Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 2.1 times more expensive than China overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.6 times more in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 96.8% more in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 2.3 times more in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 2.7 times more in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 13.6% less in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 60.0% more in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 39.2% more in Costa Rica
The cost of restaurants, housing, transportation, groceries, entertainment and sports, and clothing in Costa Rica are more expensive than in China. Notably, restaurants, housing, and transportation are significantly more expensive in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of China, you would:
pay 3.6 times more for restaurants
|
China
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.85
CN¥20.69
|
$9.75
CRC4,861.38
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.07
CN¥36.72
|
$9.08
CRC4,529.24
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.49
CN¥3.55
|
$2.01
CRC1,002.75
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.30
CN¥2.18
|
$1.49
CRC743.89
|
|
pay 96.8% more for groceries
|
China
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.59
CN¥11.54
|
$2.53
CRC1,262.89
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.85
CN¥42.41
|
$3.76
CRC1,876.61
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.86
CN¥49.73
|
$6.98
CRC3,479.13
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.60
CN¥11.57
|
$3.21
CRC1,602.04
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.54
CN¥11.17
|
$3.97
CRC1,980.43
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.76
CN¥5.53
|
$1.79
CRC892.43
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
CN¥4.15
|
$0.62
CRC307.67
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.65
CN¥4.74
|
$1.22
CRC606.66
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.52
CN¥3.80
|
$1.22
CRC609.28
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.32
CN¥2.33
|
$1.09
CRC545.77
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.40
CN¥2.90
|
$1.11
CRC555.45
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for transportation
|
China
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.44
CN¥32.22
|
$5.63
CRC2,806.40
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$22.47
CN¥162.89
|
$49.00
CRC24,437.54
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,071.53
CN¥138,254.31
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,487,364.97
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$3.97
CN¥28.81
|
$15.62
CRC7,791.37
|
|
pay 2.7 times more for housing
|
China
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$11.70
CN¥84.78
|
$48.50
CRC24,188.91
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$328.33
CN¥2,380.15
|
$778.04
CRC388,035.38
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$205.78
CN¥1,491.75
|
$547.50
CRC273,059.59
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$40.46
CN¥293.29
|
$68.26
CRC34,042.58
|
|
pay 13.6% less for childcare
|
China
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$459.70
CN¥3,332.47
|
$519.07
CRC258,877.67
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,318.08
CN¥132,792.34
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,479,982.83
|
|
pay 60.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
China
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.09
CN¥7.91
|
$2.73
CRC1,360.13
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.07
CN¥22.24
|
$3.65
CRC1,822.50
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.23
CN¥23.44
|
$4.58
CRC2,285.36
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.41
CN¥300.18
|
$59.46
CRC29,655.13
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.93
CN¥42.95
|
$8.63
CRC4,302.05
|
|
pay 39.2% more for clothing
|
China
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$48.23
CN¥349.60
|
$65.32
CRC32,579.25
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$31.67
CN¥229.59
|
$44.54
CRC22,213.88
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.53
CN¥525.76
|
$110.39
CRC55,053.23
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$75.53
CN¥547.57
|
$97.22
CRC48,485.54
|
|
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