Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 28.6% cheaper than New Jersey.
- Restaurants
-
pay 28.2% less in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 24.4% less in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 4.0% less in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 47.7% less in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 64.5% less in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 36.6% less in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 5.1% more in Costa Rica
Expenses including childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, and transportation are lower in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of New Jersey, you would:
pay 28.2% less for restaurants
|
New Jersey
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.00
|
$9.75
CRC4,960.41
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.19
|
$9.08
CRC4,621.51
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.49
|
$2.01
CRC1,023.18
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.02
|
$1.49
CRC759.04
|
|
pay 24.4% less for groceries
|
New Jersey
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.89
|
$2.53
CRC1,288.62
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.30
|
$3.76
CRC1,914.83
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.36
|
$6.98
CRC3,550.00
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.63
|
$3.21
CRC1,634.68
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.77
|
$3.97
CRC2,020.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.60
|
$1.79
CRC910.60
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$0.62
CRC313.93
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$1.22
CRC619.02
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.65
|
$1.22
CRC621.69
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.28
|
$1.09
CRC556.88
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.59
|
$1.11
CRC566.77
|
|
pay 4.0% less for transportation
|
New Jersey
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.49
|
$5.63
CRC2,863.57
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$133.88
|
$49.00
CRC24,935.34
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,750.31
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,843,584.03
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.65
|
$15.62
CRC7,950.08
|
|
pay 47.7% less for housing
|
New Jersey
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.37
|
$48.50
CRC24,681.64
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,167.23
|
$778.04
CRC395,939.69
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,865.29
|
$547.50
CRC278,621.84
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$112.29
|
$68.26
CRC34,736.03
|
|
pay 64.5% less for childcare
|
New Jersey
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,618.98
|
$519.07
CRC264,151.03
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,166.67
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,591,610.53
|
|
pay 36.6% less for entertainment and sports
|
New Jersey
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.72
|
$2.73
CRC1,387.84
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.97
|
$3.65
CRC1,859.63
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.57
|
$4.58
CRC2,331.92
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$54.75
|
$59.46
CRC30,259.21
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.73
|
$8.63
CRC4,389.69
|
|
pay 5.1% more for clothing
|
New Jersey
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.04
|
$65.32
CRC33,242.90
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$45.58
|
$44.54
CRC22,666.37
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$91.11
|
$110.39
CRC56,174.67
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$124.03
|
$97.22
CRC49,473.20
|
|
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