Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 10.5% cheaper than Alabama.
- Restaurants
-
pay 18.1% less in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 14.3% less in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 28.1% more in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 35.0% less in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 42.5% less in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 14.4% less in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 23.0% more in Costa Rica
The cost of transportation and clothing in Costa Rica are more expensive than in Alabama. Expenses including childcare, housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Alabama, you would:
pay 18.1% less for restaurants
|
Alabama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.94
|
$9.75
CRC4,960.41
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.04
|
$9.08
CRC4,621.51
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.02
|
$2.01
CRC1,023.18
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.87
|
$1.49
CRC759.04
|
|
pay 14.3% less for groceries
|
Alabama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.34
|
$2.53
CRC1,288.62
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.87
|
$3.76
CRC1,914.83
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.73
|
$6.98
CRC3,550.00
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.25
|
$3.21
CRC1,634.68
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.70
|
$3.97
CRC2,020.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.71
|
$1.79
CRC910.60
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.75
|
$0.62
CRC313.93
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.99
|
$1.22
CRC619.02
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.90
|
$1.22
CRC621.69
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.46
|
$1.09
CRC556.88
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.33
|
$1.11
CRC566.77
|
|
pay 28.1% more for transportation
|
Alabama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.04
|
$5.63
CRC2,863.57
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.67
|
$49.00
CRC24,935.34
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,723.76
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,843,584.03
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.76
|
$15.62
CRC7,950.08
|
|
pay 35.0% less for housing
|
Alabama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$63.12
|
$48.50
CRC24,681.64
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,069.72
|
$778.04
CRC395,939.69
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$836.44
|
$547.50
CRC278,621.84
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$152.52
|
$68.26
CRC34,736.03
|
|
pay 42.5% less for childcare
|
Alabama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$992.09
|
$519.07
CRC264,151.03
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$17,515.79
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,591,610.53
|
|
pay 14.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
Alabama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.19
|
$2.73
CRC1,387.84
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.90
|
$3.65
CRC1,859.63
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.31
|
$4.58
CRC2,331.92
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$37.18
|
$59.46
CRC30,259.21
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.05
|
$8.63
CRC4,389.69
|
|
pay 23.0% more for clothing
|
Alabama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$44.10
|
$65.32
CRC33,242.90
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.85
|
$44.54
CRC22,666.37
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$79.09
|
$110.39
CRC56,174.67
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$112.25
|
$97.22
CRC49,473.20
|
|
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