Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize and Costa Rica 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 18.1% higher than in Belize (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 27.3% higher than in Belize | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 75.5% higher than in Belize | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 32.9% higher than in Belize | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 17.6% higher than in Belize | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 28.1% lower than in Belize | |
Restaurants | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
8.94 $ (4,549.27 ₡) |
9.83 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+9.9 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
33.50 $ (17,045.79 ₡) |
58.96 $ (30,000.00 ₡) |
+76.0 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
7.50 $ (3,816.22 ₡) |
9.83 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+31.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
2.50 $ (1,272.07 ₡) |
2.95 $ (1,500.00 ₡) |
+17.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
4.00 $ (2,035.32 ₡) |
4.50 $ (2,289.73 ₡) |
+12.5 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
3.49 $ (1,778.21 ₡) |
3.94 $ (2,006.41 ₡) |
+12.8 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1.26 $ (639.31 ₡) |
2.14 $ (1,090.08 ₡) |
+70.5 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
1.24 $ (629.06 ₡) |
1.67 $ (848.73 ₡) |
+34.9 % |
Markets | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
10.95 $ (5,570.24 ₡) |
7.59 $ (3,863.46 ₡) |
-30.6 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1.29 $ (658.68 ₡) |
2.85 $ (1,449.85 ₡) |
+120.1 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
1.20 $ (610.23 ₡) |
1.11 $ (566.54 ₡) |
-7.2 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
2.41 $ (1,228.75 ₡) |
3.37 $ (1,713.06 ₡) |
+39.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
4.11 $ (2,092.62 ₡) |
4.05 $ (2,059.25 ₡) |
-1.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2.83 $ (1,442.38 ₡) |
4.17 $ (2,121.18 ₡) |
+47.1 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3.19 $ (1,623.57 ₡) |
5.98 $ (3,043.27 ₡) |
+87.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.60 $ (1,323.67 ₡) |
2.02 $ (1,030.14 ₡) |
-22.2 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
0.51 $ (258.85 ₡) |
0.72 $ (368.20 ₡) |
+42.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
0.77 $ (393.46 ₡) |
1.39 $ (706.62 ₡) |
+79.6 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
1.42 $ (721.67 ₡) |
1.34 $ (681.78 ₡) |
-5.5 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
1.34 $ (682.31 ₡) |
1.32 $ (671.27 ₡) |
-1.6 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
1.12 $ (571.79 ₡) |
1.23 $ (627.74 ₡) |
+9.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
2.73 $ (1,387.66 ₡) |
1.00 $ (509.37 ₡) |
-63.3 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1.18 $ (602.79 ₡) |
2.48 $ (1,260.31 ₡) |
+109.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
15.00 $ (7,632.44 ₡) |
15.72 $ (8,000.00 ₡) |
+4.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
2.04 $ (1,036.25 ₡) |
2.29 $ (1,163.40 ₡) |
+12.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.74 $ (1,395.98 ₡) |
2.73 $ (1,389.37 ₡) |
-0.5 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
4.75 $ (2,416.94 ₡) |
4.91 $ (2,500.00 ₡) |
+3.4 % |
Transportation | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.00 $ (1,017.66 ₡) |
0.98 $ (500.00 ₡) |
-50.9 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
21.20 $ (10,789.73 ₡) |
49.13 $ (25,000.00 ₡) |
+131.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
3.48 $ (1,772.57 ₡) |
1.81 $ (920.00 ₡) |
-48.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
6.43 $ (3,269.57 ₡) |
3.08 $ (1,569.11 ₡) |
-52.0 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
9.95 $ (5,063.82 ₡) |
7.56 $ (3,845.00 ₡) |
-24.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
6.92 $ (3,518.84 ₡) |
5.55 $ (2,825.94 ₡) |
-19.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
10,528.06 $ (5,356,988.52 ₡) |
36,259.68 $ (18,450,000.00 ₡) |
+244.4 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
21,029.12 $ (10,700,239.18 ₡) |
34,708.35 $ (17,660,636.28 ₡) |
+65.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
131.40 $ (66,862.69 ₡) |
85.97 $ (43,745.81 ₡) |
-34.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
49.69 $ (25,281.58 ₡) |
25.48 $ (12,964.61 ₡) |
-48.7 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
55.91 $ (28,446.74 ₡) |
53.72 $ (27,333.59 ₡) |
-3.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
34.95 $ (17,784.44 ₡) |
57.55 $ (29,281.51 ₡) |
+64.6 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
6.33 $ (3,218.70 ₡) |
28.54 $ (14,522.18 ₡) |
+351.2 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
10.34 $ (5,260.59 ₡) |
8.84 $ (4,500.00 ₡) |
-14.5 % |
Childcare | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
64.52 $ (32,827.87 ₡) |
544.56 $ (277,090.27 ₡) |
+744.1 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
674.20 $ (343,051.47 ₡) |
9,928.74 $ (5,052,035.91 ₡) |
+1,372.7 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
36.86 $ (18,753.08 ₡) |
72.14 $ (36,709.29 ₡) |
+95.8 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
26.79 $ (13,629.50 ₡) |
54.56 $ (27,762.93 ₡) |
+103.7 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
85.70 $ (43,607.95 ₡) |
119.79 $ (60,950.37 ₡) |
+39.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
70.16 $ (35,700.78 ₡) |
105.07 $ (53,464.54 ₡) |
+49.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
416.58 $ (211,966.90 ₡) |
774.63 $ (394,155.88 ₡) |
+86.0 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
356.02 $ (181,155.07 ₡) |
522.27 $ (265,748.91 ₡) |
+46.7 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
683.51 $ (347,792.00 ₡) |
1,449.18 $ (737,385.51 ₡) |
+112.0 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
676.96 $ (344,455.81 ₡) |
998.02 $ (507,821.23 ₡) |
+47.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
134.29 $ (68,330.32 ₡) |
237.19 $ (120,687.25 ₡) |
+76.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
128.50 $ (65,384.06 ₡) |
129.48 $ (65,882.45 ₡) |
+0.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
1,088.38 $ (553,798.16 ₡) |
995.94 $ (506,764.76 ₡) |
-8.5 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 13.83 | 10.53 | -23.9 % |
| Last update: | 30 April 2025 | 22 May 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 26 | 122 |
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