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 27.4% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 81.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: United States is 26.4% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 58.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$10.19 ₡5,052

98.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$60.5 ₡30.0K

25.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$10.17 ₡5,041

12.78%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$3.90 ₡1,933

31.54%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.19 ₡1,086

19.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.65 ₡819

29.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$2.95 ₡1,460

109.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$4.32 ₡2,142

63.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.03 ₡1,005

-46.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.18 ₡1,576

17.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$2.49 ₡1,234

83.53%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$3.41 ₡1,688

23.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.02 $13.02

$9.25 ₡4,584

40.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$9.42 ₡4,670

29.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.14 $16.14

$13.28 ₡6,583

21.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.51 ₡2,235

17.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.54 ₡763

11.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.37 ₡1,673

36.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.94 ₡1,458

68.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.97 ₡1,475

1.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.83 ₡1,403

7.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.01 ₡502

115.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.54 ₡1,257

-13.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$5.03 ₡2,494

101.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$15.31 ₡7,589

-0.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.31 ₡1,145

-13.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.72 ₡1,347

36.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.96 ₡475

158.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 $63.9

$48.97 ₡24.3K

30.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.80 ₡893

105.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.01 ₡995

-12.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.06 $30.06

$7.51 ₡3,723

300.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.52 ₡752

-36.84%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$36.6K ₡18.2M

-17.52%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$36.0K ₡17.9M

-26.99%

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

$207 $207

$85.9 ₡42.6K

141.41%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$25.46 ₡12.6K

124.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$53.9 ₡26.7K

32.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.91 $45.91

$57.3 ₡28.4K

-19.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.25 $22.25

$29.36 ₡14.6K

-24.22%

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

$9.01 ₡4,466

56.83%

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

$1,385 $1,385

$540 ₡267.8K

156.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$10.1K ₡5.0M

120.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$71.5 ₡35.5K

-27.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 $42.53

$54.9 ₡27.2K

-22.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 $89.9

$117 ₡58.2K

-23.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$103 ₡50.8K

11.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 $1,743

$810 ₡401.7K

115.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,422 $1,422

$551 ₡272.9K

158.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,821 $2,821

$1,488 ₡737.8K

89.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 $2,370

$1,043 ₡516.9K

127.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,338 $3,338

$2,335 ₡1.2M

42.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,615 $2,615

$1,607 ₡796.5K

62.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,230 $4,230

$981 ₡486.2K

331.40%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: January 12, 2026

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

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