Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Semarang Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Semarang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,572 per month in Guanacaste vs $584 in Semarang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,473 per month in Guanacaste vs $946 in Semarang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,373 per month in Guanacaste vs $1,307 in Semarang, rent included.

Guanacaste costs about 169% more than Semarang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Guanacaste sits 14% above the global median, while Semarang is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.25 ₡5,013

$1.45 Rp 25.7K

675.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.69 ₡21.7K

$10.77 Rp 191.4K

352.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.38 ₡5,072

$3.30 Rp 58.6K

244.85%

Cappuccino

$4.38 ₡1,953

$1.29 Rp 22.9K

239.53%

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

$2.67 ₡1,192

$0.46 Rp 8,158

480.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡863

$0.18 Rp 3,188

977.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,353

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

73.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 ₡1,977

$3.45 Rp 61.4K

28.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ₡911

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

83.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.09 ₡1,377

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

247.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 ₡1,090

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

214.10%

Eggs

$3.45 ₡1,539

$1.44 Rp 25.5K

139.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.61 ₡2,498

$5.63 Rp 100.0K

-0.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 ₡1,923

$2.39 Rp 42.4K

80.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.27 ₡5,022

$8.13 Rp 144.5K

38.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ₡1,158

$2.42 Rp 43.0K

7.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡719

$1.51 Rp 26.9K

6.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.42 ₡1,969

$1.82 Rp 32.4K

142.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ₡679

$1.64 Rp 29.1K

-7.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 ₡1,780

$1.89 Rp 33.6K

111.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 ₡974

$2.25 Rp 39.9K

-2.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ₡384

$0.79 Rp 14.1K

8.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 ₡1,391

$0.41 Rp 7,285

660.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 ₡1,944

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

92.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.31 ₡9,051

$14.10 Rp 250.5K

44.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,258

$2.43 Rp 43.2K

16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₡1,212

$2.69 Rp 47.8K

1.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 ₡522

$0.24 Rp 4,265

387.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 Rp 263.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₡1,092

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

184.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡727

$0.29 Rp 5,220

462.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ₡3,981

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ₡663

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

86.25%

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

$22.0K ₡9.8M

$22.8K Rp 405.8M

-3.59%

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

$35.4K ₡15.8M

$31.1K Rp 552.0M

14.06%

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

$94.6 ₡42.2K

$69.2 Rp 1.2M

36.71%

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

$36.82 ₡16.4K

$2.78 Rp 49.4K

1224.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.81 ₡15.1K

$20.20 Rp 358.9K

67.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.7 ₡33.3K

$20.51 Rp 364.4K

264.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.83 Rp 85.8K

Cinema Ticket

$8.54 ₡3,806

$2.27 Rp 40.4K

276.21%

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

$989 ₡440.8K

$40.71 Rp 723.3K

2329.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.3K ₡7.7M

$2,221 Rp 39.4M

679.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.5 ₡29.6K

$28.23 Rp 501.5K

135.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.70 ₡19.5K

$29.27 Rp 519.9K

49.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 ₡39.7K

$58.0 Rp 1.0M

53.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.9 ₡34.3K

$39.75 Rp 706.1K

93.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ₡361.5K

$232 Rp 4.1M

250.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ₡282.0K

$141 Rp 2.5M

347.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,841 ₡820.3K

$492 Rp 8.7M

274.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 ₡577.4K

$382 Rp 6.8M

238.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,183 Rp 21.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$573 Rp 10.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$195 Rp 3.5M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

7.83

12.13%

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

Last update for Guanacaste: August 30, 2026

Last update for Semarang: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $811 in Guanacaste versus $232 in Semarang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Guanacaste versus $11.00 in Semarang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $313 vs $183 – making Semarang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Guanacaste vs Semarang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guanacaste is pricier by about 169%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,358 per month in Guanacaste and $876 in Semarang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Semarang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,572 in Guanacaste and $584 in Semarang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $989 per month in Guanacaste and $40.71 in Semarang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semarang, where all-in costs run around $584, than in Guanacaste at $1,572. In Semarang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guanacaste it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Semarang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Semarang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guanacaste makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.