Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 64.5% more expensive than Mexico overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 48.9% more in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 39.0% more in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 62.5% more in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 61.4% more in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 2.6 times more in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 49.9% more in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 31.6% more in Costa Rica
The cost of childcare, transportation, housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and groceries in Costa Rica are more expensive than in Mexico. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Mexico, you would:
pay 48.9% more for restaurants
|
Mexico
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.83
MX$175.97
|
$9.75
CRC4,858.31
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.25
MX$144.54
|
$9.08
CRC4,526.38
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.11
MX$22.09
|
$2.01
CRC1,002.12
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.84
MX$16.65
|
$1.49
CRC743.42
|
|
pay 39.0% more for groceries
|
Mexico
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.35
MX$46.90
|
$2.53
CRC1,262.09
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.62
MX$72.17
|
$3.76
CRC1,875.42
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.17
MX$103.12
|
$6.98
CRC3,476.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.18
MX$43.45
|
$3.21
CRC1,601.03
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.12
MX$62.27
|
$3.97
CRC1,979.18
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.08
MX$21.58
|
$1.79
CRC891.86
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
MX$11.30
|
$0.62
CRC307.47
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.71
MX$14.08
|
$1.22
CRC606.28
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
MX$13.92
|
$1.22
CRC608.89
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.81
MX$16.08
|
$1.09
CRC545.42
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.73
MX$14.63
|
$1.11
CRC555.10
|
|
pay 62.5% more for transportation
|
Mexico
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.48
MX$89.29
|
$5.63
CRC2,804.63
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$26.30
MX$524.18
|
$49.00
CRC24,422.09
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,957.31
MX$397,739.13
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,476,309.95
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.63
MX$311.44
|
$15.62
CRC7,786.44
|
|
pay 61.4% more for housing
|
Mexico
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.71
MX$532.36
|
$48.50
CRC24,173.62
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$486.26
MX$9,690.97
|
$778.04
CRC387,790.07
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$362.30
MX$7,220.41
|
$547.50
CRC272,886.97
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$44.69
MX$890.61
|
$68.26
CRC34,021.06
|
|
pay 2.6 times more for childcare
|
Mexico
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$205.12
MX$4,087.87
|
$519.07
CRC258,714.02
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,165.20
MX$83,010.34
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,476,518.54
|
|
pay 49.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Mexico
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.16
MX$42.98
|
$2.73
CRC1,359.27
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.84
MX$56.59
|
$3.65
CRC1,821.35
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.78
MX$75.41
|
$4.58
CRC2,283.92
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$33.67
MX$670.96
|
$59.46
CRC29,636.38
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.39
MX$87.50
|
$8.63
CRC4,299.33
|
|
pay 31.6% more for clothing
|
Mexico
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.84
MX$913.60
|
$65.32
CRC32,558.66
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$36.33
MX$724.02
|
$44.54
CRC22,199.83
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$82.04
MX$1,635.01
|
$110.39
CRC55,018.43
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$76.65
MX$1,527.53
|
$97.22
CRC48,454.89
|
|
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