Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 19.6% cheaper than North Carolina.
- Restaurants
-
pay 18.9% less in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 15.8% less in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 12.5% more in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 46.9% less in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 57.5% less in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 26.9% less in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 16.4% more in Costa Rica
The cost of clothing and transportation in Costa Rica are more expensive than in North Carolina. Expenses including childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and groceries are lower in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of North Carolina, you would:
pay 18.9% less for restaurants
|
North Carolina
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.06
|
$9.75
CRC4,960.41
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.06
|
$9.08
CRC4,621.51
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.31
|
$2.01
CRC1,023.18
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.72
|
$1.49
CRC759.04
|
|
pay 15.8% less for groceries
|
North Carolina
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.48
|
$2.53
CRC1,288.62
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.25
|
$3.76
CRC1,914.83
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.46
|
$6.98
CRC3,550.00
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.28
|
$3.21
CRC1,634.68
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.77
|
$3.97
CRC2,020.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.35
|
$1.79
CRC910.60
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.74
|
$0.62
CRC313.93
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.18
|
$1.22
CRC619.02
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$1.22
CRC621.69
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.51
|
$1.09
CRC556.88
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.66
|
$1.11
CRC566.77
|
|
pay 12.5% more for transportation
|
North Carolina
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.19
|
$5.63
CRC2,863.57
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$53.89
|
$49.00
CRC24,935.34
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,400.31
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,843,584.03
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$19.36
|
$15.62
CRC7,950.08
|
|
pay 46.9% less for housing
|
North Carolina
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$72.47
|
$48.50
CRC24,681.64
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,527.81
|
$778.04
CRC395,939.69
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,294.23
|
$547.50
CRC278,621.84
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$130.82
|
$68.26
CRC34,736.03
|
|
pay 57.5% less for childcare
|
North Carolina
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,254.70
|
$519.07
CRC264,151.03
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$25,128.75
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,591,610.53
|
|
pay 26.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
North Carolina
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.09
|
$2.73
CRC1,387.84
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.89
|
$3.65
CRC1,859.63
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.33
|
$4.58
CRC2,331.92
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$54.04
|
$59.46
CRC30,259.21
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.35
|
$8.63
CRC4,389.69
|
|
pay 16.4% more for clothing
|
North Carolina
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$49.88
|
$65.32
CRC33,242.90
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.28
|
$44.54
CRC22,666.37
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$86.65
|
$110.39
CRC56,174.67
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.01
|
$97.22
CRC49,473.20
|
|
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