Cost of living comparison
United States is 53.8% more expensive than Costa Rica.
If you lived in United States instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 38.5% more for restaurants
Costa Rica
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.42
CRC4,821.05
|
$18.15
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.16
CRC4,179.18
|
$9.28
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.73
CRC884.33
|
$2.24
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.50
CRC770.47
|
$1.77
|
|
pay 37.9% more for groceries
Costa Rica
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.87
CRC958.11
|
$3.17
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.15
CRC2,125.56
|
$5.93
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.45
CRC3,303.65
|
$3.83
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.63
CRC1,347.37
|
$4.01
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.92
CRC2,005.99
|
$5.32
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.85
CRC945.95
|
$2.19
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
CRC338.59
|
$0.76
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.26
CRC643.30
|
$1.93
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.97
CRC494.17
|
$2.05
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.92
CRC473.16
|
$1.29
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.08
CRC553.44
|
$1.27
|
|
pay 7.8% more for transportation
Costa Rica
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.58
CRC2,858.93
|
$3.72
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$44.09
CRC22,574.18
|
$63.08
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$25,829.98
CRC13,225,633.22
|
$25,096.27
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$13.39
CRC6,854.06
|
$16.64
|
|
pay 95.2% more for housing
Costa Rica
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.15
CRC27,212.42
|
$70.73
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$813.71
CRC416,641.89
|
$1,528.07
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$522.16
CRC267,362.08
|
$1,282.97
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$64.83
CRC33,194.39
|
$138.81
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for childcare
Costa Rica
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$366.72
CRC187,768.91
|
$1,137.97
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$8,358.53
CRC4,279,786.60
|
$15,943.15
|
|
pay 53.9% more for entertainment and sports
Costa Rica
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.88
CRC1,475.37
|
$5.19
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.93
CRC1,497.90
|
$4.51
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.48
CRC2,295.30
|
$8.57
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$55.95
CRC28,648.35
|
$42.79
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$7.18
CRC3,675.46
|
$12.04
|
|
pay 7.5% less for clothing
Costa Rica
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$66.61
CRC34,104.33
|
$45.40
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.99
CRC23,038.35
|
$36.73
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$101.09
CRC51,762.25
|
$79.51
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$77.50
CRC39,681.37
|
$109.59
|
|
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