Cost of Living in Costa Rica
Summary of cost of living in Costa Rica:
- The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 3,326.9$ (1,672,575.6₡), excluding rent.
- The estimated monthly costs for a single person are 913.4$ (459,234.0₡), excluding rent.
- Cost of living in Costa Rica is, on average, 21.9% lower than in United States.
- Rent in Costa Rica is, on average, 54.1% lower than in United States.
Restaurants |  Edit |
Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 9.95 $ | |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 59.67 $ | |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 9.95 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) | 2.98 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 4.44 $ | |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 4.00 $ | |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) | 2.14 $ | |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) | 1.68 $ | |
Markets | Edit |
|
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) | 7.72 $ | |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | 2.86 $ | |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) | 1.11 $ | |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 3.36 $ | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 4.22 $ | |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 4.28 $ | |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | 6.07 $ | |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.09 $ | |
| Banana (1 lb) | 0.72 $ | |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 1.49 $ | |
| Tomato (1 lb) | 1.38 $ | |
| Potato (1 lb) | 1.34 $ | |
| Onion (1 lb) | 1.27 $ | |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 1.00 $ | |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 2.48 $ | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 15.91 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 2.33 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 2.79 $ | |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | 4.97 $ | |
Transportation | Edit |
|
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 0.99 $ | |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 49.73 $ | |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 1.84 $ | |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) | 3.20 $ | |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 7.65 $ | |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | 5.61 $ | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | 36,698.14 $ | |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | 35,336.90 $ | |
Utilities (Monthly) | Edit |
|
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment | 87.54 $ | |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data | 25.51 $ | |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 53.97 $ | |
Sports And Leisure | Edit |
|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | 56.76 $ | |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 28.88 $ | |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 8.95 $ | |
Childcare | Edit |
|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | 550.54 $ | |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | 10,007.32 $ | |
Clothing And Shoes | Edit |
|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 72.85 $ | |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) | 54.18 $ | |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 119.03 $ | |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | 102.21 $ | |
Rent Per Month | Edit |
|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 808.70 $ | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 544.04 $ | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 1,481.94 $ | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 1,036.81 $ | |
Buy Apartment Price | Edit |
|
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 239.46 $ | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 130.52 $ | |
Salaries And Financing | Edit |
|
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 1,006.35 $ | |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.53 |
Prices in Costa Rica
This country had 1487 entries in the past 12 months by 128 different contributors.
Last update: 12 June 2025
Our data for each country are based on all entries from all cities in that country.
Last update: 12 June 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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