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
CRC4,671.69
|
$10.14
MX$202.55
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.98
CRC4,635.06
|
$8.52
MX$170.22
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.93
CRC996.12
|
$1.35
MX$27.02
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.48
CRC766.28
|
$1.02
MX$20.38
|
|
pay 15.2% less for groceries
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.46
CRC1,267.28
|
$2.68
MX$53.53
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.95
CRC2,040.62
|
$4.17
MX$83.40
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.91
CRC3,568.06
|
$5.88
MX$117.49
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.22
CRC1,659.47
|
$2.68
MX$53.60
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.09
CRC2,112.47
|
$3.49
MX$69.73
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.97
CRC1,015.37
|
$1.32
MX$26.34
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC320.06
|
$0.63
MX$12.64
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.08
CRC557.66
|
$0.79
MX$15.74
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
CRC603.27
|
$0.77
MX$15.47
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC562.00
|
$0.90
MX$18.07
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.06
CRC545.95
|
$0.78
MX$15.50
|
|
pay 11.1% less for transportation
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.70
CRC2,939.60
|
$5.33
MX$106.47
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$45.78
CRC23,627.37
|
$28.94
MX$578.26
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,441.08
CRC15,711,679.65
|
$22,778.21
MX$455,197.50
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.02
CRC7,235.74
|
$17.39
MX$347.53
|
|
pay 19.6% less for housing
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$45.97
CRC23,724.64
|
$33.11
MX$661.70
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$731.28
CRC377,438.28
|
$599.68
MX$11,984.01
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$520.21
CRC268,500.67
|
$424.66
MX$8,486.43
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$63.96
CRC33,010.18
|
$54.94
MX$1,097.88
|
|
pay 51.5% less for childcare
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$476.14
CRC245,750.98
|
$230.47
MX$4,605.74
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,916.17
CRC5,118,074.51
|
$4,822.04
MX$96,363.14
|
|
pay 15.3% less for entertainment and sports
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.97
CRC1,531.48
|
$2.57
MX$51.39
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.43
CRC1,771.17
|
$3.35
MX$67.04
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.33
CRC2,234.62
|
$4.34
MX$86.71
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$56.36
CRC29,091.09
|
$38.86
MX$776.67
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$7.46
CRC3,848.47
|
$5.22
MX$104.34
|
|
pay 11.5% less for clothing
Costa Rica
|
Mexico
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$71.44
CRC36,870.65
|
$54.74
MX$1,093.91
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$46.89
CRC24,202.66
|
$42.64
MX$852.01
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.63
CRC54,517.97
|
$96.11
MX$1,920.67
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$95.19
CRC49,130.23
|
$90.93
MX$1,817.05
|
|
Change currency:
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Mexico or Costa Rica. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.