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Cost of living: Costa Rica vs USA
This page compares the estimated monthly cost of living in Costa Rica and USA.
Use the table to compare salary, rent, food, utilities, transport and the amount left after basic monthly costs.
Cost of living comparison
| Item | Costa Rica | USA |
| Average salary | $780 | $3 300 |
| Budget with rent | $480 | $2 050 |
| Budget without rent | $250 | $1 060 |
| One-bedroom rent | $230 | $990 |
| Food basket | $140 | $590 |
| Utilities and internet | $62 | $260 |
| Transport | $47 | $200 |
| After basic costs | $300 | $1 250 |
Quick reading of the comparison
Costa Rica has a lower estimated monthly budget with rent.
USA has the higher average salary in this comparison.
USA leaves more after basic monthly costs in this estimate.
Detailed comparison pages
Open separate comparison tables for salary, population, rent and food prices to understand the difference in more detail.
Salaries Population Rent Food pricesCost of living comparison FAQ
Which is cheaper, Costa Rica or USA?
The comparison table shows the estimated budget with rent for both countries. The lower value is usually the cheaper option for basic monthly expenses.
Does a cheaper country always mean better value?
Not always. Salary level, rent, food prices and the amount left after basic costs should be considered together.
How accurate is this comparison?
The comparison is an approximate reference based on BDEEX salary and cost models. Real expenses depend on city, lifestyle, housing and current prices.
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