Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Costa Rica 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 19.2% lower than in Australia (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 25.7% lower than in Australia | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 42.0% lower than in Australia | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 21.4% lower than in Australia | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 20.1% lower than in Australia | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 61.6% lower than in Australia | |
Restaurants | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
25.00 A$ (8,108.79 ₡) |
15.42 A$ (5,000.00 ₡) |
-38.3 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
120.00 A$ (38,922.17 ₡) |
92.49 A$ (30,000.00 ₡) |
-22.9 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
15.00 A$ (4,865.27 ₡) |
15.42 A$ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+2.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
10.00 A$ (3,243.51 ₡) |
4.62 A$ (1,500.00 ₡) |
-53.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
11.00 A$ (3,567.87 ₡) |
7.40 A$ (2,400.00 ₡) |
-32.7 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
5.36 A$ (1,737.88 ₡) |
6.13 A$ (1,988.79 ₡) |
+14.4 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
4.06 A$ (1,316.08 ₡) |
3.36 A$ (1,091.04 ₡) |
-17.1 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
3.34 A$ (1,084.68 ₡) |
2.60 A$ (842.53 ₡) |
-22.3 % |
Markets | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
8.92 A$ (2,892.20 ₡) |
11.71 A$ (3,797.54 ₡) |
+31.3 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
3.43 A$ (1,110.93 ₡) |
4.46 A$ (1,446.26 ₡) |
+30.2 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
1.44 A$ (468.24 ₡) |
1.67 A$ (541.42 ₡) |
+15.6 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
6.61 A$ (2,143.89 ₡) |
5.28 A$ (1,713.10 ₡) |
-20.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
6.26 A$ (2,030.50 ₡) |
6.49 A$ (2,104.02 ₡) |
+3.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
5.92 A$ (1,918.94 ₡) |
6.62 A$ (2,146.24 ₡) |
+11.8 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
9.71 A$ (3,150.38 ₡) |
9.27 A$ (3,005.95 ₡) |
-4.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.22 A$ (720.40 ₡) |
3.08 A$ (999.75 ₡) |
+38.8 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
1.92 A$ (622.25 ₡) |
1.14 A$ (369.69 ₡) |
-40.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.03 A$ (659.08 ₡) |
2.26 A$ (731.46 ₡) |
+11.0 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
2.99 A$ (969.93 ₡) |
2.13 A$ (691.11 ₡) |
-28.7 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
1.71 A$ (554.93 ₡) |
2.09 A$ (676.71 ₡) |
+21.9 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
1.49 A$ (484.51 ₡) |
1.99 A$ (644.87 ₡) |
+33.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
3.40 A$ (1,102.78 ₡) |
1.56 A$ (506.09 ₡) |
-54.1 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
2.32 A$ (752.99 ₡) |
3.84 A$ (1,243.91 ₡) |
+65.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
20.00 A$ (6,487.03 ₡) |
24.66 A$ (8,000.00 ₡) |
+23.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
6.85 A$ (2,222.56 ₡) |
3.62 A$ (1,173.14 ₡) |
-47.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
7.59 A$ (2,460.60 ₡) |
4.25 A$ (1,377.42 ₡) |
-44.0 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
48.00 A$ (15,568.87 ₡) |
7.71 A$ (2,500.00 ₡) |
-83.9 % |
Transportation | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
4.50 A$ (1,459.58 ₡) |
1.54 A$ (500.00 ₡) |
-65.7 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
150.00 A$ (48,652.71 ₡) |
77.08 A$ (25,000.00 ₡) |
-48.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
6.00 A$ (1,946.11 ₡) |
2.81 A$ (910.00 ₡) |
-53.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
4.35 A$ (1,409.38 ₡) |
4.96 A$ (1,609.34 ₡) |
+14.2 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
58.00 A$ (18,812.38 ₡) |
11.85 A$ (3,845.00 ₡) |
-79.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
6.93 A$ (2,248.39 ₡) |
8.74 A$ (2,834.06 ₡) |
+26.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
44,423.00 A$ (14,408,663.04 ₡) |
56,266.13 A$ (18,250,000.00 ₡) |
+26.7 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
34,987.80 A$ (11,348,343.49 ₡) |
54,973.64 A$ (17,830,779.67 ₡) |
+57.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
271.07 A$ (87,921.17 ₡) |
137.52 A$ (44,603.35 ₡) |
-49.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
41.26 A$ (13,382.63 ₡) |
39.79 A$ (12,906.65 ₡) |
-3.6 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
81.50 A$ (26,435.14 ₡) |
84.80 A$ (27,505.06 ₡) |
+4.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
73.19 A$ (23,738.45 ₡) |
88.69 A$ (28,766.56 ₡) |
+21.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
25.81 A$ (8,370.87 ₡) |
47.20 A$ (15,308.33 ₡) |
+82.9 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
22.00 A$ (7,135.73 ₡) |
12.33 A$ (4,000.00 ₡) |
-43.9 % |
Childcare | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
2,431.61 A$ (788,697.00 ₡) |
849.34 A$ (275,484.27 ₡) |
-65.1 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
19,465.42 A$ (6,313,635.12 ₡) |
15,010.49 A$ (4,868,673.82 ₡) |
-22.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
110.64 A$ (35,885.04 ₡) |
113.99 A$ (36,971.50 ₡) |
+3.0 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
78.91 A$ (25,594.78 ₡) |
84.95 A$ (27,554.03 ₡) |
+7.7 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
157.50 A$ (51,086.63 ₡) |
193.25 A$ (62,682.14 ₡) |
+22.7 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
170.21 A$ (55,209.39 ₡) |
166.52 A$ (54,009.76 ₡) |
-2.2 % |
Rent Per Month | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
2,127.98 A$ (690,211.86 ₡) |
1,205.36 A$ (390,959.96 ₡) |
-43.4 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
1,689.40 A$ (547,960.29 ₡) |
824.27 A$ (267,353.12 ₡) |
-51.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
3,603.16 A$ (1,168,691.26 ₡) |
2,267.74 A$ (735,543.59 ₡) |
-37.1 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
2,665.16 A$ (864,448.22 ₡) |
1,554.05 A$ (504,057.30 ₡) |
-41.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
971.06 A$ (314,964.83 ₡) |
387.51 A$ (125,691.01 ₡) |
-60.1 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
724.31 A$ (234,931.50 ₡) |
215.54 A$ (69,911.58 ₡) |
-70.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Australia Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
5,539.71 A$ (1,796,811.21 ₡) |
1,582.36 A$ (513,241.72 ₡) |
-71.4 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 6.36 | 10.29 | +61.9 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 1569 | 116 |
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