Cost of Living Comparison Between Topeka, KS and Escazu Cost of Living Comparison Between Topeka, KS and Escazu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,903 in Topeka, KS versus $2,047 in Escazu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,044 in Topeka, KS versus $2,851 in Escazu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,184 in Topeka, KS versus $3,655 in Escazu.

Living in Topeka, KS costs roughly 7% less than in Escazu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Topeka, KS 43% above, Escazu 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.75 $13.75

$10.73 ₡4,813

28.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.9 $52.9

$60.8 ₡27.3K

-13.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 $10.07

$9.79 ₡4,391

2.86%

Cappuccino

$3.45 $3.45

$3.89 ₡1,745

-11.31%

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

$2.19 $2.19

$1.98 ₡888

10.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.65 ₡741

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$3.00 ₡1,344

70.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.60 ₡2,062

31.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.95 ₡876

-60.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.76 ₡1,239

13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.20 ₡988

-2.73%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.03 ₡1,357

41.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 $8.64

$10.15 ₡4,551

-14.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.12 $11.12

$9.02 ₡4,045

23.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 $12.62

$13.49 ₡6,051

-6.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$4.37 ₡1,959

24.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.52 ₡683

33.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.37 ₡1,960

6.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.28 ₡1,473

23.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.50 ₡1,570

7.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.24 ₡1,455

-24.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$0.95 ₡427

94.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.94 ₡1,316

-67.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.04 $9.04

$5.06 ₡2,271

78.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 $11.85

$19.00 ₡8,521

-37.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.73 ₡776

5.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.69 ₡1,208

-38.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.62 $4.62

$0.97 ₡434

376.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.96 $49.96

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.75 ₡786

56.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.79 ₡802

-25.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.61 $33.61

$7.77 ₡3,485

332.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.41 ₡634

-49.65%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$31.1K ₡13.9M

-23.81%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$32.0K ₡14.3M

-21.24%

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

$111 $111

$66.7 ₡29.9K

66.16%

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

$50.3 $50.3

$25.68 ₡11.5K

95.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.5 $64.5

$50.8 ₡22.8K

27.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.2 $58.2

$105 ₡47.1K

-44.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.27 $15.27

$10.18 ₡4,564

50.00%

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 $12.47

$9.82 ₡4,404

26.99%

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

$445 $445

$565 ₡253.5K

-21.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$14.3K ₡6.4M

66.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.20 $22.20

$62.4 ₡28.0K

-64.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.80 $19.80

$50.7 ₡22.7K

-60.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.1 $72.1

$126 ₡56.4K

-42.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.7 $80.7

$106 ₡47.6K

-23.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$772 $772

$1,062 ₡476.0K

-27.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$849 $849

$1,056 ₡473.4K

-19.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 $1,898

$1,652 ₡740.8K

14.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,817 $1,817

$1,302 ₡583.7K

39.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,367 $1,367

$1,380 ₡618.8K

-0.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,346 $1,346

$1,232 ₡552.4K

9.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,499 $3,499

$1,783 ₡799.7K

96.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.11

10.17

-39.92%

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

Last update for Topeka, KS: July 25, 2026

Last update for Escazu: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $772 in Topeka, KS and $1,062 in Escazu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Topeka, KS pays 96% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Topeka, KS vs $61.0 in Escazu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $334 vs $357 per month, with Topeka, KS cheaper across the board.

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

Topeka, KS vs Escazu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Topeka, KS is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 96% higher in Topeka, KS, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $772 in Topeka, KS versus $1,062 in Escazu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Escazu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,903 per month in Topeka, KS versus $2,047 in Escazu – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,903 in Topeka, KS versus $2,047 in Escazu, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Topeka, KS but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes Topeka, KS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Topeka, KS is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Escazu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Topeka, KS and Escazu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Topeka, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.