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: $1,935 in Topeka, KS versus $1,922 in Escazu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,916 in Topeka, KS versus $2,968 in Escazu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,896 in Topeka, KS versus $4,014 in Escazu.

Living in Topeka, KS is roughly 1% more expensive than in Escazu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Topeka, KS 41% above, Escazu 40% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.09 $15.09

$12.15 ₡5,401

24.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 $52.2

$58.9 ₡26.2K

-11.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.18 $12.18

$11.48 ₡5,101

6.10%

Cappuccino

$3.45 $3.45

$4.30 ₡1,912

-19.77%

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

$2.28 $2.28

$2.68 ₡1,192

-14.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.93 ₡858

-8.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.31 ₡1,469

35.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.65 $7.65

$4.33 ₡1,926

76.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$2.34 ₡1,040

-63.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.13 ₡1,391

-10.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.42 ₡1,076

25.21%

Eggs

$4.01 $4.01

$3.52 ₡1,565

13.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.56 $8.56

$11.00 ₡4,890

-22.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.17 $9.17

$10.60 ₡4,713

-13.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.95 $16.95

$14.12 ₡6,278

20.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.07 ₡2,253

-5.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.61 ₡714

1.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.20 ₡1,422

61.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.16 ₡1,403

31.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.77 ₡1,675

-19.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$3.71 ₡1,651

-30.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.00 ₡445

91.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.71 ₡759

-53.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.27 $9.27

$5.54 ₡2,461

67.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$19.25 ₡8,556

-38.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.67 ₡743

7.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.77 ₡1,232

-38.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.05 $4.05

$1.11 ₡495

264.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.0 $51.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.10 ₡932

28.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.63 ₡726

-7.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.18 $33.18

$8.77 ₡3,896

278.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.47 ₡652

-44.22%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$21.8K ₡9.7M

8.85%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$34.7K ₡15.4M

-28.45%

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

$121 $121

$97.4 ₡43.3K

24.48%

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

$49.88 $49.88

$30.08 ₡13.4K

65.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.3 $65.3

$63.0 ₡28.0K

3.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.45 $45.45

$109 ₡48.4K

-58.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.14 $15.14

$9.96 ₡4,427

52.01%

Cinema Ticket

$14.92 $14.92

$8.36 ₡3,715

78.47%

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

$445 $445

$450 ₡199.9K

-1.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K ₡7.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.38 $38.38

$72.7 ₡32.3K

-47.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.78 $28.78

$55.4 ₡24.6K

-48.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 $89.0

$133 ₡58.9K

-32.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.4 $79.4

$134 ₡59.7K

-40.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$790 $790

$843 ₡374.7K

-6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$856 $856

$836 ₡371.6K

2.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 $1,313

$1,922 ₡854.0K

-31.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,487 $1,487

$1,497 ₡665.2K

-0.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,275 $1,275

$1,378 ₡612.4K

-7.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,371 $1,371

$945 ₡420.1K

45.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,616 $3,616

$1,803 ₡801.3K

100.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

8.78

-31.32%

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

Last update for Topeka, KS: September 13, 2026

Last update for Escazu: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $790 in Topeka, KS and $843 in Escazu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Topeka, KS pays 101% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $52.0 in Topeka, KS vs $59.0 in Escazu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $330 vs $366 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

Escazu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 101% 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: $790 in Topeka, KS versus $843 in Escazu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Topeka, KS pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,935 per month in Topeka, KS versus $1,922 in Escazu – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,922 in Escazu versus $1,935 in Topeka, KS, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Escazu but tight or insufficient in Topeka, KS. The gap between the two cities makes Escazu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Escazu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Topeka, KS, 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 Escazu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Topeka, KS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.