Cost of living comparison
Iowa is 30.2% more expensive than Costa Rica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 21.8% more in Iowa
- Groceries
-
pay 22.0% more in Iowa
- Transportation
-
pay 19.3% less in Iowa
- Housing
-
pay 59.7% more in Iowa
- Childcare
-
pay 87.2% more in Iowa
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 52.6% more in Iowa
- Clothing
-
pay 12.7% less in Iowa
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, and restaurants in Iowa are more expensive than in Costa Rica. Expenses including transportation and clothing are lower in Iowa. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Iowa.
If you lived in Iowa instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 21.8% more for restaurants
|
Costa Rica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.75
CRC4,960.41
|
$15.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,621.51
|
$9.86
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,023.18
|
$2.25
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC759.04
|
$1.61
|
|
pay 22.0% more for groceries
|
Costa Rica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,288.62
|
$2.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,914.83
|
$5.26
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,550.00
|
$3.55
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,634.68
|
$2.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC2,020.77
|
$4.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC910.60
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC313.93
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC619.02
|
$2.31
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC621.69
|
$2.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC556.88
|
$1.17
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC566.77
|
$1.32
|
|
pay 19.3% less for transportation
|
Costa Rica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,863.57
|
$3.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC24,935.34
|
$41.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,843,584.03
|
$28,209.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,950.08
|
$15.53
|
|
pay 59.7% more for housing
|
Costa Rica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,681.64
|
$68.83
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC395,939.69
|
$1,149.79
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC278,621.84
|
$848.38
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,736.03
|
$132.52
|
|
pay 87.2% more for childcare
|
Costa Rica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC264,151.03
|
$1,043.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,591,610.53
|
$19,039.50
|
|
pay 52.6% more for entertainment and sports
|
Costa Rica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,387.84
|
$4.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,859.63
|
$5.14
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,331.92
|
$8.68
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC30,259.21
|
$61.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,389.69
|
$12.83
|
|
pay 12.7% less for clothing
|
Costa Rica
|
Iowa
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC33,242.90
|
$50.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,666.37
|
$39.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC56,174.67
|
$83.35
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC49,473.20
|
$105.02
|
|
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