the cost of living in Costa Rica

How much will it cost you to live in Costa Rica? 

The answer is, of course, “it depends,” because each expat, traveler or visitor has a different standard of living. Additionally, different areas within Costa Rica can be more or less expensive, and even the time of year (rainy vs. high season) can make costs fluctuate wildly. 

I will say this: living in Costa Rica may not be as inexpensive as you may think. (Sorry!)

People often think that because it’s a Central American or tropical country that it must be a paradise where you can live like a king or queen for next to nothing, but that’s not the case anymore. International influences, the spread of resort-quality living and advances in local knowledge, skills and infrastructure have seen costs escalate in past years. 

Then again, a lot of expats(try to) live like their on vacation, spending lavishly and spending money on things like adult beverages every single night (or day!)

The good news is that you can still live very well on a modest budget in Costa Rica with some planning and discipline.

For retirees that factor in things like healthcare costs, it can be far less expensive than living in the United States for a better standard of life. 

Expenses vary widely depending on area and lifestyle, but here are some average monthly expenses:

Apartment (simple): $300 - $500
Condominium (larger or more luxurious): $600 - $900
House (2-3 bedroom): $500 - $1,200
 Electricity (house): $75 - $200 depending on location and air conditioner use
Water/sewage (apartment): $12
Telephone: $13
Cable TV: $40
High-speed Internet (ADSL): $25
Cleaning service or a gardener for $2/hour or $200/month
Entertainment is very affordable with museum entrance or
concerts around $5
Import duties make it very expensive to import your car, probably best to buy locally
Consumer electronics are much cheaper in the US, bring them with you instead of buying in Costa Rica

Here is a survey of approximate costs in Costa Rica:

Food:
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district ≈ ₡ 4,375 ($8)
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) ≈ ₡ 3,572 ($7)
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast ≈ ₡ 2,127 ($3.90)
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk ≈ ₡ 709 ($1.30)
12 eggs, large ≈ ₡ 1,817 ($3.33)
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes ≈ ₡ 1,071 ($1.96)
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese ≈ ₡ 2,097 ($3.84)
1kg (2lb.) of apples≈ ₡ 2,444 ($4.48)
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes ≈ ₡ 935 ($1.71)
 0.5 liter (16 oz.) domestic beer in the supermarket ≈ ₡ 873 ($1.60)
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality ≈ ₡ 6,099 ($11)
2 liters of Coca-Cola ≈ ₡ 1,588 ($2.91)
Bread for 2 people for 1 day ≈ ₡ 704 ($1.29) 

Housing: 
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 square feet) furnished accommodation in EXPENSIVE area ≈ ₡ 588,758 ($1,078)
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 square feet) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area ≈
₡ 339,203 ($621)
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas) for 2 people in 85 m2 flat (915 square feet) ≈
₡ 49,026 ($90)
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 square feet) furnished studio in EXPENSIVE area ≈
₡ 499,000 ($914)
 Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 square feet) furnished studio in NORMAL area ≈
₡ 242,077 ($443)
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 square feet) studio ≈ ₡ 40,838 ($75)
Internet (1 month) ≈ ₡ 23,681 ($43)
40” flat screen TV ≈ ₡ 278,957 ($511)
Microwave 800/900 Watt (Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands) ≈
₡ 61,744 ($113)
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) ≈ ₡ 4,423 ($8)
Hourly rate for cleaning help ≈ ₡ 2,679 ($4.91)

Clothing:
1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar) ≈ ₡ 37,335 ($68)     
1 summer dress in a High Street Store (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) ≈ ₡ 32,545 ($60)
1 pair of sneakers (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) ≈ ₡ 63,215 ($116)
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes ≈ ₡ 52,347 ($96)

Transportation:
Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI 140 CV (or equivalent), with no extras, new ≈ ₡ 11,780,900 ($21,579)
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas ≈ ₡ 605 ($1.11)
Monthly ticket public transport ≈ ₡ 18,679 ($34)
Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km (5 miles) ≈ ₡ 6,008 ($11) 

Personal Care: 
Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands) ≈
₡ 3,587 ($7)
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) ≈ ₡ 9,415 ($17)
Short visit to private Doctor (15 minutes) ≈ ₡ 41,657 ($76)
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) ≈ ₡ 2,694 ($4.93)
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) ≈ ₡ 3,519 ($6)
4 rolls of toilet paper ≈ ₡ 1,552 ($2.84)
Tube of toothpaste ≈ ₡ 1,262 ($2.31)
Standard men’s haircut in expat area of the city ≈ ₡ 4,335 ($8)

Entertainment & Dining Out: 
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub ≈ ₡ 16,185 ($30)
2 tickets to the movies ≈ ₡ 5,835 ($11)
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) ≈ ₡ 17,974 ($33)
Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetizers, main course, wine and dessert ≈ ₡ 33,574 ($61)
1 cocktail drink in downtown club ≈ ₡ 3,748 ($7)
Cappuccino in expat area of the city ≈ ₡ 2,086 ($3.82)
1 beer in neighborhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) ≈ ₡ 1,921 ($3.52)

Misc. costs:
iPod Nano 16GB ≈ ₡ 118,758 ($218)
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) ≈ ₡ 38 ($0.07)
1 month of gym membership in business district ≈ ₡ 35,333 ($65)
1 package of Marlboro cigarettes ≈ ₡ 1,924 ($3.52)

One last note for you: You'll find that you can fit your lifestyle to your budget, and STILL really enjoy yourself. A lot of the best aspects about life in Costa Rica - like going to the beach, enjoying nature, meeting great new people, and just experiencing the laid-back pura vida vibe - are FREE!

The Official Expat,
-Norm  :-)

For more information on moving to Costa Rica, the cost of living there, and even how to get work and earn income as an expat, click here.

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