Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 17.8% cheaper than United Kingdom overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 16.1% less in Costa Rica
- Groceries
-
pay 20.4% more in Costa Rica
- Transportation
-
pay 19.7% less in Costa Rica
- Housing
-
pay 32.7% less in Costa Rica
- Childcare
-
pay 53.1% less in Costa Rica
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 27.7% less in Costa Rica
- Clothing
-
pay 4.2% more in Costa Rica
The cost of groceries and clothing in Costa Rica are more expensive than in United Kingdom. Expenses including childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, transportation, and restaurants are lower in Costa Rica.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of United Kingdom, you would:
pay 16.1% less for restaurants
|
United Kingdom
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.70
£14.48
|
$9.75
CRC4,934.64
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.25
£7.17
|
$9.08
CRC4,597.50
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.23
£1.73
|
$2.01
CRC1,017.87
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.57
£1.21
|
$1.49
CRC755.10
|
|
pay 20.4% more for groceries
|
United Kingdom
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.53
£1.18
|
$2.53
CRC1,281.92
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.35
£3.37
|
$3.76
CRC1,904.89
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.92
£4.59
|
$6.98
CRC3,531.56
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.77
£2.92
|
$3.21
CRC1,626.19
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.70
£2.87
|
$3.97
CRC2,010.28
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.23
£0.95
|
$1.79
CRC905.87
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.67
£0.52
|
$0.62
CRC312.30
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.26
£0.97
|
$1.22
CRC615.81
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.42
£1.10
|
$1.22
CRC618.46
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.65
£0.50
|
$1.09
CRC553.99
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.65
£0.50
|
$1.11
CRC563.82
|
|
pay 19.7% less for transportation
|
United Kingdom
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.07
£5.48
|
$5.63
CRC2,848.69
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$98.23
£76.08
|
$49.00
CRC24,805.81
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,832.80
£26,978.10
|
$35,063.37
CRC17,750,894.60
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.15
£13.28
|
$15.62
CRC7,908.78
|
|
pay 32.7% less for housing
|
United Kingdom
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$39.40
£30.52
|
$48.50
CRC24,553.43
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,243.58
£963.16
|
$778.04
CRC393,882.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,020.84
£790.64
|
$547.50
CRC277,174.52
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$229.21
£177.52
|
$68.26
CRC34,555.59
|
|
pay 53.1% less for childcare
|
United Kingdom
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,497.56
£1,159.87
|
$519.07
CRC262,778.88
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,629.32
£14,428.47
|
$10,987.74
CRC5,562,564.62
|
|
pay 27.7% less for entertainment and sports
|
United Kingdom
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.63
£4.36
|
$2.73
CRC1,380.63
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.12
£3.19
|
$3.65
CRC1,849.97
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.47
£13.53
|
$4.58
CRC2,319.80
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$45.31
£35.10
|
$59.46
CRC30,102.03
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.89
£9.99
|
$8.63
CRC4,366.88
|
|
pay 4.2% more for clothing
|
United Kingdom
|
Costa Rica
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$78.43
£60.74
|
$65.32
CRC33,070.22
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.13
£31.08
|
$44.54
CRC22,548.63
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.36
£69.98
|
$110.39
CRC55,882.87
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$96.72
£74.91
|
$97.22
CRC49,216.21
|
|
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