Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Costa Rica 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 37.6% lower than in Singapore (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 52.1% lower than in Singapore | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 73.3% lower than in Singapore | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 10.0% lower than in Singapore | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 22.6% lower than in Singapore | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 55.1% lower than in Singapore | |
Restaurants | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
12.50 S$ (4,751.19 ₡) |
13.15 S$ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+5.2 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
90.00 S$ (34,208.57 ₡) |
73.13 S$ (27,796.94 ₡) |
-18.7 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
10.00 S$ (3,800.95 ₡) |
13.15 S$ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+31.5 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
10.00 S$ (3,800.95 ₡) |
3.95 S$ (1,500.00 ₡) |
-60.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
12.00 S$ (4,561.14 ₡) |
5.79 S$ (2,200.00 ₡) |
-51.8 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
6.11 S$ (2,322.29 ₡) |
5.24 S$ (1,990.51 ₡) |
-14.3 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
1.99 S$ (757.77 ₡) |
2.77 S$ (1,053.84 ₡) |
+39.1 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
1.46 S$ (556.40 ₡) |
2.23 S$ (848.58 ₡) |
+52.5 % |
Markets | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
3.78 S$ (1,438.48 ₡) |
2.80 S$ (1,065.56 ₡) |
-25.9 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
2.65 S$ (1,007.60 ₡) |
3.83 S$ (1,454.86 ₡) |
+44.4 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
1.50 S$ (571.27 ₡) |
1.47 S$ (558.68 ₡) |
-2.2 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
4.12 S$ (1,567.19 ₡) |
4.48 S$ (1,701.98 ₡) |
+8.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
10.54 S$ (4,007.99 ₡) |
5.48 S$ (2,084.80 ₡) |
-48.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6.35 S$ (2,415.29 ₡) |
5.62 S$ (2,136.22 ₡) |
-11.6 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
12.45 S$ (4,733.85 ₡) |
7.88 S$ (2,993.45 ₡) |
-36.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.54 S$ (966.87 ₡) |
2.65 S$ (1,008.28 ₡) |
+4.3 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
1.81 S$ (686.32 ₡) |
0.93 S$ (352.27 ₡) |
-48.7 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.95 S$ (1,123.12 ₡) |
1.99 S$ (756.93 ₡) |
-32.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
1.37 S$ (520.67 ₡) |
1.87 S$ (709.98 ₡) |
+36.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.47 S$ (558.34 ₡) |
1.78 S$ (677.46 ₡) |
+21.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.33 S$ (503.92 ₡) |
1.68 S$ (638.01 ₡) |
+26.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
2.52 S$ (959.29 ₡) |
1.34 S$ (507.64 ₡) |
-47.1 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
1.69 S$ (642.20 ₡) |
3.27 S$ (1,243.12 ₡) |
+93.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
30.00 S$ (11,402.86 ₡) |
20.13 S$ (7,650.00 ₡) |
-32.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
5.58 S$ (2,120.25 ₡) |
3.16 S$ (1,199.20 ₡) |
-43.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
6.72 S$ (2,555.79 ₡) |
3.75 S$ (1,426.91 ₡) |
-44.2 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
16.75 S$ (6,366.60 ₡) |
6.58 S$ (2,500.00 ₡) |
-60.7 % |
Transportation | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.00 S$ (760.19 ₡) |
1.32 S$ (500.00 ₡) |
-34.2 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
120.00 S$ (45,611.43 ₡) |
78.93 S$ (30,000.00 ₡) |
-34.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
4.60 S$ (1,748.44 ₡) |
2.63 S$ (1,000.00 ₡) |
-42.8 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
1.61 S$ (611.70 ₡) |
3.87 S$ (1,472.55 ₡) |
+140.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
21.00 S$ (7,982.00 ₡) |
13.15 S$ (5,000.00 ₡) |
-37.4 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
2.76 S$ (1,048.86 ₡) |
1.93 S$ (735.07 ₡) |
-29.9 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
190,000.00 S$ (72,218,096.13 ₡) |
47,948.51 S$ (18,225,000.00 ₡) |
-74.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
170,937.60 S$ (64,972,568.57 ₡) |
47,034.30 S$ (17,877,513.17 ₡) |
-72.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
196.71 S$ (74,770.09 ₡) |
118.04 S$ (44,868.15 ₡) |
-40.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
19.41 S$ (7,376.77 ₡) |
36.08 S$ (13,712.61 ₡) |
+85.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
42.00 S$ (15,964.00 ₡) |
70.56 S$ (26,817.96 ₡) |
+68.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
145.04 S$ (55,127.89 ₡) |
75.14 S$ (28,560.53 ₡) |
-48.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
14.07 S$ (5,347.18 ₡) |
40.93 S$ (15,558.33 ₡) |
+191.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
15.00 S$ (5,701.43 ₡) |
11.84 S$ (4,500.00 ₡) |
-21.1 % |
Childcare | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,574.31 S$ (598,388.06 ₡) |
690.74 S$ (262,546.20 ₡) |
-56.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
37,030.80 S$ (14,075,230.92 ₡) |
13,021.59 S$ (4,949,443.52 ₡) |
-64.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
107.29 S$ (40,778.79 ₡) |
96.43 S$ (36,652.31 ₡) |
-10.1 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
56.52 S$ (21,484.43 ₡) |
70.68 S$ (26,866.10 ₡) |
+25.0 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
133.65 S$ (50,801.19 ₡) |
157.23 S$ (59,761.02 ₡) |
+17.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
154.35 S$ (58,666.87 ₡) |
133.79 S$ (50,854.17 ₡) |
-13.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
3,764.29 S$ (1,430,787.09 ₡) |
1,087.98 S$ (413,537.40 ₡) |
-71.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,841.38 S$ (1,079,994.76 ₡) |
732.69 S$ (278,493.78 ₡) |
-74.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
7,781.67 S$ (2,957,774.48 ₡) |
1,987.47 S$ (755,426.45 ₡) |
-74.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
4,812.67 S$ (1,829,271.71 ₡) |
1,311.73 S$ (498,583.04 ₡) |
-72.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
2,698.21 S$ (1,025,576.00 ₡) |
305.52 S$ (116,125.02 ₡) |
-88.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,890.56 S$ (718,594.07 ₡) |
166.73 S$ (63,372.24 ₡) |
-91.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Singapore Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
5,945.37 S$ (2,259,807.00 ₡) |
1,279.90 S$ (486,485.45 ₡) |
-78.5 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 2.91 | 10.38 | +256.2 % |
| Last update: | 1 December 2025 | 1 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 350 | 153 |
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