Cost of Living Comparison Between Belize and Costa Rica 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 17.5% higher than in Belize (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 24.5% higher than in Belize | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 57.4% higher than in Belize | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 35.2% higher than in Belize | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 15.7% higher than in Belize | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 23.3% lower than in Belize | |
Restaurants | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
8.47 $ (4,236.81 ₡) |
10.00 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+18.0 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
33.50 $ (16,756.70 ₡) |
59.98 $ (30,000.00 ₡) |
+79.0 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
7.50 $ (3,751.50 ₡) |
10.00 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+33.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
2.50 $ (1,250.50 ₡) |
3.00 $ (1,500.00 ₡) |
+20.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
4.00 $ (2,000.80 ₡) |
4.60 $ (2,300.00 ₡) |
+15.0 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
3.68 $ (1,841.84 ₡) |
3.94 $ (1,972.10 ₡) |
+7.1 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1.31 $ (657.45 ₡) |
2.19 $ (1,097.02 ₡) |
+66.9 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
1.15 $ (577.43 ₡) |
1.67 $ (835.03 ₡) |
+44.6 % |
Markets | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
11.08 $ (5,543.49 ₡) |
7.60 $ (3,803.83 ₡) |
-31.4 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1.30 $ (648.61 ₡) |
2.89 $ (1,446.22 ₡) |
+123.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
1.14 $ (571.43 ₡) |
1.06 $ (527.72 ₡) |
-7.6 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
2.64 $ (1,321.44 ₡) |
3.40 $ (1,702.14 ₡) |
+28.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
4.64 $ (2,322.70 ₡) |
4.10 $ (2,051.47 ₡) |
-11.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2.72 $ (1,361.13 ₡) |
4.30 $ (2,149.05 ₡) |
+57.9 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3.25 $ (1,625.78 ₡) |
6.03 $ (3,018.08 ₡) |
+85.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.98 $ (1,491.47 ₡) |
2.01 $ (1,006.87 ₡) |
-32.5 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
0.54 $ (271.64 ₡) |
0.73 $ (364.85 ₡) |
+34.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
0.65 $ (323.32 ₡) |
1.43 $ (715.09 ₡) |
+121.2 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
1.36 $ (680.58 ₡) |
1.37 $ (685.02 ₡) |
+0.7 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
1.34 $ (671.24 ₡) |
1.32 $ (658.10 ₡) |
-2.0 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
1.15 $ (577.47 ₡) |
1.28 $ (638.58 ₡) |
+10.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
2.71 $ (1,357.07 ₡) |
1.02 $ (511.72 ₡) |
-62.3 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1.19 $ (596.17 ₡) |
2.49 $ (1,243.94 ₡) |
+108.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
15.00 $ (7,503.00 ₡) |
15.99 $ (8,000.00 ₡) |
+6.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.91 $ (957.46 ₡) |
2.39 $ (1,196.41 ₡) |
+25.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.81 $ (1,403.68 ₡) |
2.80 $ (1,399.34 ₡) |
-0.3 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
4.75 $ (2,375.95 ₡) |
5.00 $ (2,500.00 ₡) |
+5.2 % |
Transportation | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
1.75 $ (875.35 ₡) |
1.00 $ (500.00 ₡) |
-42.9 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
21.20 $ (10,606.74 ₡) |
45.78 $ (22,900.00 ₡) |
+115.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
3.48 $ (1,740.08 ₡) |
1.82 $ (910.00 ₡) |
-47.7 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
6.41 $ (3,204.32 ₡) |
3.22 $ (1,609.34 ₡) |
-49.8 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
9.95 $ (4,977.94 ₡) |
7.69 $ (3,845.00 ₡) |
-22.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
6.98 $ (3,493.36 ₡) |
5.66 $ (2,831.74 ₡) |
-18.9 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
10,528.06 $ (5,266,136.69 ₡) |
36,485.40 $ (18,250,000.00 ₡) |
+246.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
21,029.12 $ (10,518,768.52 ₡) |
35,567.20 $ (17,790,718.85 ₡) |
+69.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
126.89 $ (63,471.71 ₡) |
88.97 $ (44,504.01 ₡) |
-29.9 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
49.65 $ (24,833.11 ₡) |
26.07 $ (13,038.95 ₡) |
-47.5 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
64.87 $ (32,449.82 ₡) |
54.53 $ (27,274.16 ₡) |
-15.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
34.99 $ (17,502.84 ₡) |
57.77 $ (28,894.55 ₡) |
+65.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
7.00 $ (3,501.40 ₡) |
30.60 $ (15,308.33 ₡) |
+337.2 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
11.71 $ (5,857.34 ₡) |
8.50 $ (4,250.00 ₡) |
-27.4 % |
Childcare | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
100.00 $ (50,020.01 ₡) |
550.48 $ (275,348.77 ₡) |
+450.5 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
1,000.00 $ (500,200.13 ₡) |
9,918.77 $ (4,961,370.97 ₡) |
+891.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
37.98 $ (18,998.32 ₡) |
74.56 $ (37,292.91 ₡) |
+96.3 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
35.56 $ (17,789.44 ₡) |
55.87 $ (27,943.91 ₡) |
+57.1 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
85.70 $ (42,868.38 ₡) |
121.93 $ (60,991.75 ₡) |
+42.3 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
88.91 $ (44,474.06 ₡) |
108.65 $ (54,349.08 ₡) |
+22.2 % |
Rent Per Month | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
490.35 $ (245,275.55 ₡) |
800.93 $ (400,623.44 ₡) |
+63.3 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
392.91 $ (196,535.78 ₡) |
535.99 $ (268,101.45 ₡) |
+36.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
784.01 $ (392,162.24 ₡) |
1,478.12 $ (739,354.28 ₡) |
+88.5 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
770.96 $ (385,633.00 ₡) |
1,026.77 $ (513,592.19 ₡) |
+33.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
134.29 $ (67,171.47 ₡) |
250.14 $ (125,120.41 ₡) |
+86.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
128.50 $ (64,275.18 ₡) |
134.71 $ (67,381.86 ₡) |
+4.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Belize Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
1,063.91 $ (532,168.75 ₡) |
1,016.07 $ (508,239.52 ₡) |
-4.5 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 12.50 | 10.38 | -17.0 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 23 | 110 |
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