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 23.4% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 85.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: United States is 20.5% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 63.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.33 $20.33

$9.65 ₡4,833

110.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.4 $74.4

$58.6 ₡29.3K

26.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.49 $11.49

$9.9 ₡4,957

16.06%

Cappuccino

$5.09 $5.09

$3.9 ₡1,954

30.51%

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

$2.54 $2.54

$2.2 ₡1,100

15.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.65 ₡827

27.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.03 ₡1,517

100.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.1 $7.1

$4.55 ₡2,278

56.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.06 ₡1,033

-47.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.06 ₡1,530

20.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$2.52 ₡1,261

84.52%

Eggs

$4.21 $4.21

$3.29 ₡1,646

27.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.75 $12.75

$9.29 ₡4,650

37.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$9.54 ₡4,775

28.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.08 $16.08

$13.6 ₡6,808

18.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.41 $5.41

$4.67 ₡2,337

15.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.56 ₡782

10.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.34 ₡1,672

30.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.01 ₡1,507

64.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$3.04 ₡1,524

-5.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.85 ₡1,426

7.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.01 ₡506

122.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.54 ₡1,273

-12.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.09 $10.09

$4.86 ₡2,434

107.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.87 ₡7,442

-0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.27 ₡1,137

-15.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.73 ₡1,366

29.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.95 ₡476

169.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 $63.9

$49.46 ₡24.8K

29.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 $3.81

$1.81 ₡904

110.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.93 ₡969

-8.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.4 $30.4

$7.69 ₡3,850

295.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.47 ₡735

-36.05%

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

$30K $30K

$37.4K ₡18.7M

-19.89%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$34.8K ₡17.4M

-25.92%

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

$209 $209

$86.9 ₡43.5K

140.24%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$25.46 ₡12.7K

127.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.1 $71.1

$54.7 ₡27.4K

29.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.88 $45.88

$57.8 ₡28.9K

-20.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.25 $22.25

$28.42 ₡14.2K

-21.71%

Cinema Ticket

$14.14 $14.14

$9.08 ₡4,546

55.73%

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

$1,373 $1,373

$551 ₡275.9K

149.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$9,816 ₡4.9M

127.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$72.3 ₡36.2K

-28.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.96 $41.96

$55.2 ₡27.6K

-24.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 $88.3

$118 ₡59.3K

-25.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$104 ₡52.1K

7.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,731 $1,731

$817 ₡408.8K

112.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,446 $1,446

$539 ₡269.6K

168.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,846 $2,846

$1,495 ₡748.3K

90.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,366 $2,366

$1,019 ₡510.2K

132.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,245 $3,245

$2,511 ₡1.3M

29.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,667 $2,667

$1,384 ₡693K

92.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,312 $4,312

$996 ₡498.8K

332.79%

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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

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