Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Costa Rica Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Costa Rica

Name: Costa Rica
Address: CR

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 21.9% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 78.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: United States is 22.3% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 60.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$9.67 ₡4,549

106.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 $74.7

$58.6 ₡27.6K

27.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 $11.40

$10.23 ₡4,816

11.44%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$3.97 ₡1,870

35.26%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.17 ₡1,021

21.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.73 ₡814

19.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 $5.90

$2.89 ₡1,361

104.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 $7.02

$4.40 ₡2,073

59.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$2.05 ₡966

-46.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.09 ₡1,453

14.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$2.51 ₡1,181

88.45%

Eggs

$4.30 $4.30

$3.30 ₡1,552

30.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$9.16 ₡4,312

42.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 $12.22

$9.29 ₡4,374

31.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.36 $16.36

$13.16 ₡6,195

24.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$4.48 ₡2,108

16.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.62 ₡762

4.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.22 ₡1,514

42.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.98 ₡1,404

66.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.01 ₡1,416

-1.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.85 ₡1,339

6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.01 ₡476

123.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.51 ₡1,182

-13.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 $9.83

$4.94 ₡2,325

98.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$15.72 ₡7,401

-3.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.38 ₡1,118

-19.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.71 ₡1,277

32.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 $2.49

$0.94 ₡443

164.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.1 $66.1

$48.94 ₡23.0K

35.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.79 ₡843

113.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.01 ₡946

-11.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.48 $29.48

$7.82 ₡3,683

276.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.51 ₡711

-39.74%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$36.8K ₡17.3M

-19.87%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$34.7K ₡16.3M

-24.77%

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

$206 $206

$86.8 ₡40.9K

137.55%

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

$56.9 $56.9

$25.69 ₡12.1K

121.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.8 $72.8

$53.8 ₡25.3K

35.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.23 $45.23

$55.9 ₡26.3K

-19.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.84 $21.84

$28.78 ₡13.5K

-24.11%

Cinema Ticket

$13.79 $13.79

$9.04 ₡4,257

52.54%

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

$1,355 $1,355

$560 ₡263.7K

141.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.6K $22.6K

$10.0K ₡4.7M

125.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$72.4 ₡34.1K

-29.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.37 $42.37

$54.4 ₡25.6K

-22.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$117 ₡55.1K

-24.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$103 ₡48.4K

11.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,763 $1,763

$811 ₡381.9K

117.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 $1,432

$551 ₡259.2K

160.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,827 $2,827

$1,482 ₡697.7K

90.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,358 $2,358

$1,036 ₡487.6K

127.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,391 $3,391

$2,301 ₡1.1M

47.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$1,575 ₡741.5K

65.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,326 $4,326

$1,030 ₡484.9K

319.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

10.53

-38.18%

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

Last update for United States: March 3, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Costa Rica Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Costa Rica

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

United States

Costa Rica

United States

Costa Rica

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