Cost of living comparison
China is 35.0% cheaper than Costa Rica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 67.6% less in China
- Groceries
-
pay 36.1% less in China
- Transportation
-
pay 48.8% less in China
- Housing
-
pay 59.2% less in China
- Childcare
-
pay 27.7% more in China
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 33.4% less in China
- Clothing
-
pay 27.9% less in China
Expenses including restaurants, housing, transportation, groceries, entertainment and sports, and clothing are lower in China.
If you lived in China instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 67.6% less for restaurants
Costa Rica
|
China
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.75
CRC4,895.83
|
$2.85
CN¥20.83
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,561.34
|
$5.07
CN¥36.96
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,009.86
|
$0.49
CN¥3.57
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC749.16
|
$0.30
CN¥2.19
|
|
pay 36.1% less for groceries
Costa Rica
|
China
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,271.84
|
$1.59
CN¥11.61
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,889.90
|
$5.85
CN¥42.68
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,503.79
|
$6.86
CN¥50.05
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,613.39
|
$1.60
CN¥11.65
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC1,994.46
|
$1.54
CN¥11.24
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC898.75
|
$0.76
CN¥5.56
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC309.85
|
$0.57
CN¥4.18
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC610.96
|
$0.65
CN¥4.77
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC613.60
|
$0.52
CN¥3.82
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC549.63
|
$0.32
CN¥2.34
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC559.39
|
$0.40
CN¥2.92
|
|
pay 48.8% less for transportation
Costa Rica
|
China
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,826.29
|
$4.44
CN¥32.43
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC24,610.70
|
$22.47
CN¥163.94
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,611,273.26
|
$19,071.53
CN¥139,142.09
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,846.57
|
$3.97
CN¥29.00
|
|
pay 59.2% less for housing
Costa Rica
|
China
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,360.30
|
$11.70
CN¥85.32
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC390,784.84
|
$328.33
CN¥2,395.43
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC274,994.38
|
$205.78
CN¥1,501.33
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,283.79
|
$40.46
CN¥295.18
|
|
pay 27.7% more for childcare
Costa Rica
|
China
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC260,711.97
|
$459.70
CN¥3,353.87
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,518,811.74
|
$18,318.08
CN¥133,645.05
|
|
pay 33.4% less for entertainment and sports
Costa Rica
|
China
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,369.77
|
$1.09
CN¥7.96
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,835.41
|
$3.07
CN¥22.38
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,301.56
|
$3.23
CN¥23.59
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC29,865.25
|
$41.41
CN¥302.11
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,332.54
|
$5.93
CN¥43.23
|
|
pay 27.9% less for clothing
Costa Rica
|
China
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC32,810.10
|
$48.23
CN¥351.84
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,371.27
|
$31.67
CN¥231.07
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC55,443.32
|
$72.53
CN¥529.14
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC48,829.09
|
$75.53
CN¥551.09
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about China or Costa Rica. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.