Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 10.9% cheaper than Canada overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 14.2% less in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 13.2% less in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 10.6% more in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 37.1% less in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 18.8% less in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.6% less in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 15.2% more in Costa Rica
The cost of clothing and transportation in Costa Rica are more expensive than in Canada. Expenses including housing, childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and groceries are lower in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Canada, you would:
pay 14.2% less for restaurants
|
Canada
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.37
CA$23.61
|
$9.75
CRC4,861.38
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.01
CA$14.44
|
$9.08
CRC4,529.24
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.00
CA$2.88
|
$2.01
CRC1,002.75
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.62
CA$2.33
|
$1.49
CRC743.89
|
|
pay 13.2% less for groceries
|
Canada
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.48
CA$3.58
|
$2.53
CRC1,262.89
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.30
CA$7.65
|
$3.76
CRC1,876.61
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$8.04
CA$11.59
|
$6.98
CRC3,479.13
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.39
CA$4.89
|
$3.21
CRC1,602.04
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.12
CA$7.39
|
$3.97
CRC1,980.43
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CA$2.58
|
$1.79
CRC892.43
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.64
CA$0.92
|
$0.62
CRC307.67
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.60
CA$2.30
|
$1.22
CRC606.66
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.74
CA$2.51
|
$1.22
CRC609.28
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
CA$1.67
|
$1.09
CRC545.77
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.14
CA$1.65
|
$1.11
CRC555.45
|
|
pay 10.6% more for transportation
|
Canada
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.35
CA$6.27
|
$5.63
CRC2,806.40
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.88
CA$95.02
|
$49.00
CRC24,437.54
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,555.94
CA$35,418.26
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,487,364.97
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.33
CA$23.55
|
$15.62
CRC7,791.37
|
|
pay 37.1% less for housing
|
Canada
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$60.95
CA$87.92
|
$48.50
CRC24,188.91
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,220.42
CA$1,760.27
|
$778.04
CRC388,035.38
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,114.36
CA$1,607.29
|
$547.50
CRC273,059.59
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.39
CA$166.43
|
$68.26
CRC34,042.58
|
|
pay 18.8% less for childcare
|
Canada
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$729.99
CA$1,052.90
|
$519.07
CRC258,877.67
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$12,017.58
CA$17,333.55
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,479,982.83
|
|
pay 18.6% less for entertainment and sports
|
Canada
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.20
CA$7.50
|
$2.73
CRC1,360.13
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.58
CA$5.16
|
$3.65
CRC1,822.50
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.91
CA$18.62
|
$4.58
CRC2,285.36
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$42.97
CA$61.98
|
$59.46
CRC29,655.13
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.95
CA$15.80
|
$8.63
CRC4,302.05
|
|
pay 15.2% more for clothing
|
Canada
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.89
CA$77.72
|
$65.32
CRC32,579.25
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.01
CA$56.27
|
$44.54
CRC22,213.88
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$84.94
CA$122.51
|
$110.39
CRC55,053.23
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$102.12
CA$147.29
|
$97.22
CRC48,485.54
|
|
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