Many wonder what the cost of living in Costa Rica is. The easy answer is; whatever you want it to cost! You can spend very little and live comfortably or you can spend more and live in luxury. Expats interested in simple living should budget about $1500 or less monthly. This budget allows for bus rides and the occasional taxi, big trips to the farmer’s market and a few restaurant meals each month. Others choose to live in relative luxury, employing full-time housekeepers, commuting by car, eating out on a regular basis and consuming imported goods. Such lifestyles in Costa Rica can amount to $3000 - $4000 per month depending on how extravagant you want to live.

Monthly Budget for Living in Costa Rica

Below is a typical monthly budget, based on calculations for two people living in a mid-range, two-bedroom home in the Costa Rica. We've listed a range here, because some of these expenses depend on your tastes, habits, and consumption. If you pay outright for your home you won't have any housing costs.

Eating out in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has its fair share of pricey, but often excellent, restaurants, and if you eat out a lot, your food expenses will be higher. At a moderately-priced sit-down restaurant, a salad, main course and glass of wine will cost $15-20 per person. At sodas, the Costa Rican version of the neighborhood mom-and-pop, a full meal plus natural fruit drink will only run you $2-5. There are a variety of restaurants in between these two ends of the spectrum to fulfill all your dining needs. Even high end restaurants in Costa Rica are less expensive than most restaurants in the US and Europe.

Food Shopping in Costa Rica

Note the huge disparity in food costs from the chart. A good rule of thumb is to budget about half of what you spend on groceries at home. The average Costa Rican eats a fairly simple diet with a lot of chicken, pork, fish, rice, beans, vegetables, fruits, meat, and pasta. All of these items are fresh and cheap, especially if you don’t buy them in a supermarket. There are street vendors or ferias who sell fresh vine ripened fruits and vegetables at excellent prices. In addition to ferias there are local butchers and bakeries (panerias) for fresh meat and bread hot from the oven. Buying fresh produce, meat, and bread is cheaper, healthier and best of all taste better.

Costa Rican Super Markets

For everything else there are supermarkets that are basically the same as the large chains in the USA. There are two main supermarket chains, Automercado and Hipermas. These stores carry a lot of familiar North American products and brands but they carry a premium price tag. You can save money by purchasing Costa Rican brands. For some products the taste and quality is the same or better but for other items you’ll crave the American brands you have always known. The great thing is that you have options!

Entertainment and Extras in Costa Rica

There is more to Costa Rica than paying bills and buying food. This lower cost of living allows you to afford the finer things in life. Cost Rica is attracting more and more talented individuals from around the world. Lively festivals, traveling circuses, outdoor concerts, opera, symphonic orchestra recitals and Shakespearean theater are available entertainment venues in Costa Rica. Below is a list of just some of the things you can do.

If you would like to work while living in Costa Rica see our previous blog titled, Making Money in Costa Rica. If this lifestyle is within your budget and sounds enjoyable consider moving to Costa Rica. Los Cielos Estates offers affordable lots and homes where can you live and retire in Costa Rica.