Cost of living comparison
Beijing is 7.3% more expensive than Alajuela.
- Restaurants
-
pay 55.5% less in Beijing
- Groceries
-
pay 28.8% less in Beijing
- Transportation
-
pay 48.6% less in Beijing
- Housing
-
pay 11.0% less in Beijing
- Childcare
-
pay 3.2 times more in Beijing
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 13.3% less in Beijing
- Clothing
-
pay 16.0% less in Beijing
Expenses including restaurants, transportation, groceries, clothing, entertainment and sports, and housing are lower in Beijing. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Beijing.
If you lived in Beijing instead of Alajuela, you would:
pay 55.5% less for restaurants
Alajuela
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.80
CRC3,429.72
|
$4.17
CN¥29.92
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.23
CRC4,654.62
|
$5.57
CN¥39.90
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.52
CRC767.60
|
$0.50
CN¥3.56
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.30
CRC653.28
|
$0.31
CN¥2.22
|
|
pay 28.8% less for groceries
Alajuela
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.39
CRC1,206.66
|
$1.43
CN¥10.28
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.26
CRC2,150.38
|
$7.31
CN¥52.38
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.04
CRC3,549.92
|
$7.17
CN¥51.40
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.22
CRC1,117.11
|
$1.74
CN¥12.46
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.40
CRC2,218.85
|
$1.53
CN¥10.97
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.76
CRC885.75
|
$0.92
CN¥6.58
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.63
CRC317.68
|
$0.71
CN¥5.10
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
CRC801.82
|
$0.89
CN¥6.36
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.26
CRC633.88
|
$0.58
CN¥4.18
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.27
CRC640.28
|
$0.37
CN¥2.64
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.15
CRC582.36
|
$0.47
CN¥3.38
|
|
pay 48.6% less for transportation
Alajuela
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.49
CRC2,766.35
|
$4.36
CN¥31.26
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$108.83
CRC54,875.50
|
$33.40
CN¥239.40
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,925.49
CRC18,618,474.85
|
$20,872.18
CN¥149,623.26
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.88
CRC5,989.76
|
$4.59
CN¥32.92
|
|
pay 11.0% less for housing
Alajuela
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$32.07
CRC16,168.68
|
$13.28
CN¥95.22
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$680.21
CRC342,971.91
|
$929.88
CN¥6,665.88
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$583.03
CRC293,975.92
|
$492.44
CN¥3,530.10
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$44.95
CRC22,667.00
|
$42.04
CN¥301.37
|
|
pay 3.2 times more for childcare
Alajuela
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$291.52
CRC146,987.96
|
$763.49
CN¥5,473.15
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$5,920.82
CRC2,985,381.87
|
$22,913.01
CN¥164,253.09
|
|
pay 13.3% less for entertainment and sports
Alajuela
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.43
CRC1,224.90
|
$1.11
CN¥7.98
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.08
CRC1,551.54
|
$3.60
CN¥25.83
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.86
CRC2,449.80
|
$3.48
CN¥24.94
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$63.16
CRC31,847.39
|
$65.46
CN¥469.23
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.75
CRC4,409.64
|
$8.35
CN¥59.85
|
|
pay 16.0% less for clothing
Alajuela
|
Beijing
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$73.45
CRC37,035.65
|
$62.65
CN¥449.14
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.76
CRC25,593.38
|
$34.69
CN¥248.65
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$116.61
CRC58,795.18
|
$83.45
CN¥598.24
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.17
CRC48,995.99
|
$107.64
CN¥771.60
|
|
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