Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Mexico 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Mexico is 28.4% lower than in Costa Rica (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Mexico is 26.0% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in Mexico are 17.6% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in Mexico are 21.0% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in Mexico are 28.8% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Mexico is 8.9% lower than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (196.30 MXN) |
5,094.18 ₡ (200.00 MXN) |
+1.9 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
30,000.00 ₡ (1,177.81 MXN) |
20,376.72 ₡ (800.00 MXN) |
-32.1 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (196.30 MXN) |
3,820.64 ₡ (150.00 MXN) |
-23.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1,500.00 ₡ (58.89 MXN) |
1,146.19 ₡ (45.00 MXN) |
-23.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2,400.00 ₡ (94.23 MXN) |
2,037.67 ₡ (80.00 MXN) |
-15.1 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1,992.97 ₡ (78.24 MXN) |
1,592.60 ₡ (62.53 MXN) |
-20.1 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1,095.48 ₡ (43.01 MXN) |
612.63 ₡ (24.05 MXN) |
-44.1 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
846.42 ₡ (33.23 MXN) |
450.63 ₡ (17.69 MXN) |
-46.8 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
3,796.92 ₡ (149.07 MXN) |
2,715.82 ₡ (106.62 MXN) |
-28.5 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1,445.77 ₡ (56.76 MXN) |
1,142.59 ₡ (44.86 MXN) |
-21.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
541.23 ₡ (21.25 MXN) |
380.95 ₡ (14.96 MXN) |
-29.6 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1,712.55 ₡ (67.24 MXN) |
1,158.60 ₡ (45.49 MXN) |
-32.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
2,103.54 ₡ (82.59 MXN) |
1,874.81 ₡ (73.61 MXN) |
-10.9 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,145.79 ₡ (84.24 MXN) |
1,662.07 ₡ (65.25 MXN) |
-22.5 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3,005.95 ₡ (118.02 MXN) |
2,357.68 ₡ (92.56 MXN) |
-21.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
999.75 ₡ (39.25 MXN) |
601.75 ₡ (23.62 MXN) |
-39.8 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
369.52 ₡ (14.51 MXN) |
316.25 ₡ (12.42 MXN) |
-14.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
731.33 ₡ (28.71 MXN) |
403.32 ₡ (15.83 MXN) |
-44.9 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
691.01 ₡ (27.13 MXN) |
394.88 ₡ (15.50 MXN) |
-42.9 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
676.62 ₡ (26.56 MXN) |
434.91 ₡ (17.07 MXN) |
-35.7 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
644.64 ₡ (25.31 MXN) |
427.94 ₡ (16.80 MXN) |
-33.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
505.80 ₡ (19.86 MXN) |
616.78 ₡ (24.22 MXN) |
+21.9 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,243.91 ₡ (48.84 MXN) |
488.23 ₡ (19.17 MXN) |
-60.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
8,000.00 ₡ (314.08 MXN) |
5,094.18 ₡ (200.00 MXN) |
-36.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1,172.86 ₡ (46.05 MXN) |
766.36 ₡ (30.09 MXN) |
-34.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1,377.11 ₡ (54.07 MXN) |
1,407.06 ₡ (55.24 MXN) |
+2.2 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (98.15 MXN) |
2,037.67 ₡ (80.00 MXN) |
-18.5 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (19.63 MXN) |
280.18 ₡ (11.00 MXN) |
-44.0 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
25,000.00 ₡ (981.51 MXN) |
12,735.45 ₡ (500.00 MXN) |
-49.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
910.00 ₡ (35.73 MXN) |
1,273.55 ₡ (50.00 MXN) |
+40.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,609.34 ₡ (63.18 MXN) |
1,639.66 ₡ (64.37 MXN) |
+1.9 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,845.00 ₡ (150.96 MXN) |
5,094.18 ₡ (200.00 MXN) |
+32.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
2,833.29 ₡ (111.24 MXN) |
2,355.49 ₡ (92.48 MXN) |
-16.9 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
18,250,000.00 ₡ (716,503.88 MXN) |
10,188,106.07 ₡ (399,990.00 MXN) |
-44.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
17,803,716.83 ₡ (698,982.58 MXN) |
10,994,868.87 ₡ (431,663.90 MXN) |
-38.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
44,581.81 ₡ (1,750.30 MXN) |
30,337.66 ₡ (1,191.07 MXN) |
-32.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
12,901.15 ₡ (506.51 MXN) |
11,240.76 ₡ (441.32 MXN) |
-12.9 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
27,489.48 ₡ (1,079.25 MXN) |
13,517.75 ₡ (530.71 MXN) |
-50.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
28,742.13 ₡ (1,128.43 MXN) |
16,757.68 ₡ (657.91 MXN) |
-41.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
15,308.33 ₡ (601.01 MXN) |
8,857.61 ₡ (347.75 MXN) |
-42.1 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
4,000.00 ₡ (157.04 MXN) |
2,292.38 ₡ (90.00 MXN) |
-42.7 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
275,392.73 ₡ (10,812.05 MXN) |
118,600.45 ₡ (4,656.31 MXN) |
-56.9 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4,857,819.05 ₡ (190,720.34 MXN) |
2,683,679.42 ₡ (105,362.56 MXN) |
-44.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
36,964.54 ₡ (1,451.25 MXN) |
25,378.80 ₡ (996.38 MXN) |
-31.3 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
27,535.30 ₡ (1,081.05 MXN) |
19,552.18 ₡ (767.63 MXN) |
-29.0 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
62,644.95 ₡ (2,459.47 MXN) |
44,196.90 ₡ (1,735.19 MXN) |
-29.4 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
53,964.39 ₡ (2,118.67 MXN) |
41,881.10 ₡ (1,644.27 MXN) |
-22.4 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
389,830.57 ₡ (15,304.94 MXN) |
315,298.83 ₡ (12,378.79 MXN) |
-19.1 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
266,671.46 ₡ (10,469.65 MXN) |
220,362.17 ₡ (8,651.53 MXN) |
-17.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
733,462.95 ₡ (28,796.11 MXN) |
602,818.94 ₡ (23,666.96 MXN) |
-17.8 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
502,688.24 ₡ (19,735.78 MXN) |
421,856.41 ₡ (16,562.29 MXN) |
-16.1 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
125,407.82 ₡ (4,923.57 MXN) |
89,653.11 ₡ (3,519.82 MXN) |
-28.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
69,755.39 ₡ (2,738.63 MXN) |
62,976.02 ₡ (2,472.47 MXN) |
-9.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
512,586.63 ₡ (20,124.40 MXN) |
345,313.27 ₡ (13,557.17 MXN) |
-32.6 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.29 | 11.45 | +11.3 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 114 | 989 |
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