Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicaragua and Costa Rica 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 55.1% higher than in Nicaragua (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 66.1% higher than in Nicaragua | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 121.5% higher than in Nicaragua | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 96.2% higher than in Nicaragua | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 39.1% higher than in Nicaragua | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 111.4% higher than in Nicaragua | |
Restaurants | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
4.14 $ (2,081.03 ₡) |
9.96 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+140.3 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
30.00 $ (15,066.34 ₡) |
59.74 $ (30,000.00 ₡) |
+99.1 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
7.00 $ (3,515.48 ₡) |
9.96 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+42.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1.36 $ (683.01 ₡) |
2.99 $ (1,500.00 ₡) |
+119.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.00 $ (1,004.42 ₡) |
4.78 $ (2,400.00 ₡) |
+138.9 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
2.08 $ (1,046.64 ₡) |
3.97 $ (1,993.48 ₡) |
+90.5 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
0.83 $ (418.95 ₡) |
2.18 $ (1,095.47 ₡) |
+161.5 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
0.66 $ (333.75 ₡) |
1.68 $ (845.46 ₡) |
+153.3 % |
Markets | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
4.44 $ (2,230.88 ₡) |
7.56 $ (3,796.91 ₡) |
+70.2 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1.85 $ (926.77 ₡) |
2.88 $ (1,445.77 ₡) |
+56.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
0.71 $ (358.83 ₡) |
1.08 $ (541.22 ₡) |
+50.8 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
2.08 $ (1,042.21 ₡) |
3.41 $ (1,712.54 ₡) |
+64.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
3.92 $ (1,969.93 ₡) |
4.09 $ (2,051.70 ₡) |
+4.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2.83 $ (1,419.58 ₡) |
4.27 $ (2,145.78 ₡) |
+51.2 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
3.60 $ (1,806.67 ₡) |
5.99 $ (3,005.95 ₡) |
+66.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1.87 $ (938.61 ₡) |
1.99 $ (999.75 ₡) |
+6.5 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
0.53 $ (267.93 ₡) |
0.74 $ (369.52 ₡) |
+37.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.06 $ (532.84 ₡) |
1.46 $ (731.33 ₡) |
+37.3 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
0.94 $ (471.20 ₡) |
1.38 $ (691.01 ₡) |
+46.6 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
1.59 $ (797.79 ₡) |
1.33 $ (665.48 ₡) |
-16.6 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
0.91 $ (456.87 ₡) |
1.28 $ (644.64 ₡) |
+41.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
0.89 $ (447.69 ₡) |
1.01 $ (505.79 ₡) |
+13.0 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
0.99 $ (495.21 ₡) |
2.48 $ (1,243.91 ₡) |
+151.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
10.00 $ (5,022.11 ₡) |
15.93 $ (8,000.00 ₡) |
+59.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.41 $ (707.29 ₡) |
2.34 $ (1,172.85 ₡) |
+65.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.15 $ (1,078.71 ₡) |
2.74 $ (1,377.11 ₡) |
+27.7 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
3.17 $ (1,594.52 ₡) |
4.98 $ (2,500.00 ₡) |
+56.8 % |
Transportation | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
0.14 $ (69.44 ₡) |
1.00 $ (500.00 ₡) |
+620.0 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
6.01 $ (3,017.15 ₡) |
49.78 $ (25,000.00 ₡) |
+728.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
1.01 $ (504.72 ₡) |
1.81 $ (910.00 ₡) |
+80.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1.01 $ (505.14 ₡) |
3.20 $ (1,609.34 ₡) |
+218.6 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
6.80 $ (3,415.47 ₡) |
7.66 $ (3,845.00 ₡) |
+12.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
5.04 $ (2,529.27 ₡) |
5.64 $ (2,833.28 ₡) |
+12.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
22,973.64 $ (11,537,621.13 ₡) |
36,339.28 $ (18,250,000.00 ₡) |
+58.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
27,106.26 $ (13,613,073.40 ₡) |
35,449.74 $ (17,803,262.39 ₡) |
+30.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
70.38 $ (35,344.45 ₡) |
88.77 $ (44,581.45 ₡) |
+26.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
17.23 $ (8,653.10 ₡) |
26.06 $ (13,087.10 ₡) |
+51.2 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
38.31 $ (19,239.11 ₡) |
54.74 $ (27,489.22 ₡) |
+42.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
33.03 $ (16,588.19 ₡) |
57.56 $ (28,906.16 ₡) |
+74.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
15.00 $ (7,533.17 ₡) |
30.48 $ (15,308.33 ₡) |
+103.2 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
8.00 $ (4,017.69 ₡) |
7.96 $ (4,000.00 ₡) |
-0.4 % |
Childcare | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
89.33 $ (44,864.22 ₡) |
548.36 $ (275,391.19 ₡) |
+513.8 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
8,000.00 $ (4,017,690.98 ₡) |
9,888.52 $ (4,966,129.05 ₡) |
+23.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
66.91 $ (33,600.49 ₡) |
73.60 $ (36,964.42 ₡) |
+10.0 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
49.97 $ (25,093.08 ₡) |
55.43 $ (27,836.38 ₡) |
+10.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
101.98 $ (51,217.09 ₡) |
124.74 $ (62,644.33 ₡) |
+22.3 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
94.38 $ (47,399.68 ₡) |
107.45 $ (53,963.63 ₡) |
+13.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
347.50 $ (174,518.45 ₡) |
788.72 $ (396,104.73 ₡) |
+127.0 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
271.88 $ (136,538.72 ₡) |
529.37 $ (265,857.56 ₡) |
+94.7 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
594.87 $ (298,750.19 ₡) |
1,460.40 $ (733,428.01 ₡) |
+145.5 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
491.98 $ (247,078.16 ₡) |
1,000.90 $ (502,665.25 ₡) |
+103.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
113.03 $ (56,765.50 ₡) |
249.32 $ (125,213.76 ₡) |
+120.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
48.22 $ (24,214.76 ₡) |
138.89 $ (69,752.77 ₡) |
+188.1 % |
Salaries And Financing | Nicaragua Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
285.37 $ (143,315.58 ₡) |
1,001.96 $ (503,193.82 ₡) |
+251.1 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 10.25 | 10.29 | +0.4 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 31 | 112 |
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