Costa Rica vs Guatemala - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Costa Rica Guatemala
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1223
$922
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3032
$2260
🏠 One person rent
$553
$415
🏘️ Family rent
$929
$734
🍽️ Food expenses
$466
$351
🚐 Transport expenses
$67.4
$49.1
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1035
$458
💸 GDP per capita
$16942
$5763
😃 Human freedom index
8.23
7.21
❤️ Life expectancy
77.3
68.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
58
25
🌐 English speaking %
8.2%
1%
🎓 Higher education
75
49
😀 Quality of life
57
31
🏙️ Population
5.04M
17.3M

The average cost of living in Costa Rica ($1223) is 33% more expensive than in Guatemala ($922). Costa Rica ranked 51st vs 96th 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 66th and 144th 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
$9.67
$4.7
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$48.3
$43.6
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$9.11
$6.27
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.72
$2.63
 Cappuccino
$4.09
$3.09
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.93
$1.07
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$626
$449
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$406
$304
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1078
$918
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$722
$557
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$58.4
$42.6
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$89.9
$65.3
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$45.2
$39.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
9.96%
9.26%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2614
$1492
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1569
$844
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.96
$0.86
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$51.1
$13
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$15.8
$8.79
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.43
$1.09
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.06
$1.81
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.35
$2.76
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.97
$1.76
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.1
$2.41
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$10.8
$6.6
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.45
$7.51
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.9
$9.52
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.94
$3.1
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.41
$1.6
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.43
$2.92
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.74
$1.91
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.71
$1.62
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.56
$2.3
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.64
$0.72
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$3.18
$2.62
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$16
$7.09
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.27
$1.86
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.96
$3.54
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$8.11
$7.85
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$7.96
$6.79
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$3.22
$2.75
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.77
$2.73
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$57.6
$42.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8.89
$7.22
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$72
$38.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$15.2
$15.7
👖 Brand Jeans
$64.6
$47.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$123
$116
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$560
$183
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$11203
$5931

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
$1324
342K
Limon
$1225
71.5K
Alajuela
$1269
44.4K
Liberia
$932
65.9K
Cartago
$1024
22.8K
Puntarenas
$801
41.5K
Heredia
$1296
16.7K
Tamarindo
$1710
7.13K
Santa Teresa
$1213
3K

In Guatemala

City Cost of living Population
Guatemala City
$1070
1.21M
Mixco
$653
528K
Coban
$916
229K
Quetzaltenango
$784
208K
Jalapa
$936
193K
San Miguel Petapa
$941
151K
Momostenango
$881
140K
Mazatenango
$886
83.8K
Flores
$878
44.7K
Panajachel
$819
16.1K