Cost of living comparison
California is 79.0% more expensive than Costa Rica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 55.5% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 43.7% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 6.6% more in California
- Housing
-
pay 2.7 times more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 3.0 times more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 83.9% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 7.8% less in California
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, and transportation in California are more expensive than in Costa Rica. Notably, childcare, housing, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in California.
If you lived in California instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 55.5% more for restaurants
|
Costa Rica
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.75
CRC4,951.06
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,612.79
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,021.25
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC757.61
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 43.7% more for groceries
|
Costa Rica
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,286.19
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,911.23
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,543.31
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,631.60
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC2,016.96
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC908.89
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC313.34
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC617.85
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC620.52
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC555.84
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC565.70
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 6.6% more for transportation
|
Costa Rica
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,858.17
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC24,888.34
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,809,952.89
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,935.09
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 2.7 times more for housing
|
Costa Rica
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,635.12
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC395,193.43
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC278,096.70
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,670.56
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 3.0 times more for childcare
|
Costa Rica
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC263,653.17
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,581,071.60
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 83.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Costa Rica
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,385.22
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,856.12
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,327.52
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC30,202.18
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,381.41
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 7.8% less for clothing
|
Costa Rica
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC33,180.24
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,623.65
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC56,068.79
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC49,379.95
|
$117.31
|
|
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