Cost of Living Comparison Between Guatemala and Costa Rica 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 35.1% higher than in Guatemala (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 32.2% higher than in Guatemala | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 23.0% higher than in Guatemala | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 34.3% higher than in Guatemala | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 33.4% higher than in Guatemala | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 47.5% higher than in Guatemala | |
Restaurants | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
42.50 Q (2,756.95 ₡) |
77.08 Q (5,000.00 ₡) |
+81.4 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
385.00 Q (24,974.74 ₡) |
457.31 Q (29,665.21 ₡) |
+18.8 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
50.50 Q (3,275.91 ₡) |
77.08 Q (5,000.00 ₡) |
+52.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
25.00 Q (1,621.74 ₡) |
23.12 Q (1,500.00 ₡) |
-7.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
37.00 Q (2,400.17 ₡) |
35.46 Q (2,300.00 ₡) |
-4.2 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
25.66 Q (1,664.76 ₡) |
30.43 Q (1,974.15 ₡) |
+18.6 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
9.61 Q (623.44 ₡) |
16.74 Q (1,086.18 ₡) |
+74.2 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
7.40 Q (479.95 ₡) |
12.83 Q (832.50 ₡) |
+73.5 % |
Markets | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
57.54 Q (3,732.85 ₡) |
58.37 Q (3,786.66 ₡) |
+1.4 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
18.02 Q (1,168.76 ₡) |
21.79 Q (1,413.67 ₡) |
+21.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
6.39 Q (414.60 ₡) |
8.35 Q (541.89 ₡) |
+30.7 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
17.09 Q (1,108.65 ₡) |
26.41 Q (1,713.07 ₡) |
+54.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
24.77 Q (1,606.84 ₡) |
31.61 Q (2,050.63 ₡) |
+27.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
27.08 Q (1,756.35 ₡) |
33.10 Q (2,147.49 ₡) |
+22.3 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
32.78 Q (2,126.28 ₡) |
46.51 Q (3,016.80 ₡) |
+41.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
12.83 Q (832.48 ₡) |
15.58 Q (1,010.77 ₡) |
+21.4 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
5.88 Q (381.63 ₡) |
5.72 Q (371.12 ₡) |
-2.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
12.00 Q (778.19 ₡) |
11.12 Q (721.48 ₡) |
-7.3 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
5.37 Q (348.39 ₡) |
10.64 Q (690.35 ₡) |
+98.2 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
5.41 Q (350.85 ₡) |
10.26 Q (665.47 ₡) |
+89.7 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
6.35 Q (412.24 ₡) |
9.84 Q (638.18 ₡) |
+54.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
6.07 Q (393.96 ₡) |
7.90 Q (512.34 ₡) |
+30.0 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
9.14 Q (593.09 ₡) |
19.18 Q (1,243.91 ₡) |
+109.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
60.00 Q (3,892.17 ₡) |
123.32 Q (8,000.00 ₡) |
+105.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
14.96 Q (970.61 ₡) |
18.43 Q (1,195.40 ₡) |
+23.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
21.24 Q (1,377.67 ₡) |
21.54 Q (1,397.53 ₡) |
+1.4 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
28.00 Q (1,816.34 ₡) |
38.54 Q (2,500.00 ₡) |
+37.6 % |
Transportation | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
8.00 Q (518.96 ₡) |
7.71 Q (500.00 ₡) |
-3.7 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
100.00 Q (6,486.95 ₡) |
353.02 Q (22,900.00 ₡) |
+253.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
30.00 Q (1,946.08 ₡) |
14.03 Q (910.00 ₡) |
-53.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
12.87 Q (835.18 ₡) |
24.53 Q (1,591.38 ₡) |
+90.5 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
77.50 Q (5,027.38 ₡) |
59.27 Q (3,845.00 ₡) |
-23.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
31.55 Q (2,046.42 ₡) |
43.65 Q (2,831.56 ₡) |
+38.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
140,000.00 Q (9,081,724.80 ₡) |
281,334.22 Q (18,250,000.00 ₡) |
+101.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
174,858.61 Q (11,342,984.18 ₡) |
273,513.06 Q (17,742,645.42 ₡) |
+56.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
450.32 Q (29,212.32 ₡) |
679.68 Q (44,090.59 ₡) |
+50.9 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
218.40 Q (14,167.19 ₡) |
201.64 Q (13,079.97 ₡) |
-7.7 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
390.72 Q (25,345.55 ₡) |
420.67 Q (27,288.53 ₡) |
+7.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
342.46 Q (22,214.97 ₡) |
452.30 Q (29,340.38 ₡) |
+32.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
174.38 Q (11,311.61 ₡) |
235.99 Q (15,308.33 ₡) |
+35.3 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
50.00 Q (3,243.47 ₡) |
61.66 Q (4,000.00 ₡) |
+23.3 % |
Childcare | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
1,748.08 Q (113,396.81 ₡) |
4,242.15 Q (275,186.16 ₡) |
+142.7 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
52,482.22 Q (3,404,493.56 ₡) |
76,201.27 Q (4,943,135.54 ₡) |
+45.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
384.92 Q (24,969.75 ₡) |
569.07 Q (36,915.36 ₡) |
+47.8 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
411.13 Q (26,669.87 ₡) |
428.44 Q (27,792.75 ₡) |
+4.2 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
792.94 Q (51,437.79 ₡) |
964.28 Q (62,552.50 ₡) |
+21.6 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
789.33 Q (51,203.16 ₡) |
830.31 Q (53,862.00 ₡) |
+5.2 % |
Rent Per Month | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
5,174.82 Q (335,687.67 ₡) |
6,022.70 Q (390,689.55 ₡) |
+16.4 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
3,189.41 Q (206,895.05 ₡) |
4,066.59 Q (263,797.68 ₡) |
+27.5 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
9,937.91 Q (644,666.60 ₡) |
11,337.17 Q (735,436.21 ₡) |
+14.1 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
5,491.83 Q (356,252.33 ₡) |
7,792.73 Q (505,510.03 ₡) |
+41.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,028.71 Q (66,732.06 ₡) |
1,921.44 Q (124,642.77 ₡) |
+86.8 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
773.39 Q (50,169.68 ₡) |
1,034.78 Q (67,125.75 ₡) |
+33.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Guatemala Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
3,968.51 Q (257,435.25 ₡) |
7,737.95 Q (501,956.86 ₡) |
+95.0 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 8.77 | 10.29 | +17.3 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 72 | 112 |
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