Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Costa Rica Reverse

For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities.
City in United States:
City in Costa Rica:
Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 21.8% lower than in United States (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 30.1% lower than in United States
Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 48.1% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 32.8% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 18.8% lower than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 66.5% lower than in United States
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 20.00 $
(9,747.17 ₡)		 10.26 $
(5,000.00 ₡)		      -48.7 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 75.00 $
(36,551.89 ₡)		 53.35 $
(26,000.00 ₡)		      -28.9 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 12.00 $
(5,848.30 ₡)		 10.26 $
(5,000.00 ₡)		      -14.5 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 6.00 $
(2,924.15 ₡)		 3.08 $
(1,500.00 ₡)		      -48.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 7.50 $
(3,655.19 ₡)		 4.51 $
(2,200.00 ₡)		      -39.8 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 5.34 $
(2,603.59 ₡)		 4.08 $
(1,986.51 ₡)		      -23.7 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 2.63 $
(1,282.55 ₡)		 2.16 $
(1,051.99 ₡)		      -18.0 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) 2.12 $
(1,033.46 ₡)		 1.75 $
(852.51 ₡)		      -17.5 %
Markets
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1.06 $
(518.12 ₡)		 2.18 $
(1,061.67 ₡)		      +104.9 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 3.31 $
(1,615.06 ₡)		 2.92 $
(1,425.12 ₡)		      -11.8 %
White Rice (1 lb) 2.09 $
(1,016.73 ₡)		 1.15 $
(562.12 ₡)		      -44.7 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) 4.41 $
(2,147.75 ₡)		 3.54 $
(1,724.46 ₡)		      -19.7 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 5.89 $
(2,872.27 ₡)		 4.31 $
(2,099.49 ₡)		      -26.9 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 5.55 $
(2,705.98 ₡)		 4.43 $
(2,159.42 ₡)		      -20.2 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 7.55 $
(3,681.26 ₡)		 6.15 $
(2,997.63 ₡)		      -18.6 %
Apples (1 lb) 2.37 $
(1,155.49 ₡)		 2.13 $
(1,039.57 ₡)		      -10.0 %
Bananas (1 lb) 0.76 $
(372.03 ₡)		 0.72 $
(350.23 ₡)		      -5.9 %
Oranges (1 lb) 2.01 $
(980.12 ₡)		 1.51 $
(736.06 ₡)		      -24.9 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) 2.21 $
(1,078.94 ₡)		 1.43 $
(697.89 ₡)		      -35.3 %
Potatoes (1 lb) 1.31 $
(640.67 ₡)		 1.38 $
(672.87 ₡)		      +5.0 %
Onions (1 lb) 1.39 $
(676.61 ₡)		 1.30 $
(632.25 ₡)		      -6.6 %
Lettuce (1 Head) 2.22 $
(1,082.63 ₡)		 1.05 $
(511.88 ₡)		      -52.7 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) 2.26 $
(1,102.38 ₡)		 2.59 $
(1,260.94 ₡)		      +14.4 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 15.00 $
(7,310.38 ₡)		 15.39 $
(7,500.00 ₡)		      +2.6 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 2.04 $
(995.79 ₡)		 2.46 $
(1,197.36 ₡)		      +20.2 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 3.63 $
(1,769.78 ₡)		 2.95 $
(1,436.42 ₡)		      -18.8 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 10.40 $
(5,068.53 ₡)		 5.13 $
(2,500.00 ₡)		      -50.7 %
Transportation
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 2.50 $
(1,218.40 ₡)		 1.03 $
(500.00 ₡)		      -59.0 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 65.00 $
(31,678.31 ₡)		 61.56 $
(30,000.00 ₡)		      -5.3 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 3.50 $
(1,705.76 ₡)		 2.05 $
(1,000.00 ₡)		      -41.4 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 2.82 $
(1,372.57 ₡)		 3.04 $
(1,480.60 ₡)		      +7.9 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 30.00 $
(14,620.76 ₡)		 8.44 $
(4,112.50 ₡)		      -71.9 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) 0.89 $
(432.34 ₡)		 1.49 $
(728.39 ₡)		      +68.5 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 35,699.74 $
(17,398,574.56 ₡)		 32,830.04 $
(16,000,000.00 ₡)		      -8.0 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 25,887.39 $
(12,616,440.50 ₡)		 35,867.66 $
(17,480,410.04 ₡)		      +38.6 %
Utilities (Monthly)
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 211.84 $
(103,244.24 ₡)		 91.19 $
(44,441.92 ₡)		      -57.0 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 61.22 $
(29,837.26 ₡)		 28.19 $
(13,737.02 ₡)		      -54.0 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 72.73 $
(35,446.68 ₡)		 55.28 $
(26,942.42 ₡)		      -24.0 %
Sports And Leisure
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 45.53 $
(22,191.19 ₡)		 59.53 $
(29,012.97 ₡)		      +30.7 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 23.12 $
(11,267.13 ₡)		 30.46 $
(14,846.67 ₡)		      +31.8 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) 15.00 $
(7,310.38 ₡)		 9.23 $
(4,500.00 ₡)		      -38.4 %
Childcare
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 1,468.17 $
(715,524.51 ₡)		 667.60 $
(325,360.33 ₡)		      -54.5 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 25,434.13 $
(12,395,539.88 ₡)		 12,277.48 $
(5,983,533.22 ₡)		      -51.7 %
Clothing And Shoes
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 52.60 $
(25,637.39 ₡)		 75.16 $
(36,631.34 ₡)		      +42.9 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 42.92 $
(20,918.96 ₡)		 55.06 $
(26,833.21 ₡)		      +28.3 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 91.21 $
(44,450.45 ₡)		 122.54 $
(59,721.87 ₡)		      +34.4 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes 114.39 $
(55,746.58 ₡)		 104.35 $
(50,854.17 ₡)		      -8.8 %
Rent Per Month
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 1,696.98 $
(827,036.12 ₡)		 858.47 $
(418,384.29 ₡)		      -49.4 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 1,377.53 $
(671,351.98 ₡)		 603.95 $
(294,342.44 ₡)		      -56.2 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 2,747.88 $
(1,339,204.27 ₡)		 1,646.30 $
(802,337.74 ₡)		      -40.1 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 2,266.43 $
(1,104,565.54 ₡)		 1,090.91 $
(531,666.02 ₡)		      -51.9 %
Buy Apartment Price
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 309.24 $
(150,711.82 ₡)		 218.83 $
(106,648.19 ₡)		      -29.2 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 246.29 $
(120,032.90 ₡)		 149.72 $
(72,965.02 ₡)		      -39.2 %
Salaries And Financing
 United States Edit Costa Rica Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 4,252.21 $
(2,072,352.19 ₡)		 996.24 $
(485,527.29 ₡)		      -76.6 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 6.34 9.95      +57.0 %
Last update: 21 January 202618 January 2026
Contributors in the past 12 months:638764
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