Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicaragua and Costa Rica 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 53.7% higher than in Nicaragua (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 64.6% higher than in Nicaragua | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 119.8% higher than in Nicaragua | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 94.6% higher than in Nicaragua | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 38.5% higher than in Nicaragua | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 115.8% higher than in Nicaragua | |
Restaurants | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
4.14 $ (2,097.34 ₡) |
9.88 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+138.4 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
30.00 $ (15,184.45 ₡) |
59.27 $ (30,000.00 ₡) |
+97.6 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
7.00 $ (3,543.04 ₡) |
9.88 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+41.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1.36 $ (688.36 ₡) |
2.96 $ (1,500.00 ₡) |
+117.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.00 $ (1,012.30 ₡) |
4.74 $ (2,400.00 ₡) |
+137.1 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
2.08 $ (1,054.85 ₡) |
3.93 $ (1,988.69 ₡) |
+88.5 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
0.83 $ (422.23 ₡) |
2.16 $ (1,091.08 ₡) |
+158.4 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
0.66 $ (336.37 ₡) |
1.66 $ (842.47 ₡) |
+150.5 % |
Markets | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
4.44 $ (2,248.37 ₡) |
7.50 $ (3,797.61 ₡) |
+68.9 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1.85 $ (934.03 ₡) |
2.86 $ (1,446.31 ₡) |
+54.8 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
0.71 $ (361.64 ₡) |
1.07 $ (541.44 ₡) |
+49.7 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
2.08 $ (1,050.38 ₡) |
3.38 $ (1,713.17 ₡) |
+63.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
3.92 $ (1,985.37 ₡) |
4.16 $ (2,104.07 ₡) |
+6.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2.83 $ (1,430.71 ₡) |
4.24 $ (2,146.29 ₡) |
+50.0 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3.60 $ (1,820.83 ₡) |
5.94 $ (3,005.95 ₡) |
+65.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1.87 $ (945.96 ₡) |
1.98 $ (999.75 ₡) |
+5.7 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
0.53 $ (270.03 ₡) |
0.73 $ (369.71 ₡) |
+36.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.06 $ (537.02 ₡) |
1.45 $ (731.47 ₡) |
+36.2 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
0.94 $ (474.90 ₡) |
1.37 $ (691.12 ₡) |
+45.5 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
1.59 $ (804.04 ₡) |
1.34 $ (676.72 ₡) |
-15.8 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
0.91 $ (460.45 ₡) |
1.27 $ (644.89 ₡) |
+40.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
0.89 $ (451.20 ₡) |
1.00 $ (506.13 ₡) |
+12.2 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
0.99 $ (499.10 ₡) |
2.46 $ (1,243.91 ₡) |
+149.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
10.00 $ (5,061.48 ₡) |
15.81 $ (8,000.00 ₡) |
+58.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.41 $ (712.83 ₡) |
2.32 $ (1,173.17 ₡) |
+64.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.15 $ (1,087.17 ₡) |
2.72 $ (1,377.45 ₡) |
+26.7 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
3.17 $ (1,607.02 ₡) |
4.94 $ (2,500.00 ₡) |
+55.6 % |
Transportation | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
0.14 $ (69.98 ₡) |
0.99 $ (500.00 ₡) |
+614.4 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
6.01 $ (3,040.81 ₡) |
49.39 $ (25,000.00 ₡) |
+722.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
1.01 $ (508.68 ₡) |
1.80 $ (910.00 ₡) |
+78.9 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1.01 $ (509.10 ₡) |
3.18 $ (1,609.34 ₡) |
+216.1 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
6.80 $ (3,442.25 ₡) |
7.60 $ (3,845.00 ₡) |
+11.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
5.04 $ (2,549.10 ₡) |
5.60 $ (2,834.15 ₡) |
+11.2 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
22,973.64 $ (11,628,064.50 ₡) |
36,056.63 $ (18,250,000.00 ₡) |
+56.9 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
27,106.26 $ (13,719,786.23 ₡) |
35,234.53 $ (17,833,891.88 ₡) |
+30.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
74.08 $ (37,495.68 ₡) |
88.13 $ (44,605.82 ₡) |
+19.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
17.51 $ (8,861.14 ₡) |
25.50 $ (12,907.28 ₡) |
+45.7 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
38.03 $ (19,250.36 ₡) |
54.35 $ (27,506.85 ₡) |
+42.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
33.03 $ (16,718.23 ₡) |
56.84 $ (28,769.37 ₡) |
+72.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
15.00 $ (7,592.22 ₡) |
30.24 $ (15,308.33 ₡) |
+101.6 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
8.00 $ (4,049.19 ₡) |
7.90 $ (4,000.00 ₡) |
-1.2 % |
Childcare | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
89.33 $ (45,215.91 ₡) |
544.30 $ (275,494.79 ₡) |
+509.3 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
8,000.00 $ (4,049,185.65 ₡) |
9,621.53 $ (4,869,922.10 ₡) |
+20.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
66.91 $ (33,863.88 ₡) |
73.05 $ (36,972.30 ₡) |
+9.2 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
49.97 $ (25,289.79 ₡) |
54.44 $ (27,556.18 ₡) |
+9.0 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
101.98 $ (51,618.58 ₡) |
123.85 $ (62,686.41 ₡) |
+21.4 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
94.38 $ (47,771.24 ₡) |
106.72 $ (54,014.98 ₡) |
+13.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
347.50 $ (175,886.50 ₡) |
772.58 $ (391,040.57 ₡) |
+122.3 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
271.88 $ (137,609.04 ₡) |
528.25 $ (267,374.92 ₡) |
+94.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
594.87 $ (301,092.09 ₡) |
1,453.69 $ (735,782.86 ₡) |
+144.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
491.98 $ (249,015.00 ₡) |
996.18 $ (504,214.74 ₡) |
+102.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
110.16 $ (55,755.03 ₡) |
248.42 $ (125,739.26 ₡) |
+125.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
48.22 $ (24,404.58 ₡) |
138.16 $ (69,929.55 ₡) |
+186.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
285.37 $ (144,439.03 ₡) |
1,013.91 $ (513,191.12 ₡) |
+255.3 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.25 | 10.29 | +0.4 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 33 | 115 |
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