Cost of Living in Costa Rica - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Costa Rica
Address: CR

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $908 (excluding rent), and $1,522 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,223 (excluding rent), and $3,383 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.19 ₡5,052

$7.13 ₡3,534

$20.37 ₡10.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 ₡30.0K

$36.27 ₡18.0K

$101 ₡50.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 ₡5,041

$9.15 ₡4,534

$12.19 ₡6,044

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,933

$1.95 ₡966

$6.78 ₡3,363

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

$2.19 ₡1,086

$1.63 ₡807

$3.07 ₡1,522

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡819

$1.17 ₡580

$2.55 ₡1,262

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ₡1,460

$1.97 ₡975

$4.91 ₡2,435

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₡2,142

$2.90 ₡1,438

$5.84 ₡2,895

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ₡1,005

$1.26 ₡626

$2.96 ₡1,468

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 ₡1,576

$1.30 ₡645

$5.62 ₡2,787

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 ₡1,234

$1.81 ₡898

$4.03 ₡1,996

Eggs

$3.41 ₡1,688

$1.97 ₡975

$6.05 ₡3,000

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 ₡4,584

$3.95 ₡1,960

$18.29 ₡9,069

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.42 ₡4,670

$4.96 ₡2,461

$13.90 ₡6,894

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.28 ₡6,583

$8.88 ₡4,400

$19.72 ₡9,779

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₡2,235

$1.95 ₡967

$7.80 ₡3,868

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₡763

$0.91 ₡449

$3.10 ₡1,535

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 ₡1,673

$1.02 ₡505

$6.14 ₡3,044

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,458

$1.32 ₡655

$4.25 ₡2,108

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 ₡1,475

$1.38 ₡683

$4.99 ₡2,476

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 ₡1,403

$1.61 ₡799

$4.61 ₡2,287

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡502

$0.61 ₡301

$1.61 ₡798

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,257

$1.73 ₡857

$4.07 ₡2,018

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.03 ₡2,494

$4.62 ₡2,293

$6.04 ₡2,995

Wine (Bottle)

$15.31 ₡7,589

$9.18 ₡4,553

$26.53 ₡13.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₡1,145

$1.48 ₡732

$2.98 ₡1,479

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₡1,347

$1.94 ₡961

$4.84 ₡2,400

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡475

$0.77 ₡383

$1.34 ₡666

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.97 ₡24.3K

$19.59 ₡9,710

$97.9 ₡48.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡893

$1.36 ₡674

$2.92 ₡1,446

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 ₡995

$1.40 ₡693

$2.49 ₡1,236

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.51 ₡3,723

$5.86 ₡2,905

$9.77 ₡4,842

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡752

$1.36 ₡675

$1.87 ₡929

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

$36.6K ₡18.2M

$31.4K ₡15.6M

$39.7K ₡19.7M

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

$36.0K ₡17.9M

$33.9K ₡16.8M

$40.4K ₡20.0M

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

$85.9 ₡42.6K

$49.75 ₡24.7K

$195 ₡96.7K

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

$25.46 ₡12.6K

$19.85 ₡9,842

$49.63 ₡24.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.9 ₡26.7K

$39.72 ₡19.7K

$79.4 ₡39.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₡28.4K

$34.10 ₡16.9K

$110 ₡54.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.36 ₡14.6K

$10.17 ₡5,041

$60.7 ₡30.1K

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 ₡4,466

$7.00 ₡3,473

$12.01 ₡5,952

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

$540 ₡267.8K

$390 ₡193.5K

$907 ₡449.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K ₡5.0M

$6,432 ₡3.2M

$19.2K ₡9.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.5 ₡35.5K

$39.05 ₡19.4K

$98.2 ₡48.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 ₡27.2K

$24.19 ₡12.0K

$80.6 ₡40.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₡58.2K

$78.4 ₡38.9K

$177 ₡87.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₡50.8K

$49.88 ₡24.7K

$199 ₡98.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$810 ₡401.7K

$399 ₡197.6K

$1,503 ₡745.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 ₡272.9K

$302 ₡149.7K

$906 ₡449.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,488 ₡737.8K

$849 ₡420.9K

$2,511 ₡1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,043 ₡516.9K

$600 ₡297.5K

$2,011 ₡997.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,335 ₡1.2M

$1,963 ₡973.0K

$4,010 ₡2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,607 ₡796.5K

$1,110 ₡550.2K

$2,079 ₡1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$981 ₡486.2K

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: January 12, 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	-	79	$888	$1,604	$1,953	$3,173	66.1	154.01
2	Alajuela	50000	79	$814	$1,574	$2,008	$3,116	194.83	197.17
3	Arenal	-	80	$936	$1,586	$2,306	$3,214	51.05	109.36
4	Atenas	7000	65	$810	$1,291	$2,107	$3,222	47.47	184.93
5	Cartago	110000	75	$980	$1,484	$2,202	$2,812	257.78	204.6
6	Curridabat	33000	79	$927	$1,569	$2,170	$3,224	41.92	217.93
7	Desamparados	38000	78	$821	$1,577	$1,986	$3,126	32.7	207.49
8	Escazu	11984	104	$837	$2,056	$2,546	$3,573	115.1	207.49
9	Grecia	16700	69	$769	$1,356	$1,640	$2,387	297.03	169.69
10	Guadalupe	23000	76	$797	$1,540	$2,147	$2,992	47.39	204.86
11	Guanacaste	-	71	$717	$1,407	$1,976	$2,838	32.51	176.39
12	Heredia	117000	74	$853	$1,458	$1,662	$2,969	98.9	204.67
13	Jaco Beach	-	67	$866	$1,341	$1,746	$2,924	-	-
14	Liberia	46000	57	$858	$1,160	$2,049	$2,719	63.54	147.48
15	Nosara	-	85	$726	$1,667	$2,257	$3,442	132.9	135.48
16	Ojochal	-	78	$988	$1,552	$2,153	$3,202	55.27	104.22
17	Perez Zeledon	135000	59	$882	$1,184	$1,721	$2,615	60.26	92.27
18	Playa Flamingo	-	79	$997	$1,599	$2,035	$3,166	-	-
19	Playa del Coco	-	88	$927	$1,722	$2,635	$3,628	71.33	174.96
20	Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon	-	75	$689	$1,482	$1,646	$2,908	-	-
21	Puntarenas	70000	65	$567	$1,290	$1,684	$2,707	202.52	149.81
22	Quesada	42000	76	$918	$1,518	$1,896	$3,062	56.2	112.05
23	Samara	-	90	$814	$1,802	$1,952	$3,119	30.48	118.71
24	San Francisco	-	79	$878	$1,592	$2,464	$3,162	216.74	207.49
25	San Isidro	17000	78	$889	$1,533	$2,176	$3,218	71.73	207.49
26	San Jose	342188	79	$945	$1,539	$2,272	$3,460	41.18	207.49
27	San Juan	27000	80	$889	$1,578	$2,260	$3,204	37.22	215.89
28	San Pedro	-	80	$837	$1,617	$1,987	$3,223	174.13	92.21
29	San Rafael	30000	80	$926	$1,567	$1,865	$3,243	59.27	207.49
30	San Ramon	10000	78	$952	$1,579	$2,295	$3,165	107.87	167.71
31	Santa Ana	13000	80	$907	$1,573	$2,129	$3,603	122.8	217.58
32	Santa Barbara	8000	77	$929	$1,513	$2,322	$3,188	59.14	205.8
33	Santa Cruz	-	79	$947	$1,596	$2,012	$3,189	64.3	73.01
34	Santa Teresa	3099	77	$865	$1,562	$2,045	$3,054	224.91	153.79
35	Tamarindo	6000	91	$932	$1,849	$2,501	$3,314	59.07	196.6
36	Tibas	-	75	$768	$1,475	$1,740	$2,945	32.99	173.15
37	Turrialba	27000	80	$1,019	$1,561	$1,955	$3,179	172.88	163.66
38	Upala	15000	65	$697	$1,315	$1,588	$2,647	171.46	118.5
39	Vazquez de Coronado	-	74	$850	$1,502	$2,047	$2,877	184.48	194.61

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.