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🇨🇷 Costa Rica - 🇺🇸 United States

Cost of Living Comparison

Comparing cost of living between Costa Rica and United States: Housing is 187.4% higher in United States, Food is 208.5% higher in United States, Transportation is 147.9% higher in United States, Lifestyle is 130.5% higher in United States, Healthcare is 276.4% higher in United States.

Housing

Item
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇺🇸 United States
Difference
Rent 1-bedroom (City Center)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$797.71
$686.80 $964.08
🇺🇸 United States
$2280.99
$1880.72 $2962.54
+185.9%
Rent 1-bedroom (Outside Center)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$590.71
$515.30 $703.82
🇺🇸 United States
$1646.04
$1373.75 $2109.68
+178.7%
Rent 3-bedroom (City Center)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1348.10
$1152.93 $1640.85
🇺🇸 United States
$4002.11
$3280.30 $5231.14
+196.9%
Rent 3-bedroom (Outside Center)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$986.65
$855.10 $1183.98
🇺🇸 United States
$3061.61
$2539.59 $3950.47
+210.3%
Price per sqm to Buy (City Center)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2510.73
$2132.77 $3077.67
🇺🇸 United States
$8019.14
$6534.54 $10546.97
+219.4%
Price per sqm to Buy (Outside Center)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1988.53
$1712.05 $2403.25
🇺🇸 United States
$5884.98
$4852.27 $7643.39
+195.9%
Utilities (Monthly, 85m²)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$92.14
$83.46 $105.16
🇺🇸 United States
$230.77
$200.19 $282.84
+150.5%
Internet (60 Mbps+, Monthly)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$31.28
$29.01 $34.68
🇺🇸 United States
$81.76
$72.93 $96.79
+161.4%

Food

Item
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇺🇸 United States
Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$8.88
$7.75 $10.58
🇺🇸 United States
$32.61
$27.22 $41.80
+267.1%
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$31.56
$27.17 $38.14
🇺🇸 United States
$129.51
$106.79 $168.21
+310.4%
Fast Food Combo
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$7.74
$7.01 $8.83
🇺🇸 United States
$16.96
$14.72 $20.79
+119.2%
Domestic Beer (0.5L, Restaurant)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$3.19
$2.82 $3.75
🇺🇸 United States
$10.64
$8.99 $13.45
+233.2%
Cappuccino
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2.54
$2.23 $3.01
🇺🇸 United States
$8.96
$7.53 $11.41
+252.4%
Milk (1 liter)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1.55
$1.41 $1.76
🇺🇸 United States
$2.01
$1.76 $2.45
+29.9%
Bread (500g)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1.30
$1.19 $1.46
🇺🇸 United States
$4.97
$4.37 $5.99
+283.4%
Rice (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1.95
$1.80 $2.18
🇺🇸 United States
$7.38
$6.54 $8.82
+277.9%
Eggs (12)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2.59
$2.36 $2.93
🇺🇸 United States
$6.71
$5.86 $8.15
+159.4%
Cheese (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$9.02
$8.17 $10.30
🇺🇸 United States
$22.05
$19.13 $27.03
+144.4%
Chicken Breast (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$6.46
$5.89 $7.32
🇺🇸 United States
$20.12
$17.58 $24.46
+211.4%
Beef Round (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$10.29
$9.26 $11.83
🇺🇸 United States
$30.88
$26.61 $38.15
+200.2%
Apples (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$3.24
$2.97 $3.65
🇺🇸 United States
$8.29
$7.29 $9.99
+155.6%
Banana (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1.56
$1.44 $1.74
🇺🇸 United States
$3.28
$2.90 $3.92
+110.1%
Oranges (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$3.24
$2.97 $3.65
🇺🇸 United States
$7.47
$6.57 $9.00
+130.2%
Tomato (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2.60
$2.40 $2.90
🇺🇸 United States
$9.02
$7.99 $10.77
+246.8%
Potato (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1.30
$1.21 $1.44
🇺🇸 United States
$4.86
$4.33 $5.75
+272.7%
Onion (1kg)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1.18
$1.09 $1.31
🇺🇸 United States
$4.86
$4.33 $5.75
+312.9%
Water (1.5L bottle)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$0.90
$0.83 $1.02
🇺🇸 United States
$3.32
$2.92 $4.00
+267.2%
Wine (Mid-range bottle)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$9.00
$8.10 $10.35
🇺🇸 United States
$25.73
$22.17 $31.79
+185.9%

Transportation

Item
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇺🇸 United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$0.89
$0.78 $1.04
🇺🇸 United States
$4.44
$3.75 $5.61
+400.8%
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$44.53
$39.10 $52.68
🇺🇸 United States
$125.47
$105.37 $159.70
+181.7%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2.54
$2.21 $3.02
🇺🇸 United States
$7.25
$6.05 $9.29
+185.7%
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$0.88
$0.77 $1.05
🇺🇸 United States
$2.72
$2.27 $3.49
+208.4%
Gasoline (1 liter)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1.69
$1.54 $1.91
🇺🇸 United States
$1.68
$1.46 $2.04
-0.7%
Volkswagen Golf (New Car)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$36666.00
$34398.00 $40068.00
🇺🇸 United States
$47425.50
$42930.00 $55080.00
+29.3%
Toyota Corolla (New Car)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$34047.00
$31941.00 $37206.00
🇺🇸 United States
$44263.80
$40068.00 $51408.00
+30.0%

Lifestyle

Item
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇺🇸 United States
Difference
Fitness Club (Monthly Fee)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$33.79
$29.09 $40.84
🇺🇸 United States
$93.92
$77.44 $121.98
+178.0%
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$12.57
$10.96 $14.97
🇺🇸 United States
$32.61
$27.22 $41.80
+159.5%
Cinema Ticket (International Release)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$10.36
$9.15 $12.17
🇺🇸 United States
$25.88
$21.87 $32.70
+149.8%
Pair of Jeans (Levis or similar)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$43.19
$40.06 $47.89
🇺🇸 United States
$86.33
$77.01 $102.20
+99.9%
Summer Dress (Zara, H&M)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$28.80
$26.71 $31.93
🇺🇸 United States
$57.55
$51.34 $68.13
+99.9%
Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$61.50
$57.37 $67.70
🇺🇸 United States
$119.41
$107.30 $140.04
+94.2%
Leather Business Shoes
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$71.28
$65.34 $80.19
🇺🇸 United States
$165.78
$145.80 $199.80
+132.6%

Healthcare

Item
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇺🇸 United States
Difference
Prescription Medicine (Cold/Flu)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$4.82
$4.44 $5.38
🇺🇸 United States
$18.21
$16.13 $21.75
+278.0%
Antibiotics (1 week)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$7.70
$7.10 $8.60
🇺🇸 United States
$30.35
$26.88 $36.25
+294.1%
Health Insurance (Monthly, Individual)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$188.00
$164.00 $224.00
🇺🇸 United States
$671.00
$560.00 $860.00
+256.9%

Average Monthly Salaries (After Tax, USD)

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,696
$1,405
$1,085
$1,861
$969

🇺🇸 United States

$7,478
$6,196
$4,786
$8,205
$4,273

Quality of Life Comparison

🇨🇷 Costa Rica
68.5
🇺🇸 United States
68.7
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
56.8
🇺🇸 United States
52.8
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
45.2
🇺🇸 United States
38.5
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
79.5
🇺🇸 United States
72.4

How to Use This Comparison

📈 Understanding Differences

Green percentages show where costs are lower, red shows higher costs. Look at individual categories to understand where your money goes further. Some items like housing may vary more than others like groceries.

💰 Budget Impact

Focus on categories that matter most to your lifestyle. If you eat out frequently, restaurant prices are crucial. If you drive daily, transportation costs significantly impact your budget. Prioritize categories based on your habits.

🔄 Next Steps

Use our salary calculator to determine what income you need in the more expensive location. Consider quality of life factors like healthcare and safety alongside costs. Visit city-specific pages for more detailed local pricing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are the percentage differences between Costa Rica and United States calculated?

Percentages show how much more or less expensive each item is in United States compared to Costa Rica, based on individual price differences.

What do the colors in the comparison table mean?

Green indicates a lower price in that location, while red indicates a higher price. The intensity of color reflects the size of the difference.

What data is included in this comparison?

This comparison covers housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and lifestyle expenses. Country comparisons also include salary data and quality of life metrics when available.

Can I compare different locations?

Yes, use the country or city directory pages to select different locations, or visit the homepage to start a new comparison.