Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Malaysia 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Malaysia is 42.0% lower than in Costa Rica (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Malaysia is 45.0% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in Malaysia are 55.5% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in Malaysia are 54.1% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in Malaysia are 34.9% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Malaysia is 65.8% higher than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (44.30 RM) |
1,693.07 ₡ (15.00 RM) |
-66.1 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
29,665.21 ₡ (262.82 RM) |
11,287.11 ₡ (100.00 RM) |
-62.0 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (44.30 RM) |
2,144.55 ₡ (19.00 RM) |
-57.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1,500.00 ₡ (13.29 RM) |
1,693.07 ₡ (15.00 RM) |
+12.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2,300.00 ₡ (20.38 RM) |
2,257.42 ₡ (20.00 RM) |
-1.9 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1,974.15 ₡ (17.49 RM) |
1,328.73 ₡ (11.77 RM) |
-32.7 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1,086.18 ₡ (9.62 RM) |
365.89 ₡ (3.24 RM) |
-66.3 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
832.50 ₡ (7.38 RM) |
202.75 ₡ (1.80 RM) |
-75.6 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
3,786.66 ₡ (33.55 RM) |
3,245.93 ₡ (28.76 RM) |
-14.3 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1,413.67 ₡ (12.52 RM) |
409.90 ₡ (3.63 RM) |
-71.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
541.89 ₡ (4.80 RM) |
293.66 ₡ (2.60 RM) |
-45.8 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1,713.07 ₡ (15.18 RM) |
969.04 ₡ (8.59 RM) |
-43.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
2,050.63 ₡ (18.17 RM) |
2,993.86 ₡ (26.52 RM) |
+46.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,147.49 ₡ (19.03 RM) |
871.10 ₡ (7.72 RM) |
-59.4 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3,016.80 ₡ (26.73 RM) |
1,806.49 ₡ (16.00 RM) |
-40.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1,010.77 ₡ (8.96 RM) |
606.18 ₡ (5.37 RM) |
-40.0 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
371.12 ₡ (3.29 RM) |
316.26 ₡ (2.80 RM) |
-14.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
721.48 ₡ (6.39 RM) |
565.15 ₡ (5.01 RM) |
-21.7 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
690.35 ₡ (6.12 RM) |
322.49 ₡ (2.86 RM) |
-53.3 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
665.47 ₡ (5.90 RM) |
229.97 ₡ (2.04 RM) |
-65.4 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
638.18 ₡ (5.65 RM) |
261.35 ₡ (2.32 RM) |
-59.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
512.34 ₡ (4.54 RM) |
498.92 ₡ (4.42 RM) |
-2.6 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,243.91 ₡ (11.02 RM) |
269.78 ₡ (2.39 RM) |
-78.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
8,000.00 ₡ (70.88 RM) |
8,465.33 ₡ (75.00 RM) |
+5.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1,195.40 ₡ (10.59 RM) |
1,366.31 ₡ (12.11 RM) |
+14.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1,397.53 ₡ (12.38 RM) |
1,760.33 ₡ (15.60 RM) |
+26.0 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (22.15 RM) |
2,031.68 ₡ (18.00 RM) |
-18.7 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (4.43 RM) |
338.61 ₡ (3.00 RM) |
-32.3 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
22,900.00 ₡ (202.89 RM) |
5,643.56 ₡ (50.00 RM) |
-75.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
910.00 ₡ (8.06 RM) |
564.36 ₡ (5.00 RM) |
-38.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,591.38 ₡ (14.10 RM) |
681.18 ₡ (6.04 RM) |
-57.2 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,845.00 ₡ (34.07 RM) |
2,257.42 ₡ (20.00 RM) |
-41.3 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
2,831.56 ₡ (25.09 RM) |
877.15 ₡ (7.77 RM) |
-69.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
18,250,000.00 ₡ (161,688.83 RM) |
18,623,735.49 ₡ (165,000.00 RM) |
+2.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
17,742,645.42 ₡ (157,193.84 RM) |
15,018,109.14 ₡ (133,055.37 RM) |
-15.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
44,090.59 ₡ (390.63 RM) |
23,974.39 ₡ (212.40 RM) |
-45.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
13,079.97 ₡ (115.88 RM) |
5,004.83 ₡ (44.34 RM) |
-61.7 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
27,288.53 ₡ (241.77 RM) |
12,860.53 ₡ (113.94 RM) |
-52.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
29,340.38 ₡ (259.95 RM) |
17,590.28 ₡ (155.84 RM) |
-40.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
15,308.33 ₡ (135.63 RM) |
3,182.97 ₡ (28.20 RM) |
-79.2 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
4,000.00 ₡ (35.44 RM) |
2,257.42 ₡ (20.00 RM) |
-43.6 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
275,186.16 ₡ (2,438.06 RM) |
85,759.11 ₡ (759.80 RM) |
-68.8 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4,943,135.54 ₡ (43,794.51 RM) |
3,451,462.16 ₡ (30,578.79 RM) |
-30.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
36,915.36 ₡ (327.06 RM) |
28,574.60 ₡ (253.16 RM) |
-22.6 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
27,792.75 ₡ (246.23 RM) |
16,037.58 ₡ (142.09 RM) |
-42.3 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
62,552.50 ₡ (554.19 RM) |
36,026.91 ₡ (319.19 RM) |
-42.4 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
53,862.00 ₡ (477.20 RM) |
30,765.28 ₡ (272.57 RM) |
-42.9 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
390,689.55 ₡ (3,461.38 RM) |
184,188.46 ₡ (1,631.85 RM) |
-52.9 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
263,797.68 ₡ (2,337.16 RM) |
126,112.58 ₡ (1,117.31 RM) |
-52.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
735,436.21 ₡ (6,515.72 RM) |
326,314.69 ₡ (2,891.04 RM) |
-55.6 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
505,510.03 ₡ (4,478.65 RM) |
217,884.96 ₡ (1,930.39 RM) |
-56.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
124,642.77 ₡ (1,104.29 RM) |
93,965.60 ₡ (832.50 RM) |
-24.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
67,125.75 ₡ (594.71 RM) |
52,888.99 ₡ (468.58 RM) |
-21.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
501,956.86 ₡ (4,447.17 RM) |
457,957.48 ₡ (4,057.35 RM) |
-8.8 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.29 | 4.19 | -59.3 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 112 | 509 |
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