Travel budget and cost of living in Costa Rica how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: calculate your travel budget

Costa Rica: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Costa Rica for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in Costa Rica in 2023

Cost of living: Costa Rica VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Costa Rica in 2023 is 14% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Costa Rica by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Costa Rica compared to the national average.

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Local prices in Costa Rica by expense type

Costa Rica: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 10.4/person
($ 6.2 to $ 22)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

3 course dinner

$ 33/person
($ 17 to $ 55)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

McDonald's meal

$ 10.2/person
($ 8.7 to $ 12)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 3.1 for 500ml
($ 1.9 to $ 6.2)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.7

Imported beer

$ 3.1 for 330ml
($ 1.6 to $ 4.8)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Cappuccino

$ 3.5/cup
($ 2 to $ 6.2)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Fizzy drink

$ 2.2/can
($ 1.6 to $ 3.3)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 1.7/bottle
($ 1.3 to $ 2.7)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Costa Rica: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 42/night
($ 35 to $ 49)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

2-star hotel

$ 89/night
($ 48 to $ 190)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 150

3-star hotel

$ 138/night
($ 78 to $ 292)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

4-star hotel

$ 347/night
($ 193 to $ 658)

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9% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 321

5-star hotel

$ 659/night
($ 494 to $ 842)

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4% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 690

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 61/month
($ 39 to $ 93)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 137

Room with kitchen

$ 171/month
($ 77 to $ 433)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 159/month
($ 76 to $ 423)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 196

Cottage or guest house

$ 109/month
($ 69 to $ 196)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 269

Family room

$ 214/month
($ 107 to $ 533)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 202

Costa Rica: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 2/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 2.6)

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73% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.2

Bread

$ 2.5/500g
($ 1.1 to $ 5.3)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Rice

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 3.2)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Eggs

$ 3.3/12 eggs
($ 1.9 to $ 5.9)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Chicken

$ 9.2/kg
($ 4.2 to $ 15)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Apples

$ 4.5/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 8.4)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9

Tomatoes

$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.5)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Potatoes

$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.4)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.4

Water bottle

$ 2.5
($ 1.3 to $ 4.2)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Costa Rica: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1.1/ticket
($ 0.7 to $ 1.3)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.7/km
($ 1.3 to $ 2.3)

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10% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 2.2)

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50% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.7
($ 1.3 to $ 2.3)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 27/24hrs
($ 11 to $ 174)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 36

Costa Rica: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 7.5/ticket
($ 6.2 to $ 10.4)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 38/hr
($ 22 to $ 64)

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68% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Costa Rica: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 4.9/pack
($ 4.4 to $ 6.2)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.1

Levi's jeans

$ 82
($ 42 to $ 114)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 59

Summer dress

$ 55
($ 33 to $ 85)

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17% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47

Plane ticket budget

New York City → San Jose

$ 548
(fair price: $ 431)

Los Angeles → San Jose

$ 489
(fair price: $ 379)

London → San Jose

$ 756
(fair price: $ 695)

Toronto (Ontario) → San Jose

$ 701
(fair price: $ 562)

Montreal → San Jose

$ 708
(fair price: $ 591)

Manchester → San Jose

$ 948
(fair price: $ 809)