Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Puerto Rico 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Puerto Rico is 18.1% higher than in Costa Rica (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Puerto Rico is 16.6% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in Puerto Rico are 11.4% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in Puerto Rico are 11.6% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in Puerto Rico are 14.3% higher than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Puerto Rico is 108.4% higher than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (9.92 $) |
7,304.90 ₡ (14.50 $) |
+46.1 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
30,000.00 ₡ (59.55 $) |
37,783.95 ₡ (75.00 $) |
+25.9 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (9.92 $) |
4,534.07 ₡ (9.00 $) |
-9.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1,500.00 ₡ (2.98 $) |
1,259.46 ₡ (2.50 $) |
-16.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2,400.00 ₡ (4.76 $) |
2,015.14 ₡ (4.00 $) |
-16.0 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1,992.20 ₡ (3.95 $) |
1,626.07 ₡ (3.23 $) |
-18.4 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1,095.66 ₡ (2.17 $) |
767.67 ₡ (1.52 $) |
-29.9 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
846.03 ₡ (1.68 $) |
613.36 ₡ (1.22 $) |
-27.5 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
3,797.19 ₡ (7.54 $) |
3,903.76 ₡ (7.75 $) |
+2.8 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1,445.98 ₡ (2.87 $) |
1,402.09 ₡ (2.78 $) |
-3.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
541.31 ₡ (1.07 $) |
529.51 ₡ (1.05 $) |
-2.2 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1,712.79 ₡ (3.40 $) |
2,470.52 ₡ (4.90 $) |
+44.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
2,103.75 ₡ (4.18 $) |
2,126.84 ₡ (4.22 $) |
+1.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,145.99 ₡ (4.26 $) |
2,002.02 ₡ (3.97 $) |
-6.7 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3,005.95 ₡ (5.97 $) |
2,425.65 ₡ (4.81 $) |
-19.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
999.75 ₡ (1.98 $) |
1,245.43 ₡ (2.47 $) |
+24.6 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
369.60 ₡ (0.73 $) |
607.68 ₡ (1.21 $) |
+64.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
731.39 ₡ (1.45 $) |
873.72 ₡ (1.73 $) |
+19.5 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
691.05 ₡ (1.37 $) |
1,078.69 ₡ (2.14 $) |
+56.1 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
676.66 ₡ (1.34 $) |
734.49 ₡ (1.46 $) |
+8.5 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
644.74 ₡ (1.28 $) |
612.38 ₡ (1.22 $) |
-5.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
505.93 ₡ (1.00 $) |
1,253.47 ₡ (2.49 $) |
+147.8 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,243.91 ₡ (2.47 $) |
940.64 ₡ (1.87 $) |
-24.4 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
8,000.00 ₡ (15.88 $) |
7,556.79 ₡ (15.00 $) |
-5.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1,172.98 ₡ (2.33 $) |
1,126.15 ₡ (2.24 $) |
-4.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1,377.25 ₡ (2.73 $) |
1,619.17 ₡ (3.21 $) |
+17.6 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (4.96 $) |
5,541.65 ₡ (11.00 $) |
+121.7 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (0.99 $) |
755.68 ₡ (1.50 $) |
+51.1 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
25,000.00 ₡ (49.62 $) |
25,189.30 ₡ (50.00 $) |
+0.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
910.00 ₡ (1.81 $) |
4,030.29 ₡ (8.00 $) |
+342.9 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,609.34 ₡ (3.19 $) |
810.77 ₡ (1.61 $) |
-49.6 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,845.00 ₡ (7.63 $) |
20,151.44 ₡ (40.00 $) |
+424.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
2,833.63 ₡ (5.62 $) |
1,850.11 ₡ (3.67 $) |
-34.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
18,250,000.00 ₡ (36,225.70 $) |
16,373,043.50 ₡ (32,500.00 $) |
-10.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
17,815,513.00 ₡ (35,363.26 $) |
13,525,022.67 ₡ (26,846.76 $) |
-24.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
44,591.20 ₡ (88.51 $) |
152,353.24 ₡ (302.42 $) |
+241.7 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
12,903.55 ₡ (25.61 $) |
36,469.50 ₡ (72.39 $) |
+182.6 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
27,496.27 ₡ (54.58 $) |
34,018.65 ₡ (67.53 $) |
+23.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
28,752.78 ₡ (57.07 $) |
17,629.53 ₡ (34.99 $) |
-38.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
15,308.33 ₡ (30.39 $) |
15,554.39 ₡ (30.88 $) |
+1.6 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
4,000.00 ₡ (7.94 $) |
4,534.07 ₡ (9.00 $) |
+13.4 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
275,432.63 ₡ (546.73 $) |
202,511.04 ₡ (401.98 $) |
-26.5 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4,862,550.43 ₡ (9,652.02 $) |
3,833,811.11 ₡ (7,610.00 $) |
-21.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
36,967.57 ₡ (73.38 $) |
24,966.31 ₡ (49.56 $) |
-32.5 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
27,543.46 ₡ (54.67 $) |
22,770.45 ₡ (45.20 $) |
-17.3 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
62,661.65 ₡ (124.38 $) |
42,746.49 ₡ (84.85 $) |
-31.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
53,984.16 ₡ (107.16 $) |
48,570.60 ₡ (96.41 $) |
-10.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
390,072.49 ₡ (774.28 $) |
434,641.68 ₡ (862.75 $) |
+11.4 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
266,460.51 ₡ (528.92 $) |
304,891.06 ₡ (605.20 $) |
+14.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
734,374.99 ₡ (1,457.71 $) |
810,555.44 ₡ (1,608.93 $) |
+10.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
503,284.98 ₡ (999.01 $) |
559,889.24 ₡ (1,111.36 $) |
+11.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
125,411.48 ₡ (248.94 $) |
130,856.68 ₡ (259.75 $) |
+4.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
69,823.47 ₡ (138.60 $) |
80,306.44 ₡ (159.41 $) |
+15.0 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
Puerto Rico Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
512,746.52 ₡ (1,017.79 $) |
1,246,054.86 ₡ (2,473.38 $) |
+143.0 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.29 | 5.45 | -47.1 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 113 | 94 |
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