Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Costa Rica 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 18.0% higher than in Panama (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 7.0% higher than in Panama | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 19.4% lower than in Panama | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 18.3% higher than in Panama | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 17.9% higher than in Panama | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 14.8% higher than in Panama | |
Restaurants | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
10.00 $ (4,944.20 ₡) |
10.11 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+1.1 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
50.00 $ (24,721.01 ₡) |
60.00 $ (29,665.21 ₡) |
+20.0 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
7.49 $ (3,703.21 ₡) |
10.11 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+35.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
2.00 $ (988.84 ₡) |
3.03 $ (1,500.00 ₡) |
+51.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
3.50 $ (1,730.47 ₡) |
4.58 $ (2,262.45 ₡) |
+30.7 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
3.47 $ (1,717.05 ₡) |
3.97 $ (1,961.63 ₡) |
+14.2 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1.48 $ (730.75 ₡) |
2.21 $ (1,090.80 ₡) |
+49.3 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
1.24 $ (611.92 ₡) |
1.68 $ (833.00 ₡) |
+36.1 % |
Markets | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
6.86 $ (3,393.04 ₡) |
7.66 $ (3,786.66 ₡) |
+11.6 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
2.20 $ (1,087.43 ₡) |
2.87 $ (1,418.85 ₡) |
+30.5 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
1.08 $ (533.29 ₡) |
1.08 $ (534.17 ₡) |
+0.2 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
2.68 $ (1,325.81 ₡) |
3.45 $ (1,706.29 ₡) |
+28.7 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
5.31 $ (2,624.82 ₡) |
4.15 $ (2,050.63 ₡) |
-21.9 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
3.26 $ (1,610.14 ₡) |
4.34 $ (2,147.49 ₡) |
+33.4 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
4.12 $ (2,034.97 ₡) |
6.10 $ (3,016.80 ₡) |
+48.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1.76 $ (870.56 ₡) |
2.04 $ (1,006.52 ₡) |
+15.6 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
0.62 $ (304.33 ₡) |
0.75 $ (369.01 ₡) |
+21.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.24 $ (615.03 ₡) |
1.46 $ (721.48 ₡) |
+17.3 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
1.33 $ (658.66 ₡) |
1.40 $ (690.35 ₡) |
+4.8 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
0.95 $ (469.90 ₡) |
1.35 $ (665.47 ₡) |
+41.6 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
1.09 $ (539.89 ₡) |
1.29 $ (638.18 ₡) |
+18.2 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
2.07 $ (1,024.59 ₡) |
1.04 $ (512.34 ₡) |
-50.0 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1.60 $ (792.25 ₡) |
2.52 $ (1,243.91 ₡) |
+57.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
10.00 $ (4,944.20 ₡) |
16.18 $ (8,000.00 ₡) |
+61.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.20 $ (594.21 ₡) |
2.42 $ (1,195.40 ₡) |
+101.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.24 $ (1,106.98 ₡) |
2.83 $ (1,397.53 ₡) |
+26.2 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
5.85 $ (2,892.36 ₡) |
5.06 $ (2,500.00 ₡) |
-13.6 % |
Transportation | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
0.60 $ (296.65 ₡) |
1.01 $ (500.00 ₡) |
+68.5 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
25.00 $ (12,360.51 ₡) |
46.32 $ (22,900.00 ₡) |
+85.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
2.25 $ (1,112.45 ₡) |
1.84 $ (910.00 ₡) |
-18.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
3.22 $ (1,591.38 ₡) |
3.22 $ (1,591.38 ₡) |
0.0 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
21.00 $ (10,382.82 ₡) |
7.78 $ (3,845.00 ₡) |
-63.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
3.51 $ (1,736.66 ₡) |
5.73 $ (2,831.56 ₡) |
+63.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
20,000.00 $ (9,888,404.50 ₡) |
36,911.92 $ (18,250,000.00 ₡) |
+84.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
21,464.58 $ (10,612,524.33 ₡) |
35,885.76 $ (17,742,645.42 ₡) |
+67.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
109.00 $ (53,893.30 ₡) |
89.94 $ (44,465.76 ₡) |
-17.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
29.47 $ (14,568.61 ₡) |
26.46 $ (13,081.88 ₡) |
-10.2 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
48.85 $ (24,150.54 ₡) |
55.08 $ (27,232.04 ₡) |
+12.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
52.40 $ (25,909.96 ₡) |
58.32 $ (28,836.49 ₡) |
+11.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
37.50 $ (18,540.76 ₡) |
30.96 $ (15,308.33 ₡) |
-17.4 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
7.00 $ (3,460.94 ₡) |
8.09 $ (4,000.00 ₡) |
+15.6 % |
Childcare | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
446.67 $ (220,841.03 ₡) |
556.58 $ (275,186.16 ₡) |
+24.6 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
10,425.00 $ (5,154,330.85 ₡) |
9,997.84 $ (4,943,135.54 ₡) |
-4.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
48.27 $ (23,864.02 ₡) |
74.66 $ (36,915.36 ₡) |
+54.7 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
41.15 $ (20,347.29 ₡) |
56.47 $ (27,920.74 ₡) |
+37.2 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
83.67 $ (41,366.49 ₡) |
124.60 $ (61,606.03 ₡) |
+48.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
110.45 $ (54,610.96 ₡) |
108.94 $ (53,862.00 ₡) |
-1.4 % |
Rent Per Month | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
922.79 $ (456,248.08 ₡) |
790.20 $ (390,689.55 ₡) |
-14.4 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
714.14 $ (353,084.24 ₡) |
533.55 $ (263,797.68 ₡) |
-25.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
1,753.74 $ (867,085.48 ₡) |
1,473.39 $ (728,474.00 ₡) |
-16.0 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
1,350.00 $ (667,467.30 ₡) |
1,022.43 $ (505,510.03 ₡) |
-24.3 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
206.28 $ (101,989.65 ₡) |
252.10 $ (124,642.77 ₡) |
+22.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
143.56 $ (70,980.48 ₡) |
135.77 $ (67,125.75 ₡) |
-5.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
826.28 $ (408,530.71 ₡) |
1,015.24 $ (501,956.86 ₡) |
+22.9 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 6.30 | 10.29 | +63.4 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 90 | 111 |
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