Costa Rica vs Guatemala - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Costa Rica Guatemala
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1287
$968
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3093
$2313
🏠 One person rent
$597
$434
🏘️ Family rent
$919
$687
🍽️ Food expenses
$476
$365
🚐 Transport expenses
$67.9
$64.4
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1027
$465
💸 GDP per capita
$18587
$6150
😃 Human freedom index
8.23
7.21
❤️ Life expectancy
80.8
72.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
58
25
🌐 English speaking %
8.2%
1%
🎓 Higher education
75
48
😀 Quality of life
65
39
🏙️ Population
5.13M
18.4M

The average cost of living in Costa Rica ($1287) is 33% more expensive than in Guatemala ($968). Costa Rica ranked 55th vs 99th for Guatemala in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 0.8 months in Costa Rica compared to 0.5 months in Guatemala. Ranked 57th and 134th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Costa Rica vs Guatemala infographic

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Prices in Costa Rica vs Guatemala

We calculate prices for Costa Rica and Guatemala as a population-weighted mean of 9 and 10 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

Costa Rica Guatemala
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$9.34
$5.26
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$48.6
$45
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$9.33
$6.6
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.58
$3.11
 Cappuccino
$4.15
$3.13
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$2.05
$1.13
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$687
$480
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$440
$315
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1117
$977
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$770
$536
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$60
$41.6
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$93
$63.7
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$47.1
$44.3
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
10.13%
8.69%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2715
$1507
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1648
$843
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.01
$0.94
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$51.7
$13.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$15.8
$13.8
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.44
$1.1
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.11
$1.85
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.39
$2.73
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.14
$2.02
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.96
$2.45
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.2
$6.81
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.31
$8.08
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.6
$10.2
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.1
$3.33
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.43
$1.6
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.79
$2.92
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.96
$1.89
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.06
$1.66
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.95
$2.35
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.7
$0.75
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$3.15
$2.61
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$16.5
$7.4
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.27
$1.91
🚬 Cigarette pack
$5.02
$3.87
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$8.13
$6.46
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$8.94
$8.43
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$3.06
$3.06
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.78
$2.39
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$53.5
$42.1
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8.85
$6.99
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$94.8
$39.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$16.8
$13
👖 Brand Jeans
$57.7
$50.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$123
$114
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$562
$232
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$11369
$8021

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Costa Rica vs Guatemala

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Costa Rica

City Cost of living Population
San Jose
$1398
342K
Limon
$1288
71.5K
Alajuela
$1303
44.4K
Liberia
$953
65.9K
Cartago
$1241
22.8K
Puntarenas
$821
41.5K
Heredia
$1335
16.7K
Tamarindo
$1714
7.13K
Santa Teresa
$1236
3K

In Guatemala

City Cost of living Population
Guatemala City
$1129
1.21M
Mixco
$665
528K
Coban
$931
229K
Quetzaltenango
$847
208K
Jalapa
$1009
193K
San Miguel Petapa
$1018
151K
Momostenango
$911
140K
Mazatenango
$912
83.8K
Flores
$915
44.7K
Panajachel
$842
16.1K