Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Ecuador 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Ecuador is 42.6% lower than in Costa Rica (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Ecuador is 45.7% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in Ecuador are 56.6% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in Ecuador are 46.4% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in Ecuador are 43.0% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Ecuador is 7.5% lower than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (9.96 $) |
1,757.74 ₡ (3.50 $) |
-64.8 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
30,000.00 ₡ (59.74 $) |
15,568.55 ₡ (31.00 $) |
-48.1 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (9.96 $) |
3,515.48 ₡ (7.00 $) |
-29.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1,500.00 ₡ (2.99 $) |
1,004.42 ₡ (2.00 $) |
-33.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2,400.00 ₡ (4.78 $) |
1,757.74 ₡ (3.50 $) |
-26.8 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1,993.48 ₡ (3.97 $) |
1,229.63 ₡ (2.45 $) |
-38.3 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1,095.47 ₡ (2.18 $) |
488.85 ₡ (0.97 $) |
-55.4 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
845.46 ₡ (1.68 $) |
339.08 ₡ (0.68 $) |
-59.9 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
3,796.91 ₡ (7.56 $) |
2,065.33 ₡ (4.11 $) |
-45.6 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1,445.77 ₡ (2.88 $) |
734.16 ₡ (1.46 $) |
-49.2 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
541.22 ₡ (1.08 $) |
339.32 ₡ (0.68 $) |
-37.3 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1,712.54 ₡ (3.41 $) |
1,056.75 ₡ (2.10 $) |
-38.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
2,051.70 ₡ (4.09 $) |
1,429.34 ₡ (2.85 $) |
-30.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,145.78 ₡ (4.27 $) |
1,274.87 ₡ (2.54 $) |
-40.6 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3,005.95 ₡ (5.99 $) |
1,515.77 ₡ (3.02 $) |
-49.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
999.75 ₡ (1.99 $) |
461.38 ₡ (0.92 $) |
-53.9 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
369.52 ₡ (0.74 $) |
251.38 ₡ (0.50 $) |
-32.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
731.33 ₡ (1.46 $) |
292.13 ₡ (0.58 $) |
-60.1 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
691.01 ₡ (1.38 $) |
281.31 ₡ (0.56 $) |
-59.3 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
665.48 ₡ (1.33 $) |
273.77 ₡ (0.55 $) |
-58.9 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
644.64 ₡ (1.28 $) |
236.45 ₡ (0.47 $) |
-63.3 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
505.79 ₡ (1.01 $) |
328.95 ₡ (0.66 $) |
-35.0 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,243.91 ₡ (2.48 $) |
560.19 ₡ (1.12 $) |
-55.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
8,000.00 ₡ (15.93 $) |
5,022.11 ₡ (10.00 $) |
-37.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1,172.85 ₡ (2.34 $) |
861.52 ₡ (1.72 $) |
-26.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1,377.11 ₡ (2.74 $) |
1,377.39 ₡ (2.74 $) |
+0.0 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (4.98 $) |
3,013.27 ₡ (6.00 $) |
+20.5 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (1.00 $) |
175.77 ₡ (0.35 $) |
-64.8 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
25,000.00 ₡ (49.78 $) |
12,555.28 ₡ (25.00 $) |
-49.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
910.00 ₡ (1.81 $) |
753.32 ₡ (1.50 $) |
-17.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,609.34 ₡ (3.20 $) |
1,212.35 ₡ (2.41 $) |
-24.7 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,845.00 ₡ (7.66 $) |
5,022.11 ₡ (10.00 $) |
+30.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
2,833.28 ₡ (5.64 $) |
1,266.44 ₡ (2.52 $) |
-55.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
18,250,000.00 ₡ (36,339.28 $) |
10,546,438.83 ₡ (21,000.00 $) |
-42.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
17,803,262.39 ₡ (35,449.74 $) |
13,831,817.39 ₡ (27,541.82 $) |
-22.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
44,581.45 ₡ (88.77 $) |
22,296.18 ₡ (44.40 $) |
-50.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
13,087.10 ₡ (26.06 $) |
6,658.27 ₡ (13.26 $) |
-49.1 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
27,489.22 ₡ (54.74 $) |
15,648.91 ₡ (31.16 $) |
-43.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
28,906.16 ₡ (57.56 $) |
16,184.64 ₡ (32.23 $) |
-44.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
15,308.33 ₡ (30.48 $) |
7,414.59 ₡ (14.76 $) |
-51.6 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
4,000.00 ₡ (7.96 $) |
3,515.48 ₡ (7.00 $) |
-12.1 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
275,391.19 ₡ (548.36 $) |
124,481.46 ₡ (247.87 $) |
-54.8 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4,966,129.05 ₡ (9,888.52 $) |
3,032,400.10 ₡ (6,038.10 $) |
-38.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
36,964.42 ₡ (73.60 $) |
27,826.99 ₡ (55.41 $) |
-24.7 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
27,836.38 ₡ (55.43 $) |
23,603.93 ₡ (47.00 $) |
-15.2 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
62,644.33 ₡ (124.74 $) |
49,563.48 ₡ (98.69 $) |
-20.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
53,963.63 ₡ (107.45 $) |
39,863.03 ₡ (79.38 $) |
-26.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
396,104.73 ₡ (788.72 $) |
169,356.84 ₡ (337.22 $) |
-57.2 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
265,857.56 ₡ (529.37 $) |
137,514.61 ₡ (273.82 $) |
-48.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
733,428.01 ₡ (1,460.40 $) |
290,186.86 ₡ (577.82 $) |
-60.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
502,665.25 ₡ (1,000.90 $) |
226,127.28 ₡ (450.26 $) |
-55.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
125,213.76 ₡ (249.32 $) |
53,425.32 ₡ (106.38 $) |
-57.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
69,752.77 ₡ (138.89 $) |
52,767.91 ₡ (105.07 $) |
-24.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
Ecuador Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
503,193.82 ₡ (1,001.96 $) |
252,690.44 ₡ (503.16 $) |
-49.8 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.29 | 10.01 | -2.7 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 112 | 128 |
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