Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 8.5% cheaper than New Zealand overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.8% less in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 0.6% more in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 2.5% less in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 21.5% less in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 6.0% less in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.3% less in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 2.3% more in Costa Rica
The cost of clothing and groceries in Costa Rica are more expensive than in New Zealand. Expenses including housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, childcare, and transportation are lower in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of New Zealand, you would:
pay 13.8% less for restaurants
|
New Zealand
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$13.47
NZ$23.51
|
$9.75
CRC4,861.38
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.81
NZ$15.37
|
$9.08
CRC4,529.24
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.16
NZ$3.78
|
$2.01
CRC1,002.75
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.94
NZ$3.39
|
$1.49
CRC743.89
|
|
pay 0.6% more for groceries
|
New Zealand
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.86
NZ$3.25
|
$2.53
CRC1,262.89
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.77
NZ$6.58
|
$3.76
CRC1,876.61
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.55
NZ$11.42
|
$6.98
CRC3,479.13
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$5.92
NZ$10.34
|
$3.21
CRC1,602.04
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.25
NZ$7.42
|
$3.97
CRC1,980.43
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.15
NZ$2.00
|
$1.79
CRC892.43
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.04
NZ$1.82
|
$0.62
CRC307.67
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.31
NZ$2.28
|
$1.22
CRC606.66
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.31
NZ$4.03
|
$1.22
CRC609.28
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.90
NZ$1.57
|
$1.09
CRC545.77
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.83
NZ$1.45
|
$1.11
CRC555.45
|
|
pay 2.5% less for transportation
|
New Zealand
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.26
NZ$10.93
|
$5.63
CRC2,806.40
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$69.15
NZ$120.69
|
$49.00
CRC24,437.54
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,735.85
NZ$43,169.03
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,487,364.97
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.90
NZ$31.24
|
$15.62
CRC7,791.37
|
|
pay 21.5% less for housing
|
New Zealand
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$51.16
NZ$89.28
|
$48.50
CRC24,188.91
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,007.66
NZ$1,758.58
|
$778.04
CRC388,035.38
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$809.64
NZ$1,412.98
|
$547.50
CRC273,059.59
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$91.68
NZ$159.99
|
$68.26
CRC34,042.58
|
|
pay 6.0% less for childcare
|
New Zealand
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$611.89
NZ$1,067.87
|
$519.07
CRC258,877.67
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,661.07
NZ$18,605.71
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,479,982.83
|
|
pay 18.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
New Zealand
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.10
NZ$10.64
|
$2.73
CRC1,360.13
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.30
NZ$5.76
|
$3.65
CRC1,822.50
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$22.88
NZ$39.93
|
$4.58
CRC2,285.36
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.53
NZ$67.24
|
$59.46
CRC29,655.13
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.92
NZ$19.05
|
$8.63
CRC4,302.05
|
|
pay 2.3% more for clothing
|
New Zealand
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.31
NZ$113.97
|
$65.32
CRC32,579.25
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.78
NZ$71.18
|
$44.54
CRC22,213.88
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$93.71
NZ$163.54
|
$110.39
CRC55,053.23
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$121.74
NZ$212.47
|
$97.22
CRC48,485.54
|
|
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