Cost of living comparison
Laos is 25.3% cheaper than Costa Rica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 66.8% less in Laos
- Groceries
-
pay 5.1% less in Laos
- Transportation
-
pay 15.1% less in Laos
- Housing
-
pay 5.0% less in Laos
- Childcare
-
pay 30.4% less in Laos
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 46.0% less in Laos
- Clothing
-
pay 8.6% less in Laos
Expenses including restaurants, entertainment and sports, childcare, transportation, clothing, and groceries are lower in Laos.
If you lived in Laos instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 66.8% less for restaurants
|
Costa Rica
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.75
CRC4,861.38
|
$1.90
LAK40,977
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,529.24
|
$4.20
LAK90,813
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,002.75
|
$0.69
LAK14,912
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC743.89
|
$0.49
LAK10,488
|
|
pay 5.1% less for groceries
|
Costa Rica
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,262.89
|
$1.00
LAK21,650
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,876.61
|
$13.03
LAK281,464
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,479.13
|
$6.40
LAK138,243
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,602.04
|
$2.06
LAK44,598
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC1,980.43
|
$2.07
LAK44,712
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC892.43
|
$0.75
LAK16,093
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC307.67
|
$0.74
LAK16,022
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC606.66
|
$0.96
LAK20,677
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC609.28
|
$1.29
LAK27,845
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC545.77
|
$0.70
LAK15,012
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC555.45
|
$0.45
LAK9,764
|
|
pay 15.1% less for transportation
|
Costa Rica
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,806.40
|
$4.61
LAK99,472
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC24,437.54
|
$53.85
LAK1,163,111
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,487,364.97
|
$28,167.89
LAK608,372,915
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,791.37
|
$10.57
LAK228,368
|
|
pay 5.0% less for housing
|
Costa Rica
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,188.91
|
$8.98
LAK194,026
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC388,035.38
|
$993.83
LAK21,464,796
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC273,059.59
|
$809.30
LAK17,479,421
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,042.58
|
$58.85
LAK1,270,951
|
|
pay 30.4% less for childcare
|
Costa Rica
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC258,877.67
|
$291.32
LAK6,292,058
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,479,982.83
|
$9,140.14
LAK197,409,757
|
|
pay 46.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Costa Rica
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,360.13
|
$1.11
LAK23,886
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,822.50
|
$1.62
LAK34,967
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,285.36
|
$1.78
LAK38,540
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC29,655.13
|
$66.31
LAK1,432,209
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,302.05
|
$2.97
LAK64,189
|
|
pay 8.6% less for clothing
|
Costa Rica
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC32,579.25
|
$78.60
LAK1,697,573
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,213.88
|
$61.45
LAK1,327,143
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC55,053.23
|
$65.22
LAK1,408,616
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC48,485.54
|
$46.67
LAK1,007,984
|
|
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