Cost of living comparison
Alabama is 27.7% more expensive than Costa Rica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 27.5% more in Alabama
- Groceries
-
pay 27.8% more in Alabama
- Transportation
-
pay 17.4% less in Alabama
- Housing
-
pay 61.0% more in Alabama
- Childcare
-
pay 75.2% more in Alabama
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 34.9% more in Alabama
- Clothing
-
pay 15.1% less in Alabama
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, and restaurants in Alabama are more expensive than in Costa Rica. Expenses including transportation and clothing are lower in Alabama. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Alabama.
If you lived in Alabama instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 27.5% more for restaurants
|
Costa Rica
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.75
CRC4,960.41
|
$16.94
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,621.51
|
$10.04
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,023.18
|
$2.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC759.04
|
$1.87
|
|
pay 27.8% more for groceries
|
Costa Rica
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,288.62
|
$3.34
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,914.83
|
$5.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,550.00
|
$3.73
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,634.68
|
$3.25
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC2,020.77
|
$4.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC910.60
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC313.93
|
$0.75
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC619.02
|
$1.99
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC621.69
|
$1.90
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC556.88
|
$1.46
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC566.77
|
$1.33
|
|
pay 17.4% less for transportation
|
Costa Rica
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,863.57
|
$3.04
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC24,935.34
|
$41.67
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,843,584.03
|
$31,723.76
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,950.08
|
$15.76
|
|
pay 61.0% more for housing
|
Costa Rica
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,681.64
|
$63.12
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC395,939.69
|
$1,069.72
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC278,621.84
|
$836.44
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,736.03
|
$152.52
|
|
pay 75.2% more for childcare
|
Costa Rica
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC264,151.03
|
$992.09
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,591,610.53
|
$17,515.79
|
|
pay 34.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Costa Rica
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,387.84
|
$5.19
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,859.63
|
$4.90
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,331.92
|
$7.31
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC30,259.21
|
$37.18
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,389.69
|
$11.05
|
|
pay 15.1% less for clothing
|
Costa Rica
|
Alabama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC33,242.90
|
$44.10
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,666.37
|
$37.85
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC56,174.67
|
$79.09
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC49,473.20
|
$112.25
|
|
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