Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 50.9% more expensive than Mexico City.
- Restaurants
-
pay 49.9% more in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 24.3% more in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 2.6 times more in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 53.0% more in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 33.2% more in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 24.6% more in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 12.6% more in Costa Rica
The cost of transportation, housing, restaurants, childcare, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Costa Rica are more expensive than in Mexico City. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Mexico City, you would:
pay 49.9% more for restaurants
Mexico City
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.93
MX$186.17
|
$9.75
CRC4,917.04
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.45
MX$139.63
|
$9.08
CRC4,581.11
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.08
MX$20.24
|
$2.01
CRC1,014.24
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.77
MX$14.49
|
$1.49
CRC752.41
|
|
pay 24.3% more for groceries
Mexico City
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.45
MX$45.98
|
$2.53
CRC1,277.35
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.87
MX$91.26
|
$3.76
CRC1,898.10
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.51
MX$103.27
|
$6.98
CRC3,518.97
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.18
MX$40.93
|
$3.21
CRC1,620.39
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.57
MX$66.95
|
$3.97
CRC2,003.11
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.22
MX$22.91
|
$1.79
CRC902.64
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.67
MX$12.55
|
$0.62
CRC311.19
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.80
MX$14.98
|
$1.22
CRC613.61
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.83
MX$15.52
|
$1.22
CRC616.26
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.85
MX$15.96
|
$1.09
CRC552.02
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.83
MX$15.52
|
$1.11
CRC561.81
|
|
pay 2.6 times more for transportation
Mexico City
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.64
MX$86.95
|
$5.63
CRC2,838.54
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$17.87
MX$335.11
|
$49.00
CRC24,717.36
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$18,615.02
MX$349,070.68
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,687,604.54
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$3.47
MX$65.16
|
$15.62
CRC7,880.58
|
|
pay 53.0% more for housing
Mexico City
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$24.38
MX$457.16
|
$48.50
CRC24,465.89
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$893.52
MX$16,755.39
|
$778.04
CRC392,478.59
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$544.24
MX$10,205.56
|
$547.50
CRC276,186.27
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$30.31
MX$568.40
|
$68.26
CRC34,432.39
|
|
pay 33.2% more for childcare
Mexico City
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$381.33
MX$7,150.66
|
$519.07
CRC261,841.96
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$8,426.99
MX$158,023.74
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,542,731.53
|
|
pay 24.6% more for entertainment and sports
Mexico City
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
MX$51.20
|
$2.73
CRC1,375.71
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.01
MX$56.37
|
$3.65
CRC1,843.37
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.92
MX$73.54
|
$4.58
CRC2,311.53
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$53.69
MX$1,006.75
|
$59.46
CRC29,994.70
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.96
MX$93.09
|
$8.63
CRC4,351.31
|
|
pay 12.6% more for clothing
Mexico City
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$56.36
MX$1,056.78
|
$65.32
CRC32,952.30
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.06
MX$769.94
|
$44.54
CRC22,468.24
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$91.99
MX$1,725.05
|
$110.39
CRC55,683.62
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$91.93
MX$1,723.87
|
$97.22
CRC49,040.73
|
|
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