Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and United States

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City in United States:

Indices Difference
Consumer Prices in United States are 32.4% higher than in Costa Rica (without rent)
Consumer Prices Including Rent in United States are 59.5% higher than in Costa Rica
Rent Prices in United States are 154.3% higher than in Costa Rica
Restaurant Prices in United States are 52.1% higher than in Costa Rica
Groceries Prices in United States are 30.8% higher than in Costa Rica
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 214.1% higher than in Costa Rica

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	5,000.00 ₡ (9.81 $)	10,195.03 ₡ (20.00 $)	+103.9 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	30,000.00 ₡ (58.85 $)	38,231.38 ₡ (75.00 $)	+27.4 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	5,000.00 ₡ (9.81 $)	5,553.75 ₡ (10.89 $)	+11.1 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	1,500.00 ₡ (2.94 $)	3,058.51 ₡ (6.00 $)	+103.9 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	2,500.00 ₡ (4.90 $)	3,568.26 ₡ (7.00 $)	+42.7 %
Cappuccino (regular)	1,820.29 ₡ (3.57 $)	2,598.35 ₡ (5.10 $)	+42.7 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	1,068.10 ₡ (2.10 $)	1,265.54 ₡ (2.48 $)	+18.5 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	833.05 ₡ (1.63 $)	1,043.88 ₡ (2.05 $)	+25.3 %
Markets	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	3,658.83 ₡ (7.18 $)	2,038.48 ₡ (4.00 $)	-44.3 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	1,286.36 ₡ (2.52 $)	1,646.44 ₡ (3.23 $)	+28.0 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	515.18 ₡ (1.01 $)	1,051.92 ₡ (2.06 $)	+104.2 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	1,779.61 ₡ (3.49 $)	1,886.35 ₡ (3.70 $)	+6.0 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	1,937.82 ₡ (3.80 $)	2,961.90 ₡ (5.81 $)	+52.8 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	2,183.95 ₡ (4.28 $)	2,799.12 ₡ (5.49 $)	+28.2 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	3,010.10 ₡ (5.91 $)	3,708.20 ₡ (7.27 $)	+23.2 %
Apples (1 lb)	1,049.90 ₡ (2.06 $)	1,222.47 ₡ (2.40 $)	+16.4 %
Banana (1 lb)	382.60 ₡ (0.75 $)	387.48 ₡ (0.76 $)	+1.3 %
Oranges (1 lb)	655.48 ₡ (1.29 $)	1,035.12 ₡ (2.03 $)	+57.9 %
Tomato (1 lb)	613.30 ₡ (1.20 $)	1,129.83 ₡ (2.22 $)	+84.2 %
Potato (1 lb)	597.47 ₡ (1.17 $)	693.28 ₡ (1.36 $)	+16.0 %
Onion (1 lb)	601.06 ₡ (1.18 $)	701.55 ₡ (1.38 $)	+16.7 %
Lettuce (1 head)	519.52 ₡ (1.02 $)	1,099.47 ₡ (2.16 $)	+111.6 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	1,223.81 ₡ (2.40 $)	1,113.69 ₡ (2.18 $)	-9.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	7,000.00 ₡ (13.73 $)	7,646.28 ₡ (15.00 $)	+9.2 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1,147.45 ₡ (2.25 $)	903.44 ₡ (1.77 $)	-21.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1,455.51 ₡ (2.86 $)	1,807.41 ₡ (3.55 $)	+24.2 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	2,500.00 ₡ (4.90 $)	5,097.52 ₡ (10.00 $)	+103.9 %
Transportation	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	500.00 ₡ (0.98 $)	1,274.38 ₡ (2.50 $)	+154.9 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	21,739.13 ₡ (42.65 $)	36,702.12 ₡ (72.00 $)	+68.8 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	897.50 ₡ (1.76 $)	1,893.73 ₡ (3.71 $)	+111.0 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	1,464.50 ₡ (2.87 $)	1,401.82 ₡ (2.75 $)	-4.3 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	3,647.50 ₡ (7.16 $)	15,292.55 ₡ (30.00 $)	+319.3 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	2,911.55 ₡ (5.71 $)	1,861.72 ₡ (3.65 $)	-36.1 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	16,200,000.00 ₡ (31,780.18 $)	17,002,259.10 ₡ (33,354.00 $)	+5.0 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	17,408,757.12 ₡ (34,151.44 $)	13,299,676.25 ₡ (26,090.50 $)	-23.6 %
Utilities (Monthly)	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	43,492.36 ₡ (85.32 $)	103,680.04 ₡ (203.39 $)	+138.4 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	12,439.56 ₡ (24.40 $)	26,679.25 ₡ (52.34 $)	+114.5 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	25,663.55 ₡ (50.35 $)	35,998.92 ₡ (70.62 $)	+40.3 %
Sports And Leisure	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	27,950.26 ₡ (54.83 $)	23,964.03 ₡ (47.01 $)	-14.3 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	16,334.38 ₡ (32.04 $)	11,214.08 ₡ (22.00 $)	-31.3 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	4,000.00 ₡ (7.85 $)	7,136.52 ₡ (14.00 $)	+78.4 %
Childcare	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	246,495.63 ₡ (483.56 $)	701,681.50 ₡ (1,376.52 $)	+184.7 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	4,655,850.01 ₡ (9,133.56 $)	11,724,024.31 ₡ (22,999.48 $)	+151.8 %
Clothing And Shoes	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	38,424.85 ₡ (75.38 $)	26,495.44 ₡ (51.98 $)	-31.0 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	26,112.87 ₡ (51.23 $)	21,697.96 ₡ (42.57 $)	-16.9 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	59,072.10 ₡ (115.88 $)	45,032.92 ₡ (88.34 $)	-23.8 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	51,011.76 ₡ (100.07 $)	57,951.47 ₡ (113.69 $)	+13.6 %
Rent Per Month	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	345,121.72 ₡ (677.04 $)	895,525.88 ₡ (1,756.79 $)	+159.5 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	247,460.86 ₡ (485.45 $)	737,018.13 ₡ (1,445.84 $)	+197.8 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	653,188.34 ₡ (1,281.39 $)	1,504,290.39 ₡ (2,951.03 $)	+130.3 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	467,640.84 ₡ (917.39 $)	1,220,814.99 ₡ (2,394.92 $)	+161.1 %
Buy Apartment Price	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	96,817.80 ₡ (189.93 $)	159,495.25 ₡ (312.89 $)	+64.7 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	62,994.50 ₡ (123.58 $)	129,240.29 ₡ (253.54 $)	+105.2 %
Salaries And Financing	Costa Rica Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	461,396.07 ₡ (905.14 $)	2,311,567.47 ₡ (4,534.69 $)	+401.0 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	9.86	6.56	-33.4 %
Last update:	May 2024	May 2024
Contributors in the past 12 months:	130	11388