Costa Rica vs Iceland - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Costa Rica Iceland
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1195
$2685
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2964
$5605
🏠 One person rent
$547
$1593
🏘️ Family rent
$932
$2495
🍽️ Food expenses
$455
$794
🚐 Transport expenses
$64.7
$85.7
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$956
$3865
💸 GDP per capita
$16595
$78811
😃 Human freedom index
8.04
8.73
❤️ Life expectancy
77.3
82.2
👮 Corruption perceptions index
55
72
🌐 English speaking %
8.2%
98%
🎓 Higher education
75
81
😀 Quality of life
56
92
🏙️ Population
5.04M
364K

The average cost of living in Costa Rica ($1195) is 55% less expensive than in Iceland ($2685). Costa Rica ranked 52nd vs 5th for Iceland 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 1.4 months in Iceland. Ranked 65th and 11th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Costa Rica vs Iceland infographic

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Prices in Costa Rica vs Iceland

We calculate prices for Costa Rica and Iceland as a population-weighted mean of 9 and 5 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 Iceland
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$9.45
$22.1
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$47
$115
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$8.97
$18.3
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.84
$10.4
 Cappuccino
$4.13
$5.1
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.84
$2.95
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$597
$1639
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$411
$1432
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1066
$2535
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$737
$2304
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$55.6
$46.2
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$85.4
$71.2
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$43.6
$73.9
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.25%
7.22%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2170
$5677
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1570
$4632
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.93
$4.47
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$50
$74.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$14.7
$24.9
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.43
$2.28
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.95
$1.67
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.29
$3.6
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.95
$3.11
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.2
$5.77
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$10.2
$15.4
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.53
$19.7
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.8
$33.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.95
$2.88
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$2.31
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.22
$2.69
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.68
$4.65
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.52
$2.99
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.46
$1.84
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.57
$1.28
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$3.05
$2.74
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$15.5
$21.3
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.2
$3.27
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.86
$12
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$8.11
$11.6
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$7
$5.35
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.76
$4.7
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.9
$3.32
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$51.8
$67.9
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8.05
$14.9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$66.7
$84.3
💇 Haircut, simple
$12.8
$47.3
👖 Brand Jeans
$69.5
$113
👟 Brand Sneakers
$118
$152
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$481
$257
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$12191
$6163

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Costa Rica

City Cost of living Population
San Jose
$1239
342K
Limon
$1201
71.5K
Alajuela
$1233
44.4K
Liberia
$898
65.9K
Puntarenas
$1277
41.5K
Cartago
$961
22.8K
Heredia
$1246
16.7K
Tamarindo
$1687
7.13K
Santa Teresa
$1310
3K

In Iceland

City Cost of living Population
Reykjavik
$2915
140K
Kopavogur
$2371
39.8K
Hafnarfjorur
$2602
30.6K
Akureyri
$2300
19.9K
Keflavik
$2091
15.9K