Cost of living comparison
North Carolina is 45.6% more expensive than Costa Rica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 26.5% more in North Carolina
- Groceries
-
pay 33.7% more in North Carolina
- Transportation
-
pay 2.9% less in North Carolina
- Housing
-
pay 93.5% more in North Carolina
- Childcare
-
pay 2.4 times more in North Carolina
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 45.3% more in North Carolina
- Clothing
-
pay 11.8% less in North Carolina
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, and restaurants in North Carolina are more expensive than in Costa Rica. Expenses including clothing and transportation are lower in North Carolina. Notably, childcare and housing are significantly more expensive in North Carolina.
If you lived in North Carolina instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 26.5% more for restaurants
|
Costa Rica
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.75
CRC4,960.41
|
$16.06
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,621.51
|
$10.06
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,023.18
|
$2.31
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC759.04
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 33.7% more for groceries
|
Costa Rica
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,288.62
|
$3.48
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,914.83
|
$6.25
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,550.00
|
$3.46
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,634.68
|
$3.28
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC2,020.77
|
$4.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC910.60
|
$2.35
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC313.93
|
$0.74
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC619.02
|
$2.18
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC621.69
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC556.88
|
$1.51
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC566.77
|
$1.66
|
|
pay 2.9% less for transportation
|
Costa Rica
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,863.57
|
$3.19
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC24,935.34
|
$53.89
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,843,584.03
|
$34,400.31
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,950.08
|
$19.36
|
|
pay 93.5% more for housing
|
Costa Rica
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,681.64
|
$72.47
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC395,939.69
|
$1,527.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC278,621.84
|
$1,294.23
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,736.03
|
$130.82
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for childcare
|
Costa Rica
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC264,151.03
|
$1,254.70
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,591,610.53
|
$25,128.75
|
|
pay 45.3% more for entertainment and sports
|
Costa Rica
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,387.84
|
$5.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,859.63
|
$4.89
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,331.92
|
$7.33
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC30,259.21
|
$54.04
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,389.69
|
$13.35
|
|
pay 11.8% less for clothing
|
Costa Rica
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC33,242.90
|
$49.88
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,666.37
|
$37.28
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC56,174.67
|
$86.65
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC49,473.20
|
$111.01
|
|
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