Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and South Africa 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in South Africa is 40.6% lower than in Costa Rica (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in South Africa is 40.2% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in South Africa are 38.7% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in South Africa are 38.9% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in South Africa are 51.5% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in South Africa is 104.0% higher than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (187.82 R) |
4,259.32 ₡ (160.00 R) |
-14.8 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
30,000.00 ₡ (1,126.94 R) |
18,634.54 ₡ (700.00 R) |
-37.9 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (187.82 R) |
2,395.60 ₡ (89.99 R) |
-52.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1,500.00 ₡ (56.35 R) |
1,064.83 ₡ (40.00 R) |
-29.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2,400.00 ₡ (90.16 R) |
1,197.93 ₡ (45.00 R) |
-50.1 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1,990.51 ₡ (74.77 R) |
946.57 ₡ (35.56 R) |
-52.4 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1,095.47 ₡ (41.15 R) |
464.76 ₡ (17.46 R) |
-57.6 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
845.46 ₡ (31.76 R) |
361.62 ₡ (13.58 R) |
-57.2 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
3,796.91 ₡ (142.63 R) |
1,959.53 ₡ (73.61 R) |
-48.4 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1,445.77 ₡ (54.31 R) |
427.12 ₡ (16.04 R) |
-70.5 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
541.22 ₡ (20.33 R) |
339.04 ₡ (12.74 R) |
-37.4 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1,712.54 ₡ (64.33 R) |
1,077.77 ₡ (40.49 R) |
-37.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
2,103.53 ₡ (79.02 R) |
1,640.37 ₡ (61.62 R) |
-22.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,145.78 ₡ (80.61 R) |
984.72 ₡ (36.99 R) |
-54.1 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3,005.95 ₡ (112.92 R) |
1,447.12 ₡ (54.36 R) |
-51.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
999.75 ₡ (37.56 R) |
328.75 ₡ (12.35 R) |
-67.1 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
369.52 ₡ (13.88 R) |
307.12 ₡ (11.54 R) |
-16.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
731.33 ₡ (27.47 R) |
319.01 ₡ (11.98 R) |
-56.4 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
691.01 ₡ (25.96 R) |
326.99 ₡ (12.28 R) |
-52.7 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
676.61 ₡ (25.42 R) |
263.51 ₡ (9.90 R) |
-61.1 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
644.64 ₡ (24.22 R) |
280.10 ₡ (10.52 R) |
-56.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
505.79 ₡ (19.00 R) |
495.09 ₡ (18.60 R) |
-2.1 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,243.91 ₡ (46.73 R) |
450.75 ₡ (16.93 R) |
-63.8 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
8,000.00 ₡ (300.52 R) |
2,262.76 ₡ (85.00 R) |
-71.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1,172.85 ₡ (44.06 R) |
638.18 ₡ (23.97 R) |
-45.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1,377.11 ₡ (51.73 R) |
817.19 ₡ (30.70 R) |
-40.7 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (93.91 R) |
1,384.28 ₡ (52.00 R) |
-44.6 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (18.78 R) |
798.62 ₡ (30.00 R) |
+59.7 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
25,000.00 ₡ (939.12 R) |
21,296.61 ₡ (800.00 R) |
-14.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
910.00 ₡ (34.18 R) |
532.42 ₡ (20.00 R) |
-41.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,609.34 ₡ (60.45 R) |
856.84 ₡ (32.19 R) |
-46.8 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,845.00 ₡ (144.44 R) |
2,262.76 ₡ (85.00 R) |
-41.2 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
2,833.28 ₡ (106.43 R) |
2,310.07 ₡ (86.78 R) |
-18.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
18,250,000.00 ₡ (685,555.06 R) |
9,849,682.91 ₡ (370,000.00 R) |
-46.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
17,803,262.39 ₡ (668,773.52 R) |
11,201,928.07 ₡ (420,796.63 R) |
-37.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
44,581.45 ₡ (1,674.69 R) |
53,401.12 ₡ (2,005.99 R) |
+19.8 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
12,901.06 ₡ (484.62 R) |
15,026.54 ₡ (564.47 R) |
+16.5 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
27,489.22 ₡ (1,032.62 R) |
19,568.62 ₡ (735.09 R) |
-28.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
28,741.72 ₡ (1,079.67 R) |
14,950.63 ₡ (561.62 R) |
-48.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
15,308.33 ₡ (575.05 R) |
4,817.26 ₡ (180.96 R) |
-68.5 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
4,000.00 ₡ (150.26 R) |
3,194.49 ₡ (120.00 R) |
-20.1 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
275,391.19 ₡ (10,344.98 R) |
91,264.03 ₡ (3,428.30 R) |
-66.9 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4,857,636.78 ₡ (182,475.48 R) |
2,164,103.60 ₡ (81,293.82 R) |
-55.4 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
36,964.42 ₡ (1,388.56 R) |
23,215.83 ₡ (872.09 R) |
-37.2 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
27,534.98 ₡ (1,034.34 R) |
14,693.06 ₡ (551.94 R) |
-46.6 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
62,644.33 ₡ (2,353.21 R) |
43,539.64 ₡ (1,635.55 R) |
-30.5 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
53,963.63 ₡ (2,027.13 R) |
37,588.87 ₡ (1,412.01 R) |
-30.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
389,423.27 ₡ (14,628.55 R) |
214,520.24 ₡ (8,058.38 R) |
-44.9 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
265,857.56 ₡ (9,986.85 R) |
174,513.77 ₡ (6,555.55 R) |
-34.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
733,428.01 ₡ (27,550.97 R) |
430,600.24 ₡ (16,175.35 R) |
-41.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
502,665.25 ₡ (18,882.45 R) |
339,942.70 ₡ (12,769.83 R) |
-32.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
125,213.76 ₡ (4,703.61 R) |
45,052.74 ₡ (1,692.39 R) |
-64.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
69,752.77 ₡ (2,620.24 R) |
34,053.39 ₡ (1,279.20 R) |
-51.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
South Africa Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
512,580.47 ₡ (19,254.91 R) |
625,220.07 ₡ (23,486.18 R) |
+22.0 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.29 | 11.56 | +12.3 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 113 | 663 |
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