Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 38.4% more expensive than Sweden overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 11.6% less in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 7.4% more in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 10.0% less in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 7.1% more in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 3.9 times more in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 15.3% less in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 4.1% more in Costa Rica
The cost of childcare, groceries, housing, and clothing in Costa Rica are more expensive than in Sweden. Expenses including entertainment and sports, restaurants, and transportation are lower in Costa Rica. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Sweden, you would:
pay 11.6% less for restaurants
|
Sweden
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$11.92
SEK119.33
|
$9.75
CRC4,870.79
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.45
SEK94.66
|
$9.08
CRC4,538.01
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.04
SEK20.44
|
$2.01
CRC1,004.69
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.93
SEK19.31
|
$1.49
CRC745.33
|
|
pay 7.4% more for groceries
|
Sweden
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.49
SEK24.89
|
$2.53
CRC1,265.34
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.18
SEK51.91
|
$3.76
CRC1,880.24
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.43
SEK54.42
|
$6.98
CRC3,485.87
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.74
SEK37.44
|
$3.21
CRC1,605.14
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.68
SEK46.82
|
$3.97
CRC1,984.26
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.19
SEK11.93
|
$1.79
CRC894.15
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.06
SEK10.58
|
$0.62
CRC308.26
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.13
SEK11.36
|
$1.22
CRC607.84
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.73
SEK17.32
|
$1.22
CRC610.46
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.67
SEK6.75
|
$1.09
CRC546.82
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.70
SEK7.02
|
$1.11
CRC556.53
|
|
pay 10.0% less for transportation
|
Sweden
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.64
SEK66.44
|
$5.63
CRC2,811.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$68.10
SEK681.91
|
$49.00
CRC24,484.83
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,850.74
SEK268,850.57
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,521,201.52
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$21.47
SEK214.93
|
$15.62
CRC7,806.44
|
|
pay 7.1% more for housing
|
Sweden
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$30.29
SEK303.26
|
$48.50
CRC24,235.71
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$821.73
SEK8,227.77
|
$778.04
CRC388,786.19
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$641.62
SEK6,424.41
|
$547.50
CRC273,587.94
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$77.37
SEK774.71
|
$68.26
CRC34,108.45
|
|
pay 3.9 times more for childcare
|
Sweden
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$122.27
SEK1,224.31
|
$519.07
CRC259,378.58
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$3,135.75
SEK31,397.56
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,490,586.13
|
|
pay 15.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
Sweden
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.64
SEK66.50
|
$2.73
CRC1,362.76
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.78
SEK37.90
|
$3.65
CRC1,826.03
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.41
SEK64.17
|
$4.58
CRC2,289.78
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.70
SEK387.48
|
$59.46
CRC29,712.51
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.24
SEK142.55
|
$8.63
CRC4,310.38
|
|
pay 4.1% more for clothing
|
Sweden
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$79.10
SEK791.98
|
$65.32
CRC32,642.29
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$35.56
SEK356.06
|
$44.54
CRC22,256.86
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$84.42
SEK845.30
|
$110.39
CRC55,159.76
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$125.14
SEK1,252.99
|
$97.22
CRC48,579.36
|
|
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