Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and New Zealand 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in New Zealand is 9.7% higher than in Costa Rica (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in New Zealand is 14.2% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in New Zealand are 30.2% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in New Zealand are 14.1% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in New Zealand are 8.3% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in New Zealand is 148.3% higher than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (17.57 NZ$) |
7,115.06 ₡ (25.00 NZ$) |
+42.3 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
29,665.21 ₡ (104.23 NZ$) |
35,575.30 ₡ (125.00 NZ$) |
+19.9 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (17.57 NZ$) |
4,269.04 ₡ (15.00 NZ$) |
-14.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1,500.00 ₡ (5.27 NZ$) |
3,130.63 ₡ (11.00 NZ$) |
+108.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2,300.00 ₡ (8.08 NZ$) |
3,130.63 ₡ (11.00 NZ$) |
+36.1 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1,974.15 ₡ (6.94 NZ$) |
1,617.73 ₡ (5.68 NZ$) |
-18.1 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1,086.18 ₡ (3.82 NZ$) |
1,078.03 ₡ (3.79 NZ$) |
-0.8 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
832.50 ₡ (2.93 NZ$) |
994.22 ₡ (3.49 NZ$) |
+19.4 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
3,786.66 ₡ (13.31 NZ$) |
3,208.57 ₡ (11.27 NZ$) |
-15.3 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1,413.67 ₡ (4.97 NZ$) |
833.06 ₡ (2.93 NZ$) |
-41.1 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
541.89 ₡ (1.90 NZ$) |
399.98 ₡ (1.41 NZ$) |
-26.2 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1,713.07 ₡ (6.02 NZ$) |
3,051.32 ₡ (10.72 NZ$) |
+78.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
2,050.63 ₡ (7.21 NZ$) |
1,770.69 ₡ (6.22 NZ$) |
-13.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,147.49 ₡ (7.55 NZ$) |
2,037.55 ₡ (7.16 NZ$) |
-5.1 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3,016.80 ₡ (10.60 NZ$) |
2,781.58 ₡ (9.77 NZ$) |
-7.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1,010.77 ₡ (3.55 NZ$) |
598.83 ₡ (2.10 NZ$) |
-40.8 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
371.12 ₡ (1.30 NZ$) |
486.26 ₡ (1.71 NZ$) |
+31.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
721.48 ₡ (2.54 NZ$) |
655.51 ₡ (2.30 NZ$) |
-9.1 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
690.35 ₡ (2.43 NZ$) |
1,026.38 ₡ (3.61 NZ$) |
+48.7 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
665.47 ₡ (2.34 NZ$) |
446.80 ₡ (1.57 NZ$) |
-32.9 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
638.18 ₡ (2.24 NZ$) |
380.43 ₡ (1.34 NZ$) |
-40.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
512.34 ₡ (1.80 NZ$) |
1,114.49 ₡ (3.92 NZ$) |
+117.5 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,243.91 ₡ (4.37 NZ$) |
537.25 ₡ (1.89 NZ$) |
-56.8 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
8,000.00 ₡ (28.11 NZ$) |
4,553.64 ₡ (16.00 NZ$) |
-43.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1,195.40 ₡ (4.20 NZ$) |
1,394.61 ₡ (4.90 NZ$) |
+16.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1,397.53 ₡ (4.91 NZ$) |
1,644.36 ₡ (5.78 NZ$) |
+17.7 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (8.78 NZ$) |
11,384.10 ₡ (40.00 NZ$) |
+355.4 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (1.76 NZ$) |
1,138.41 ₡ (4.00 NZ$) |
+127.7 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
22,900.00 ₡ (80.46 NZ$) |
56,920.48 ₡ (200.00 NZ$) |
+148.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
910.00 ₡ (3.20 NZ$) |
1,138.41 ₡ (4.00 NZ$) |
+25.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,591.38 ₡ (5.59 NZ$) |
1,536.67 ₡ (5.40 NZ$) |
-3.4 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,845.00 ₡ (13.51 NZ$) |
17,076.14 ₡ (60.00 NZ$) |
+344.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
2,831.56 ₡ (9.95 NZ$) |
3,026.34 ₡ (10.63 NZ$) |
+6.9 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
18,250,000.00 ₡ (64,124.55 NZ$) |
12,947,986.34 ₡ (45,495.00 NZ$) |
-29.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
17,742,645.42 ₡ (62,341.87 NZ$) |
10,240,404.73 ₡ (35,981.44 NZ$) |
-42.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
44,090.59 ₡ (154.92 NZ$) |
65,063.19 ₡ (228.61 NZ$) |
+47.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
13,079.97 ₡ (45.96 NZ$) |
16,565.13 ₡ (58.20 NZ$) |
+26.6 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
27,288.53 ₡ (95.88 NZ$) |
24,526.30 ₡ (86.18 NZ$) |
-10.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
29,340.38 ₡ (103.09 NZ$) |
17,408.74 ₡ (61.17 NZ$) |
-40.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
15,308.33 ₡ (53.79 NZ$) |
7,319.34 ₡ (25.72 NZ$) |
-52.2 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
4,000.00 ₡ (14.05 NZ$) |
5,692.05 ₡ (20.00 NZ$) |
+42.3 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
275,186.16 ₡ (966.91 NZ$) |
368,188.55 ₡ (1,293.69 NZ$) |
+33.8 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4,943,135.54 ₡ (17,368.57 NZ$) |
5,594,043.85 ₡ (19,655.65 NZ$) |
+13.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
36,915.36 ₡ (129.71 NZ$) |
32,219.08 ₡ (113.21 NZ$) |
-12.7 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
27,792.75 ₡ (97.65 NZ$) |
20,354.22 ₡ (71.52 NZ$) |
-26.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
62,552.50 ₡ (219.79 NZ$) |
45,728.68 ₡ (160.68 NZ$) |
-26.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
53,862.00 ₡ (189.25 NZ$) |
55,970.77 ₡ (196.66 NZ$) |
+3.9 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
390,689.55 ₡ (1,372.76 NZ$) |
517,007.69 ₡ (1,816.60 NZ$) |
+32.3 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
263,797.68 ₡ (926.90 NZ$) |
435,755.99 ₡ (1,531.10 NZ$) |
+65.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
735,436.21 ₡ (2,584.08 NZ$) |
825,313.93 ₡ (2,899.88 NZ$) |
+12.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
505,510.03 ₡ (1,776.20 NZ$) |
711,958.66 ₡ (2,501.59 NZ$) |
+40.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
124,642.77 ₡ (437.95 NZ$) |
221,464.62 ₡ (778.15 NZ$) |
+77.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
67,125.75 ₡ (235.86 NZ$) |
183,892.07 ₡ (646.14 NZ$) |
+174.0 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
501,956.86 ₡ (1,763.71 NZ$) |
1,423,725.09 ₡ (5,002.51 NZ$) |
+183.6 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.29 | 6.76 | -34.3 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 112 | 468 |
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