Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Costa Rica 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 68.4% higher than in South Africa (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 67.2% higher than in South Africa | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 63.1% higher than in South Africa | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 63.5% higher than in South Africa | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 106.3% higher than in South Africa | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 51.0% lower than in South Africa | |
Restaurants | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
160.00 R (4,259.32 ₡) |
187.82 R (5,000.00 ₡) |
+17.4 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
700.00 R (18,634.54 ₡) |
1,126.94 R (30,000.00 ₡) |
+61.0 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
89.99 R (2,395.60 ₡) |
187.82 R (5,000.00 ₡) |
+108.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
40.00 R (1,064.83 ₡) |
56.35 R (1,500.00 ₡) |
+40.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
45.00 R (1,197.93 ₡) |
90.16 R (2,400.00 ₡) |
+100.3 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
35.56 R (946.57 ₡) |
74.77 R (1,990.51 ₡) |
+110.3 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
17.46 R (464.76 ₡) |
41.15 R (1,095.47 ₡) |
+135.7 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
13.58 R (361.62 ₡) |
31.76 R (845.46 ₡) |
+133.8 % |
Markets | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
73.61 R (1,959.53 ₡) |
142.63 R (3,796.91 ₡) |
+93.8 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
16.04 R (427.12 ₡) |
54.31 R (1,445.77 ₡) |
+238.5 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
12.74 R (339.04 ₡) |
20.33 R (541.22 ₡) |
+59.6 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
40.49 R (1,077.77 ₡) |
64.33 R (1,712.54 ₡) |
+58.9 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
61.62 R (1,640.37 ₡) |
79.02 R (2,103.53 ₡) |
+28.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
36.99 R (984.72 ₡) |
80.61 R (2,145.78 ₡) |
+117.9 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
54.36 R (1,447.12 ₡) |
112.92 R (3,005.95 ₡) |
+107.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
12.35 R (328.75 ₡) |
37.56 R (999.75 ₡) |
+204.1 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
11.54 R (307.12 ₡) |
13.88 R (369.52 ₡) |
+20.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
11.98 R (319.01 ₡) |
27.47 R (731.33 ₡) |
+129.2 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
12.28 R (326.99 ₡) |
25.96 R (691.01 ₡) |
+111.3 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
9.90 R (263.51 ₡) |
25.42 R (676.61 ₡) |
+156.8 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
10.52 R (280.10 ₡) |
24.22 R (644.64 ₡) |
+130.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
18.60 R (495.09 ₡) |
19.00 R (505.79 ₡) |
+2.2 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
16.93 R (450.75 ₡) |
46.73 R (1,243.91 ₡) |
+176.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
85.00 R (2,262.76 ₡) |
300.52 R (8,000.00 ₡) |
+253.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
23.97 R (638.18 ₡) |
44.06 R (1,172.85 ₡) |
+83.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
30.70 R (817.19 ₡) |
51.73 R (1,377.11 ₡) |
+68.5 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
52.00 R (1,384.28 ₡) |
93.91 R (2,500.00 ₡) |
+80.6 % |
Transportation | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
30.00 R (798.62 ₡) |
18.78 R (500.00 ₡) |
-37.4 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
800.00 R (21,296.61 ₡) |
939.12 R (25,000.00 ₡) |
+17.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
20.00 R (532.42 ₡) |
34.18 R (910.00 ₡) |
+70.9 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
32.19 R (856.84 ₡) |
60.45 R (1,609.34 ₡) |
+87.8 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
85.00 R (2,262.76 ₡) |
144.44 R (3,845.00 ₡) |
+69.9 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
86.78 R (2,310.07 ₡) |
106.43 R (2,833.28 ₡) |
+22.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
370,000.00 R (9,849,682.91 ₡) |
685,555.06 R (18,250,000.00 ₡) |
+85.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
420,796.63 R (11,201,928.07 ₡) |
668,773.52 R (17,803,262.39 ₡) |
+58.9 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
2,005.99 R (53,401.12 ₡) |
1,674.69 R (44,581.45 ₡) |
-16.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
564.47 R (15,026.54 ₡) |
484.62 R (12,901.06 ₡) |
-14.1 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
735.09 R (19,568.62 ₡) |
1,032.62 R (27,489.22 ₡) |
+40.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
561.62 R (14,950.63 ₡) |
1,079.67 R (28,741.72 ₡) |
+92.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
180.96 R (4,817.26 ₡) |
575.05 R (15,308.33 ₡) |
+217.8 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
120.00 R (3,194.49 ₡) |
150.26 R (4,000.00 ₡) |
+25.2 % |
Childcare | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
3,428.30 R (91,264.03 ₡) |
10,344.98 R (275,391.19 ₡) |
+201.8 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
81,293.82 R (2,164,103.60 ₡) |
182,475.48 R (4,857,636.78 ₡) |
+124.5 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
872.09 R (23,215.83 ₡) |
1,388.56 R (36,964.42 ₡) |
+59.2 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
551.94 R (14,693.06 ₡) |
1,034.34 R (27,534.98 ₡) |
+87.4 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,635.55 R (43,539.64 ₡) |
2,353.21 R (62,644.33 ₡) |
+43.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
1,412.01 R (37,588.87 ₡) |
2,027.13 R (53,963.63 ₡) |
+43.6 % |
Rent Per Month | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
8,058.38 R (214,520.24 ₡) |
14,628.55 R (389,423.27 ₡) |
+81.5 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
6,555.55 R (174,513.77 ₡) |
9,986.85 R (265,857.56 ₡) |
+52.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
16,175.35 R (430,600.24 ₡) |
27,550.97 R (733,428.01 ₡) |
+70.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
12,769.83 R (339,942.70 ₡) |
18,882.45 R (502,665.25 ₡) |
+47.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,692.39 R (45,052.74 ₡) |
4,703.61 R (125,213.76 ₡) |
+177.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,279.20 R (34,053.39 ₡) |
2,620.24 R (69,752.77 ₡) |
+104.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Africa Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
23,486.18 R (625,220.07 ₡) |
19,254.91 R (512,580.47 ₡) |
-18.0 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 11.56 | 10.29 | -10.9 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 663 | 113 |
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