Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Mexico 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Consumer Prices in Mexico are 17.9% lower than in Costa Rica (without rent) | |
| Consumer Prices Including Rent in Mexico are 13.3% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in Mexico are 2.9% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in Mexico are 14.9% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in Mexico are 17.2% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Mexico is 0.8% higher than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (163.42 MXN) |
4,938.98 ₡ (161.42 MXN) |
-1.2 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
30,000.00 ₡ (980.51 MXN) |
21,417.48 ₡ (700.00 MXN) |
-28.6 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (163.42 MXN) |
4,589.46 ₡ (150.00 MXN) |
-8.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1,500.00 ₡ (49.03 MXN) |
1,376.84 ₡ (45.00 MXN) |
-8.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2,500.00 ₡ (81.71 MXN) |
2,251.74 ₡ (73.60 MXN) |
-9.9 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1,816.60 ₡ (59.37 MXN) |
1,729.42 ₡ (56.52 MXN) |
-4.8 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1,067.70 ₡ (34.90 MXN) |
679.57 ₡ (22.21 MXN) |
-36.4 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
836.07 ₡ (27.33 MXN) |
499.33 ₡ (16.32 MXN) |
-40.3 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
3,660.06 ₡ (119.62 MXN) |
3,086.71 ₡ (100.88 MXN) |
-15.7 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1,287.50 ₡ (42.08 MXN) |
1,286.99 ₡ (42.06 MXN) |
-0.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
515.52 ₡ (16.85 MXN) |
425.55 ₡ (13.91 MXN) |
-17.5 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1,781.26 ₡ (58.22 MXN) |
1,327.11 ₡ (43.37 MXN) |
-25.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
1,939.05 ₡ (63.38 MXN) |
2,115.53 ₡ (69.14 MXN) |
+9.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,185.30 ₡ (71.42 MXN) |
1,925.41 ₡ (62.93 MXN) |
-11.9 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3,011.44 ₡ (98.42 MXN) |
2,707.13 ₡ (88.48 MXN) |
-10.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1,050.43 ₡ (34.33 MXN) |
692.67 ₡ (22.64 MXN) |
-34.1 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
382.94 ₡ (12.52 MXN) |
338.12 ₡ (11.05 MXN) |
-11.7 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
655.97 ₡ (21.44 MXN) |
417.77 ₡ (13.65 MXN) |
-36.3 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
613.65 ₡ (20.06 MXN) |
418.89 ₡ (13.69 MXN) |
-31.7 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
597.80 ₡ (19.54 MXN) |
492.15 ₡ (16.09 MXN) |
-17.7 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
601.40 ₡ (19.66 MXN) |
418.49 ₡ (13.68 MXN) |
-30.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
519.76 ₡ (16.99 MXN) |
654.76 ₡ (21.40 MXN) |
+26.0 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,224.22 ₡ (40.01 MXN) |
544.08 ₡ (17.78 MXN) |
-55.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
7,000.00 ₡ (228.79 MXN) |
6,119.28 ₡ (200.00 MXN) |
-12.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1,147.88 ₡ (37.52 MXN) |
861.88 ₡ (28.17 MXN) |
-24.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1,456.12 ₡ (47.59 MXN) |
1,534.84 ₡ (50.16 MXN) |
+5.4 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (81.71 MXN) |
2,294.73 ₡ (75.00 MXN) |
-8.2 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (16.34 MXN) |
336.56 ₡ (11.00 MXN) |
-32.7 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
21,739.13 ₡ (710.51 MXN) |
15,298.20 ₡ (500.00 MXN) |
-29.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
897.50 ₡ (29.33 MXN) |
1,529.82 ₡ (50.00 MXN) |
+70.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,464.50 ₡ (47.87 MXN) |
1,477.20 ₡ (48.28 MXN) |
+0.9 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,647.50 ₡ (119.21 MXN) |
4,895.42 ₡ (160.00 MXN) |
+34.2 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
2,912.23 ₡ (95.18 MXN) |
2,758.82 ₡ (90.17 MXN) |
-5.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
16,200,000.00 ₡ (529,473.95 MXN) |
11,932,598.40 ₡ (390,000.00 MXN) |
-26.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
17,444,416.81 ₡ (570,145.94 MXN) |
12,517,729.48 ₡ (409,124.18 MXN) |
-28.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
43,508.49 ₡ (1,422.01 MXN) |
37,010.70 ₡ (1,209.64 MXN) |
-14.9 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
12,442.82 ₡ (406.68 MXN) |
13,247.93 ₡ (432.99 MXN) |
+6.5 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
25,681.06 ₡ (839.35 MXN) |
15,887.08 ₡ (519.25 MXN) |
-38.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
27,963.17 ₡ (913.94 MXN) |
19,444.52 ₡ (635.52 MXN) |
-30.5 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
16,342.24 ₡ (534.12 MXN) |
10,458.33 ₡ (341.82 MXN) |
-36.0 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
4,000.00 ₡ (130.73 MXN) |
2,600.69 ₡ (85.00 MXN) |
-35.0 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
246,652.87 ₡ (8,061.50 MXN) |
134,101.24 ₡ (4,382.91 MXN) |
-45.6 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4,663,675.93 ₡ (152,425.61 MXN) |
2,779,070.82 ₡ (90,829.98 MXN) |
-40.4 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
38,437.02 ₡ (1,256.26 MXN) |
29,429.62 ₡ (961.87 MXN) |
-23.4 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
26,130.84 ₡ (854.05 MXN) |
22,177.01 ₡ (724.82 MXN) |
-15.1 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
59,125.48 ₡ (1,932.43 MXN) |
50,886.78 ₡ (1,663.16 MXN) |
-13.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
51,031.68 ₡ (1,667.90 MXN) |
46,935.94 ₡ (1,534.03 MXN) |
-8.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
345,998.04 ₡ (11,308.45 MXN) |
360,516.46 ₡ (11,782.97 MXN) |
+4.2 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
247,924.31 ₡ (8,103.05 MXN) |
247,359.26 ₡ (8,084.59 MXN) |
-0.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
654,453.65 ₡ (21,389.89 MXN) |
686,913.92 ₡ (22,450.80 MXN) |
+5.0 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
468,671.63 ₡ (15,317.87 MXN) |
471,036.39 ₡ (15,395.15 MXN) |
+0.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
96,965.66 ₡ (3,169.18 MXN) |
98,938.51 ₡ (3,233.66 MXN) |
+2.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
63,095.70 ₡ (2,062.19 MXN) |
65,171.49 ₡ (2,130.04 MXN) |
+3.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
461,752.63 ₡ (15,091.73 MXN) |
403,679.34 ₡ (13,193.68 MXN) |
-12.6 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 9.86 | 11.41 | +15.8 % |
| Last update: | May 2024 | May 2024 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 131 | 1087 |
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