Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico and Costa Rica 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 44.6% higher than in Mexico (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 39.9% higher than in Mexico | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 25.3% higher than in Mexico | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 31.1% higher than in Mexico | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 45.2% higher than in Mexico | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 7.7% higher than in Mexico | |
Restaurants | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
200.00 MXN (4,919.00 ₡) |
203.29 MXN (5,000.00 ₡) |
+1.6 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
800.00 MXN (19,676.01 ₡) |
1,219.76 MXN (30,000.00 ₡) |
+52.5 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
150.00 MXN (3,689.25 ₡) |
203.29 MXN (5,000.00 ₡) |
+35.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
45.00 MXN (1,106.78 ₡) |
60.99 MXN (1,500.00 ₡) |
+35.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
80.00 MXN (1,967.60 ₡) |
97.58 MXN (2,400.00 ₡) |
+22.0 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
62.49 MXN (1,537.04 ₡) |
81.00 MXN (1,992.29 ₡) |
+29.6 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
23.95 MXN (589.02 ₡) |
44.53 MXN (1,095.27 ₡) |
+85.9 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
17.69 MXN (435.04 ₡) |
34.36 MXN (845.10 ₡) |
+94.3 % |
Markets | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
106.42 MXN (2,617.38 ₡) |
154.36 MXN (3,796.58 ₡) |
+45.1 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
44.80 MXN (1,101.90 ₡) |
58.77 MXN (1,445.52 ₡) |
+31.2 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
14.96 MXN (367.85 ₡) |
22.00 MXN (541.13 ₡) |
+47.1 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
45.64 MXN (1,122.45 ₡) |
69.62 MXN (1,712.25 ₡) |
+52.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
73.43 MXN (1,805.89 ₡) |
83.41 MXN (2,051.45 ₡) |
+13.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
65.04 MXN (1,599.67 ₡) |
87.24 MXN (2,145.55 ₡) |
+34.1 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
92.17 MXN (2,266.95 ₡) |
122.22 MXN (3,005.95 ₡) |
+32.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
23.61 MXN (580.72 ₡) |
40.65 MXN (999.75 ₡) |
+72.2 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
12.39 MXN (304.63 ₡) |
15.02 MXN (369.43 ₡) |
+21.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
15.78 MXN (388.11 ₡) |
29.73 MXN (731.27 ₡) |
+88.4 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
15.51 MXN (381.36 ₡) |
28.09 MXN (690.97 ₡) |
+81.2 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
17.19 MXN (422.77 ₡) |
27.06 MXN (665.43 ₡) |
+57.4 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
16.80 MXN (413.16 ₡) |
26.21 MXN (644.52 ₡) |
+56.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
24.13 MXN (593.45 ₡) |
20.56 MXN (505.64 ₡) |
-14.8 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
19.10 MXN (469.66 ₡) |
50.58 MXN (1,243.91 ₡) |
+164.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
200.00 MXN (4,919.00 ₡) |
325.27 MXN (8,000.00 ₡) |
+62.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
30.07 MXN (739.55 ₡) |
47.68 MXN (1,172.70 ₡) |
+58.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
54.64 MXN (1,343.83 ₡) |
55.98 MXN (1,376.95 ₡) |
+2.5 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
80.00 MXN (1,967.60 ₡) |
101.65 MXN (2,500.00 ₡) |
+27.1 % |
Transportation | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
12.00 MXN (295.14 ₡) |
20.33 MXN (500.00 ₡) |
+69.4 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
500.00 MXN (12,297.50 ₡) |
1,016.47 MXN (25,000.00 ₡) |
+103.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
50.00 MXN (1,229.75 ₡) |
37.00 MXN (910.00 ₡) |
-26.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
64.37 MXN (1,583.27 ₡) |
65.43 MXN (1,609.34 ₡) |
+1.6 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
200.00 MXN (4,919.00 ₡) |
156.33 MXN (3,845.00 ₡) |
-21.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
92.46 MXN (2,273.96 ₡) |
115.18 MXN (2,832.88 ₡) |
+24.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
399,995.00 MXN (9,837,880.44 ₡) |
742,020.48 MXN (18,250,000.00 ₡) |
+85.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
432,093.44 MXN (10,627,341.90 ₡) |
723,289.94 MXN (17,789,322.25 ₡) |
+67.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
1,214.17 MXN (29,862.42 ₡) |
1,812.17 MXN (44,570.36 ₡) |
+49.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
441.28 MXN (10,853.24 ₡) |
531.99 MXN (13,084.27 ₡) |
+20.6 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
532.73 MXN (13,102.46 ₡) |
1,117.35 MXN (27,481.19 ₡) |
+109.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
655.82 MXN (16,129.88 ₡) |
1,174.76 MXN (28,893.26 ₡) |
+79.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
346.74 MXN (8,528.16 ₡) |
622.42 MXN (15,308.33 ₡) |
+79.5 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
90.00 MXN (2,213.55 ₡) |
162.63 MXN (4,000.00 ₡) |
+80.7 % |
Childcare | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
4,653.14 MXN (114,443.91 ₡) |
11,195.12 MXN (275,344.04 ₡) |
+140.6 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
106,598.21 MXN (2,621,783.88 ₡) |
201,701.14 MXN (4,960,841.21 ₡) |
+89.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
999.71 MXN (24,587.86 ₡) |
1,502.78 MXN (36,960.84 ₡) |
+50.3 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
770.00 MXN (18,938.26 ₡) |
1,131.38 MXN (27,826.35 ₡) |
+46.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,726.54 MXN (42,464.38 ₡) |
2,546.26 MXN (62,625.18 ₡) |
+47.5 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
1,640.03 MXN (40,336.61 ₡) |
2,193.14 MXN (53,940.26 ₡) |
+33.7 % |
Rent Per Month | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
12,361.89 MXN (304,040.81 ₡) |
16,080.44 MXN (395,498.63 ₡) |
+30.1 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
8,705.66 MXN (214,115.68 ₡) |
10,789.98 MXN (265,379.56 ₡) |
+23.9 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
23,765.34 MXN (584,508.76 ₡) |
29,776.62 MXN (732,356.27 ₡) |
+25.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
16,642.71 MXN (409,327.66 ₡) |
20,409.02 MXN (501,960.04 ₡) |
+22.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
3,501.49 MXN (86,119.30 ₡) |
5,084.34 MXN (125,049.43 ₡) |
+45.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
2,454.77 MXN (60,375.12 ₡) |
2,832.78 MXN (69,672.32 ₡) |
+15.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Mexico Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
13,564.70 MXN (333,623.95 ₡) |
20,441.14 MXN (502,750.05 ₡) |
+50.7 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 11.45 | 10.29 | -10.1 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 947 | 112 |
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