Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 39.5% lower than in Costa Rica (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 39.1% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 37.5% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 37.7% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 50.6% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 103.6% higher than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (184.62 R) |
4,333.33 ₡ (160.00 R) |
-13.3 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
30,000.00 ₡ (1,107.69 R) |
18,958.34 ₡ (700.00 R) |
-36.8 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (184.62 R) |
2,437.50 ₡ (90.00 R) |
-51.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1,500.00 ₡ (55.38 R) |
1,083.33 ₡ (40.00 R) |
-27.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2,400.00 ₡ (88.62 R) |
1,218.75 ₡ (45.00 R) |
-49.2 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1,988.68 ₡ (73.43 R) |
969.22 ₡ (35.79 R) |
-51.3 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1,091.08 ₡ (40.29 R) |
476.21 ₡ (17.58 R) |
-56.4 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
842.47 ₡ (31.11 R) |
369.34 ₡ (13.64 R) |
-56.2 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
3,797.61 ₡ (140.22 R) |
1,995.38 ₡ (73.68 R) |
-47.5 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1,446.31 ₡ (53.40 R) |
435.37 ₡ (16.08 R) |
-69.9 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
541.44 ₡ (19.99 R) |
346.35 ₡ (12.79 R) |
-36.0 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1,713.17 ₡ (63.26 R) |
1,100.51 ₡ (40.63 R) |
-35.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
2,104.07 ₡ (77.69 R) |
1,672.84 ₡ (61.77 R) |
-20.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,146.29 ₡ (79.25 R) |
1,003.51 ₡ (37.05 R) |
-53.2 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3,005.95 ₡ (110.99 R) |
1,477.73 ₡ (54.56 R) |
-50.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
999.75 ₡ (36.91 R) |
334.53 ₡ (12.35 R) |
-66.5 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
369.71 ₡ (13.65 R) |
312.51 ₡ (11.54 R) |
-15.5 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
731.47 ₡ (27.01 R) |
324.55 ₡ (11.98 R) |
-55.6 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
691.12 ₡ (25.52 R) |
333.47 ₡ (12.31 R) |
-51.7 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
676.72 ₡ (24.99 R) |
268.95 ₡ (9.93 R) |
-60.3 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
644.89 ₡ (23.81 R) |
284.50 ₡ (10.50 R) |
-55.9 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
506.13 ₡ (18.69 R) |
504.47 ₡ (18.63 R) |
-0.3 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,243.91 ₡ (45.93 R) |
458.47 ₡ (16.93 R) |
-63.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
8,000.00 ₡ (295.38 R) |
2,302.08 ₡ (85.00 R) |
-71.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1,173.17 ₡ (43.32 R) |
645.69 ₡ (23.84 R) |
-45.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1,377.45 ₡ (50.86 R) |
826.91 ₡ (30.53 R) |
-40.0 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (92.31 R) |
1,408.33 ₡ (52.00 R) |
-43.7 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (18.46 R) |
812.50 ₡ (30.00 R) |
+62.5 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
25,000.00 ₡ (923.08 R) |
21,666.67 ₡ (800.00 R) |
-13.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
910.00 ₡ (33.60 R) |
541.67 ₡ (20.00 R) |
-40.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,609.34 ₡ (59.42 R) |
871.73 ₡ (32.19 R) |
-45.8 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,845.00 ₡ (141.97 R) |
2,302.08 ₡ (85.00 R) |
-40.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
2,834.15 ₡ (104.65 R) |
2,347.50 ₡ (86.68 R) |
-17.2 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
18,250,000.00 ₡ (673,846.00 R) |
10,020,835.56 ₡ (370,000.00 R) |
-45.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
17,833,891.88 ₡ (658,482.02 R) |
11,425,339.02 ₡ (421,858.58 R) |
-35.9 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
44,605.82 ₡ (1,646.98 R) |
54,322.36 ₡ (2,005.75 R) |
+21.8 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
12,907.28 ₡ (476.58 R) |
15,398.56 ₡ (568.56 R) |
+19.3 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
27,506.85 ₡ (1,015.64 R) |
19,876.94 ₡ (733.92 R) |
-27.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
28,769.37 ₡ (1,062.25 R) |
15,296.26 ₡ (564.78 R) |
-46.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
15,308.33 ₡ (565.23 R) |
4,808.22 ₡ (177.53 R) |
-68.6 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
4,000.00 ₡ (147.69 R) |
3,250.00 ₡ (120.00 R) |
-18.7 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
275,494.79 ₡ (10,172.11 R) |
92,552.31 ₡ (3,417.32 R) |
-66.4 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4,869,922.10 ₡ (179,812.47 R) |
2,187,620.52 ₡ (80,773.66 R) |
-55.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
36,972.30 ₡ (1,365.13 R) |
23,702.62 ₡ (875.17 R) |
-35.9 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
27,556.18 ₡ (1,017.46 R) |
14,939.06 ₡ (551.60 R) |
-45.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
62,686.41 ₡ (2,314.57 R) |
44,481.67 ₡ (1,642.40 R) |
-29.0 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
54,014.98 ₡ (1,994.40 R) |
38,415.94 ₡ (1,418.43 R) |
-28.9 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
391,038.22 ₡ (14,438.33 R) |
220,482.83 ₡ (8,140.90 R) |
-43.6 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
267,389.89 ₡ (9,872.86 R) |
178,271.70 ₡ (6,582.34 R) |
-33.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
735,782.86 ₡ (27,167.36 R) |
439,753.89 ₡ (16,237.06 R) |
-40.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
504,214.74 ₡ (18,617.16 R) |
347,714.17 ₡ (12,838.67 R) |
-31.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
125,739.41 ₡ (4,642.68 R) |
46,606.46 ₡ (1,720.85 R) |
-62.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
69,929.55 ₡ (2,582.01 R) |
34,997.18 ₡ (1,292.20 R) |
-50.0 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
513,191.12 ₡ (18,948.59 R) |
636,590.55 ₡ (23,504.88 R) |
+24.0 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.29 | 11.55 | +12.2 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 115 | 685 |
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