Cost of Living in Costa Rica - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Costa Rica
Address: CR

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $929 (excluding rent), and $1,549 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,274 (excluding rent), and $3,373 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.67 ₡4,549

$6.76 ₡3,182

$19.32 ₡9,094

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡27.6K

$35.15 ₡16.5K

$98.2 ₡46.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.23 ₡4,816

$9.20 ₡4,332

$12.27 ₡5,774

Cappuccino

$3.97 ₡1,870

$1.99 ₡935

$6.91 ₡3,253

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

$2.17 ₡1,021

$1.61 ₡759

$3.04 ₡1,431

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₡814

$1.22 ₡576

$2.67 ₡1,255

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 ₡1,361

$1.93 ₡909

$4.82 ₡2,269

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 ₡2,073

$2.96 ₡1,392

$5.95 ₡2,802

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡966

$1.28 ₡602

$3.00 ₡1,411

White Bread (500g)

$3.09 ₡1,453

$1.26 ₡595

$5.46 ₡2,569

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,181

$1.83 ₡859

$4.06 ₡1,911

Eggs

$3.30 ₡1,552

$1.90 ₡896

$5.86 ₡2,758

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.16 ₡4,312

$3.92 ₡1,843

$18.13 ₡8,532

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.29 ₡4,374

$4.90 ₡2,305

$13.72 ₡6,456

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.16 ₡6,195

$8.80 ₡4,141

$19.55 ₡9,202

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 ₡2,108

$1.94 ₡912

$7.75 ₡3,648

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₡762

$0.95 ₡449

$3.26 ₡1,534

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₡1,514

$0.97 ₡457

$5.85 ₡2,755

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ₡1,404

$1.34 ₡630

$4.31 ₡2,030

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 ₡1,416

$1.39 ₡655

$5.05 ₡2,378

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,339

$1.62 ₡763

$4.64 ₡2,184

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡476

$0.61 ₡286

$1.61 ₡757

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ₡1,182

$1.71 ₡805

$4.03 ₡1,896

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.94 ₡2,325

$4.54 ₡2,138

$5.93 ₡2,793

Wine (Bottle)

$15.72 ₡7,401

$8.63 ₡4,060

$28.03 ₡13.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₡1,118

$1.52 ₡715

$3.07 ₡1,444

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₡1,277

$1.93 ₡910

$4.83 ₡2,274

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₡443

$0.76 ₡358

$1.32 ₡623

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.94 ₡23.0K

$19.57 ₡9,212

$97.9 ₡46.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡843

$1.35 ₡637

$2.90 ₡1,366

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 ₡946

$1.40 ₡659

$2.50 ₡1,175

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 ₡3,683

$6.11 ₡2,874

$10.18 ₡4,790

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₡711

$1.36 ₡639

$1.87 ₡880

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

$36.8K ₡17.3M

$31.5K ₡14.8M

$39.9K ₡18.8M

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

$34.7K ₡16.3M

$32.7K ₡15.4M

$38.9K ₡18.3M

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

$86.8 ₡40.9K

$50.3 ₡23.7K

$197 ₡92.8K

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

$25.69 ₡12.1K

$20.03 ₡9,426

$50.1 ₡23.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 ₡25.3K

$39.62 ₡18.6K

$79.2 ₡37.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 ₡26.3K

$33.31 ₡15.7K

$108 ₡50.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.78 ₡13.5K

$9.96 ₡4,690

$59.5 ₡28.0K

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 ₡4,257

$7.03 ₡3,310

$12.06 ₡5,674

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

$560 ₡263.7K

$405 ₡190.6K

$941 ₡443.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K ₡4.7M

$6,395 ₡3.0M

$19.1K ₡9.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 ₡34.1K

$39.53 ₡18.6K

$99.4 ₡46.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 ₡25.6K

$23.95 ₡11.3K

$79.8 ₡37.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₡55.1K

$78.2 ₡36.8K

$176 ₡82.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₡48.4K

$50.1 ₡23.6K

$200 ₡94.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ₡381.9K

$399 ₡187.9K

$1,505 ₡708.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 ₡259.2K

$302 ₡142.2K

$906 ₡426.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,482 ₡697.7K

$846 ₡398.0K

$2,500 ₡1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,036 ₡487.6K

$596 ₡280.7K

$1,998 ₡940.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,301 ₡1.1M

$2,006 ₡944.4K

$4,250 ₡2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,575 ₡741.5K

$1,145 ₡538.9K

$2,050 ₡965.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,030 ₡484.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.53

7.5

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

Last update: March 2, 2026

By City in Costa Rica

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Acosta	-	80	$825	$1,564	$2,243	$3,188	66.1	154.01
2	Alajuela	50000	79	$832	$1,600	$2,355	$3,121	194.83	197.17
3	Arenal	-	80	$973	$1,610	$2,106	$3,206	51.05	109.36
4	Atenas	7000	65	$718	$1,319	$1,879	$3,173	47.47	184.93
5	Cartago	110000	75	$976	$1,508	$1,848	$2,787	257.78	204.6
6	Curridabat	33000	79	$1,000	$1,566	$2,033	$3,267	41.92	217.93
7	Desamparados	38000	78	$963	$1,539	$2,070	$3,207	32.7	207.49
8	Escazu	11984	104	$883	$2,100	$2,497	$3,590	115.1	207.49
9	Grecia	16700	69	$775	$1,399	$1,711	$2,347	297.03	169.69
10	Guadalupe	23000	76	$842	$1,532	$1,668	$3,001	47.39	204.86
11	Guanacaste	-	72	$662	$1,413	$1,772	$2,847	32.51	176.39
12	Heredia	117000	74	$821	$1,500	$1,984	$2,922	98.9	204.67
13	Jaco Beach	-	67	$833	$1,308	$1,621	$2,959	-	-
14	Liberia	46000	57	$761	$1,130	$2,145	$2,723	63.54	147.48
15	Nosara	-	85	$934	$1,677	$2,290	$3,527	132.9	135.48
16	Ojochal	-	78	$981	$1,586	$1,888	$3,214	55.27	104.22
17	Perez Zeledon	135000	59	$794	$1,169	$1,749	$2,677	60.26	92.27
18	Playa Flamingo	-	79	$990	$1,578	$2,278	$3,265	-	-
19	Playa del Coco	-	88	$1,081	$1,776	$2,510	$3,580	71.33	174.96
20	Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon	-	75	$780	$1,516	$1,745	$2,977	-	-
21	Puntarenas	70000	65	$602	$1,274	$1,890	$2,640	202.52	149.81
22	Quesada	42000	76	$913	$1,501	$2,345	$3,117	56.2	112.05
23	Samara	-	90	$900	$1,812	$2,104	$3,188	30.48	118.71
24	San Francisco	-	79	$934	$1,552	$2,472	$3,273	216.74	207.49
25	San Isidro	17000	78	$825	$1,578	$2,005	$3,192	71.73	207.49
26	San Jose	342188	79	$931	$1,564	$2,324	$3,395	41.18	207.49
27	San Juan	27000	80	$860	$1,610	$2,085	$3,260	37.22	215.89
28	San Pedro	-	80	$826	$1,568	$2,417	$3,285	174.13	92.21
29	San Rafael	30000	80	$809	$1,601	$1,935	$3,276	59.27	207.49
30	San Ramon	10000	78	$826	$1,532	$2,027	$3,148	107.87	167.71
31	Santa Ana	13000	80	$785	$1,614	$2,204	$3,627	122.8	217.58
32	Santa Barbara	8000	77	$926	$1,558	$2,193	$3,090	59.14	205.8
33	Santa Cruz	-	79	$823	$1,593	$2,426	$3,163	64.3	73.01
34	Santa Teresa	3099	77	$840	$1,526	$2,000	$3,041	224.91	153.79
35	Tamarindo	6000	92	$1,020	$1,805	$2,156	$3,308	59.07	196.6
36	Tibas	-	75	$863	$1,500	$1,879	$2,920	32.99	173.15
37	Turrialba	27000	80	$975	$1,602	$2,205	$3,247	172.88	163.66
38	Upala	15000	65	$642	$1,279	$1,880	$2,645	171.46	118.5
39	Vazquez de Coronado	-	74	$894	$1,476	$2,031	$2,865	184.48	194.61

Costa Rica Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Costa Rica - Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Rica often feels like a great value for travelers, expats, and digital nomads who prioritize quality of life and natural spaces. In general, you'll find that essentials like groceries, eating out, and local transport are affordable relative to many Western countries, while imported goods and high-end services can push prices up in popular expat hubs. The mix varies by region and season, so you can tailor your choices to stretch your budget. Overall, Cost of Living in Costa Rica tends to be moderate, with options that balance comfort and nature. Tip: Plan a monthly budget that matches your season and region.

Daily life blends affordability with choice. You can find walkable neighborhoods in cities or quiet coastal towns with short commutes. Housing options range from budget studios near town centers to larger rentals with balconies, some in areas with good internet for remote work. Food comes from vibrant markets and casual eateries where portions feed travelers without breaking a budget. Transit is accessible via buses or shared taxis; if you need flexibility, a used car or scooter helps. Costa Rica living cost varies by area, so tailor your search region by your work style. Tip: sample several short stays to test vibes.

Quality of life in Costa Rica shines with climate options, outdoor activities, and a relaxed pace. Use a simple budgeting framework: lock in fixed costs like rent, internet, and insurance, then allocate flexible expenses for food, transport, and activities. The dry season often brings busier streets and higher demand in popular towns, while the rainy season can open more affordable options and quieter neighborhoods. To find your fit, visit several areas on short stays, check distance to groceries and healthcare, and note how a place feels at different times of day. Tip: track your expenses for a month to see where you can adjust.