Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Germany 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Germany is 26.9% higher than in Costa Rica (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Germany is 27.6% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in Germany are 29.9% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in Germany are 33.5% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in Germany are 9.6% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Germany is 174.8% higher than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (8.67 €) |
8,649.57 ₡ (15.00 €) |
+73.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
29,827.99 ₡ (51.73 €) |
37,481.45 ₡ (65.00 €) |
+25.7 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (8.67 €) |
5,766.38 ₡ (10.00 €) |
+15.3 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
1,500.00 ₡ (2.60 €) |
2,594.87 ₡ (4.50 €) |
+73.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
2,200.00 ₡ (3.82 €) |
2,306.55 ₡ (4.00 €) |
+4.8 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
1,975.62 ₡ (3.43 €) |
2,049.09 ₡ (3.55 €) |
+3.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
1,060.80 ₡ (1.84 €) |
1,703.79 ₡ (2.95 €) |
+60.6 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
850.09 ₡ (1.47 €) |
1,495.56 ₡ (2.59 €) |
+75.9 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1,054.27 ₡ (1.83 €) |
646.17 ₡ (1.12 €) |
-38.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
1,441.12 ₡ (2.50 €) |
1,000.73 ₡ (1.74 €) |
-30.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
562.89 ₡ (0.98 €) |
779.67 ₡ (1.35 €) |
+38.5 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
1,673.15 ₡ (2.90 €) |
1,911.76 ₡ (3.32 €) |
+14.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
2,097.23 ₡ (3.64 €) |
3,365.02 ₡ (5.84 €) |
+60.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,140.51 ₡ (3.71 €) |
2,885.71 ₡ (5.00 €) |
+34.8 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
2,994.90 ₡ (5.19 €) |
4,630.46 ₡ (8.03 €) |
+54.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1,008.57 ₡ (1.75 €) |
759.94 ₡ (1.32 €) |
-24.7 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
349.77 ₡ (0.61 €) |
446.01 ₡ (0.77 €) |
+27.5 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
746.60 ₡ (1.29 €) |
518.48 ₡ (0.90 €) |
-30.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
703.51 ₡ (1.22 €) |
1,091.16 ₡ (1.89 €) |
+55.1 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
671.12 ₡ (1.16 €) |
354.79 ₡ (0.62 €) |
-47.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
638.13 ₡ (1.11 €) |
332.33 ₡ (0.58 €) |
-47.9 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
502.10 ₡ (0.87 €) |
908.49 ₡ (1.58 €) |
+80.9 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
1,243.12 ₡ (2.16 €) |
546.21 ₡ (0.95 €) |
-56.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
7,500.00 ₡ (13.01 €) |
3,454.06 ₡ (5.99 €) |
-53.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
1,199.49 ₡ (2.08 €) |
536.18 ₡ (0.93 €) |
-55.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
1,427.94 ₡ (2.48 €) |
786.44 ₡ (1.36 €) |
-44.9 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (4.34 €) |
5,016.75 ₡ (8.70 €) |
+100.7 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (0.87 €) |
1,845.24 ₡ (3.20 €) |
+269.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
30,000.00 ₡ (52.03 €) |
33,444.99 ₡ (58.00 €) |
+11.5 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
950.00 ₡ (1.65 €) |
2,825.52 ₡ (4.90 €) |
+197.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
1,504.74 ₡ (2.61 €) |
2,320.02 ₡ (4.02 €) |
+54.2 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
4,971.33 ₡ (8.62 €) |
19,029.04 ₡ (33.00 €) |
+282.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
735.38 ₡ (1.28 €) |
985.39 ₡ (1.71 €) |
+34.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
18,225,000.00 ₡ (31,605.63 €) |
15,673,013.14 ₡ (27,180.00 €) |
-14.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
17,920,878.06 ₡ (31,078.23 €) |
19,358,046.43 ₡ (33,570.55 €) |
+8.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
44,894.49 ₡ (77.86 €) |
174,631.13 ₡ (302.84 €) |
+289.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
13,715.04 ₡ (23.78 €) |
13,450.58 ₡ (23.33 €) |
-1.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
27,048.82 ₡ (46.91 €) |
24,930.01 ₡ (43.23 €) |
-7.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
28,601.12 ₡ (49.60 €) |
20,417.63 ₡ (35.41 €) |
-28.6 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
15,558.33 ₡ (26.98 €) |
13,379.33 ₡ (23.20 €) |
-14.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
4,500.00 ₡ (7.80 €) |
6,919.65 ₡ (12.00 €) |
+53.8 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
262,813.17 ₡ (455.77 €) |
242,035.10 ₡ (419.74 €) |
-7.9 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
5,298,438.78 ₡ (9,188.51 €) |
8,386,463.21 ₡ (14,543.73 €) |
+58.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
36,666.25 ₡ (63.59 €) |
46,406.10 ₡ (80.48 €) |
+26.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
26,887.95 ₡ (46.63 €) |
21,989.80 ₡ (38.13 €) |
-18.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
59,787.03 ₡ (103.68 €) |
51,009.65 ₡ (88.46 €) |
-14.7 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
50,854.17 ₡ (88.19 €) |
65,913.88 ₡ (114.31 €) |
+29.6 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
414,822.45 ₡ (719.38 €) |
500,440.81 ₡ (867.86 €) |
+20.6 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
281,167.85 ₡ (487.60 €) |
383,916.87 ₡ (665.79 €) |
+36.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
758,343.87 ₡ (1,315.11 €) |
935,384.47 ₡ (1,622.14 €) |
+23.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
500,003.14 ₡ (867.10 €) |
718,839.27 ₡ (1,246.60 €) |
+43.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
118,332.59 ₡ (205.21 €) |
291,305.72 ₡ (505.18 €) |
+146.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
65,095.45 ₡ (112.89 €) |
227,368.45 ₡ (394.30 €) |
+249.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
Germany Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
486,603.95 ₡ (843.86 €) |
1,705,486.80 ₡ (2,957.64 €) |
+250.5 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 10.38 | 3.96 | -61.8 % |
| Last update: | 30 November 2025 | 30 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 153 | 3506 |
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