Costa Rica vs Palau - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Costa Rica Palau
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1195
$1169
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$2964
$2788
🏠 One person rent
$547
$587
🏘️ Family rent
$932
$1095
🍽️ Food expenses
$455
$437
🚐 Transport expenses
$64.7
$37.3
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$956
$571
💸 GDP per capita
$16595
$14565
😃 Human freedom index
8.04
6.4
❤️ Life expectancy
77.3
69.1
👮 Corruption perceptions index
55
49
🌐 English speaking %
8.2%
92.5%
🎓 Higher education
75
1
😀 Quality of life
56
42
🏙️ Population
5.04M
21.7K

The average cost of living in Costa Rica ($1195) is 2% more expensive than in Palau ($1169). Costa Rica ranked 52nd vs 61st for Palau 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 Palau. Ranked 65th and 103rd best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Costa Rica vs Palau infographic

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Prices in Costa Rica vs Palau

We calculate prices for Costa Rica and Palau as a population-weighted mean of 9 and 2 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 Palau
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$9.45
$10.5
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$47
$52.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$8.97
$5.95
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.84
$6.96
 Cappuccino
$4.13
$4.99
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.84
$1.13
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$597
$483
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$411
$361
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1066
$1082
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$737
$792
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$55.6
$81.3
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$85.4
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$43.6
$120
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
11.25%
14.28%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2170
$1341
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1570
$1006
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.93
$0.53
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$50
$24.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$14.7
$11.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.43
$2.17
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.95
$2.68
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.29
$2.03
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.95
$2.03
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.2
$4.58
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$10.2
$22.1
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.53
$8.56
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.8
$9.13
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.95
$4.23
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$1.47
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.22
$1.63
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.68
$1.82
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.52
$2.12
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.46
$1.22
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.57
$0.66
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$3.05
$3.43
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$15.5
$22.1
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.2
$3.34
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.86
$8.06
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$8.11
$5.57
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$7
$3.15
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.76
$1.72
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.9
$1.65
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$51.8
$70.1
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8.05
$4.95
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$66.7
$50.1
💇 Haircut, simple
$12.8
$5.62
👖 Brand Jeans
$69.5
$54
👟 Brand Sneakers
$118
$123
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$481
$249
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$12191
$5947

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 Palau

City Cost of living Population
Melekeok
$1168
299
Ngerulmud
$1169
271