Cost of Living in Costa Rica
Summary of cost of living in Costa Rica:
- The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 3,297.2$ (1,666,774.8₡), excluding rent.
- The estimated monthly costs for a single person are 905.6$ (457,800.4₡), excluding rent.
- Cost of living in Costa Rica is, on average, 22.3% lower than in United States.
- Rent in Costa Rica is, on average, 55.8% lower than in United States.
Restaurants |  Edit |
Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 9.89 $ | |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 59.35 $ | |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 9.89 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) | 2.97 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 4.75 $ | |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 3.93 $ | |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) | 2.16 $ | |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) | 1.67 $ | |
Markets | Edit |
|
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) | 7.51 $ | |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | 2.86 $ | |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) | 1.07 $ | |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 3.39 $ | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 4.16 $ | |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 4.25 $ | |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | 5.95 $ | |
| Apples (1 lb) | 1.98 $ | |
| Banana (1 lb) | 0.73 $ | |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 1.45 $ | |
| Tomato (1 lb) | 1.37 $ | |
| Potato (1 lb) | 1.34 $ | |
| Onion (1 lb) | 1.28 $ | |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 1.00 $ | |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 2.46 $ | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 15.83 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 2.32 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 2.72 $ | |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | 4.95 $ | |
Transportation | Edit |
|
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 0.99 $ | |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 49.45 $ | |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 1.80 $ | |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) | 3.18 $ | |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 7.61 $ | |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | 5.61 $ | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | 36,101.98 $ | |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | 35,269.05 $ | |
Utilities (Monthly) | Edit |
|
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment | 88.23 $ | |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data | 25.53 $ | |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 54.41 $ | |
Sports And Leisure | Edit |
|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | 56.90 $ | |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 30.28 $ | |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 7.91 $ | |
Childcare | Edit |
|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | 544.95 $ | |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | 9,629.71 $ | |
Clothing And Shoes | Edit |
|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 73.14 $ | |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) | 54.50 $ | |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 123.99 $ | |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | 106.84 $ | |
Rent Per Month | Edit |
|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 773.16 $ | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 528.63 $ | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 1,454.77 $ | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 996.94 $ | |
Buy Apartment Price | Edit |
|
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 248.56 $ | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 138.28 $ | |
Salaries And Financing | Edit |
|
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 1,014.94 $ | |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.29 |
Prices in Costa Rica
This country had 1250 entries in the past 12 months by 115 different contributors.
Last update: April 2025
Our data for each country are based on all entries from all cities in that country.
Last update: April 2025
Our data for each country are based on all entries from all cities in that country.
Sources and References
Moving to Costa Rica? Explore:
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
This Page in Other Languages:
 DeutschLebenshaltungskosten in Costa Rica
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 PortuguêsCusto de Vida na Costa Rica
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 ItalianoCosto della Vita in Costa Rica
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 FrançaisCoût de la Vie au Costa Rica
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 EspañolCosto de Vida en Costa Rica
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