Cost of living comparison

 Canberra, Australia
compared to
 Escazu, Costa Rica
Escazu vs. Canberra Cost of Living Summary

Escazu is 26.1% cheaper than Canberra.

Restaurants
pay 28.0% less in Escazu
Groceries
pay 9.1% less in Escazu
Housing
pay 37.5% less in Escazu
Childcare
pay 43.1% less in Escazu
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.9% less in Escazu
Clothing
pay 15.9% less in Escazu

Expenses including childcare, housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, clothing, and groceries are lower in Escazu.

Escazu vs. Canberra Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Escazu instead of Canberra, you would:

pay 28.0% less for restaurants

 
Canberra
Escazu
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $19.77
A$30.17
$10.80
CRC5,454.08
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$9.89
A$15.08
$9.72
CRC4,905.71
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.76
A$4.22
$1.99
CRC1,005.60

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pay 9.1% less for groceries

 
Canberra
Escazu
Bread
1 loaf
$2.59
A$3.94
$2.59
CRC1,309.08
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.39
A$8.23
$4.26
CRC2,153.06
Milk (1 gallon) $6.59
A$10.05
$7.21
CRC3,639.75

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pay (unknown) more for transportation

 
Canberra
Escazu
Gasoline (1 gallon) $5.07
A$7.74
$5.49
CRC2,769.80
Monthly public transit pass $118.63
A$181.00
??
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $29,276.08
A$44,669.04
$30,123.42
CRC15,207,697.68

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pay 37.5% less for housing

 
Canberra
Escazu
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$65.39
A$99.77
$53.56
CRC27,039.60
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,783.31
A$2,720.95
$1,054.33
CRC532,276.98
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,413.05
A$2,156.01
$1,054.33
CRC532,276.98

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pay 43.1% less for childcare

 
Canberra
Escazu
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,847.17
A$2,818.38
$521.49
CRC263,273.05
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $14,503.36
A$22,129.03
$12,409.58
CRC6,264,932.21

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pay 22.9% less for entertainment and sports

 
Canberra
Escazu
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $7.25
A$11.06
$2.92
CRC1,471.71
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.68
A$5.62
$3.69
CRC1,861.47
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$26.36
A$40.22
$4.86
CRC2,452.85

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pay 15.9% less for clothing

 
Canberra
Escazu
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$86.77
A$132.39
$73.45
CRC37,081.83
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$72.18
A$110.13
$50.76
CRC25,625.29
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$119.51
A$182.35
$125.81
CRC63,515.07

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: July 2025
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