 ₡3,653
$6.71 ₲43.5K
14.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ₡671
$0.98 ₲6,339
43.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K ₡18.0M
$14.0K ₲90.8M
170.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ₡15.7M
$26.4K ₲171.6M
24.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guanacaste
Encarnacion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.7 ₡44.1K
$44.41 ₲288.3K
108.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.86 ₡12.3K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.88 ₡14.2K
$16.88 ₲109.5K
77.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guanacaste
Encarnacion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 ₡26.6K
$27.06 ₲175.6K
106.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.95 ₡11.4K
$12.95 ₲84.1K
84.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.71 ₡4,619
$5.97 ₲38.8K
62.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guanacaste
Encarnacion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡269.8K
$201 ₲1.3M
182.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡6.0M
$3,366 ₲21.8M
277.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guanacaste
Encarnacion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2 ₡28.7K
$56.9 ₲369.4K
5.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32 ₡18.7K
$28.34 ₲183.9K
38.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.5 ₡38.3K
$69.0 ₲448.1K
16.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.5 ₡33.1K
$67.6 ₲438.9K
2.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guanacaste
Encarnacion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$766 ₡364.3K
$387 ₲2.5M
97.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$589 ₡280.4K
$304 ₲2.0M
93.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,494 ₡710.8K
$384 ₲2.5M
288.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$971 ₡462.2K
$278 ₲1.8M
249.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,540 ₲10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,074 ₲7.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guanacaste
Encarnacion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$301 ₲2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
9.5
7.05%

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

Last update for Guanacaste: March 1, 2026

Last update for Encarnacion: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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