Cost of living comparison
Mexico is 19.7% cheaper than Costa Rica.
If you lived in Mexico instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 13.6% less for restaurants
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.05
CRC4,634.51
|
$10.14
MX$170.08
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.98
CRC4,598.17
|
$8.52
MX$142.94
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.93
CRC988.19
|
$1.35
MX$22.69
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.48
CRC760.18
|
$1.02
MX$17.12
|
|
pay 15.2% less for groceries
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.46
CRC1,257.19
|
$2.68
MX$44.95
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.95
CRC2,024.38
|
$4.17
MX$70.03
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.91
CRC3,539.66
|
$5.88
MX$98.66
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.22
CRC1,646.27
|
$2.68
MX$45.00
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.09
CRC2,095.66
|
$3.49
MX$58.55
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.97
CRC1,007.29
|
$1.32
MX$22.11
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC317.51
|
$0.63
MX$10.61
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.08
CRC553.22
|
$0.79
MX$13.22
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
CRC598.47
|
$0.77
MX$12.99
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC557.53
|
$0.90
MX$15.18
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.06
CRC541.61
|
$0.78
MX$13.02
|
|
pay 11.1% less for transportation
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.70
CRC2,916.21
|
$5.33
MX$89.40
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$45.78
CRC23,439.34
|
$28.94
MX$485.56
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,441.08
CRC15,586,640.87
|
$22,778.21
MX$382,227.50
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.02
CRC7,178.15
|
$17.39
MX$291.82
|
|
pay 19.6% less for housing
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$45.97
CRC23,535.83
|
$33.11
MX$555.63
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$731.28
CRC374,434.50
|
$599.68
MX$10,062.92
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$520.21
CRC266,363.85
|
$424.66
MX$7,126.02
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$63.96
CRC32,747.47
|
$54.94
MX$921.89
|
|
pay 51.5% less for childcare
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$476.14
CRC243,795.21
|
$230.47
MX$3,867.42
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,916.17
CRC5,077,343.17
|
$4,822.04
MX$80,915.74
|
|
pay 15.3% less for entertainment and sports
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.97
CRC1,519.29
|
$2.57
MX$43.15
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.43
CRC1,757.07
|
$3.35
MX$56.30
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.33
CRC2,216.84
|
$4.34
MX$72.81
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$56.36
CRC28,859.57
|
$38.86
MX$652.17
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$7.46
CRC3,817.84
|
$5.22
MX$87.62
|
|
pay 11.5% less for clothing
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$71.44
CRC36,577.22
|
$54.74
MX$918.56
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$46.89
CRC24,010.05
|
$42.64
MX$715.43
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.63
CRC54,084.09
|
$96.11
MX$1,612.78
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$95.19
CRC48,739.24
|
$90.93
MX$1,525.77
|
|
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