Costa Rica vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Costa Rica Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1223
$832
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3032
$2461
🏠 One person rent
$553
$365
🏘️ Family rent
$929
$948
🍽️ Food expenses
$466
$266
🚐 Transport expenses
$67.4
$108
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$1035
$715
💸 GDP per capita
$16942
$7182
😃 Human freedom index
8.23
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
77.3
79.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
58
34
🌐 English speaking %
8.2%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
75
78
😀 Quality of life
57
57
🏙️ Population
5.04M
66.2M

The average cost of living in Costa Rica ($1223) is 47% more expensive than in Thailand ($832). Costa Rica ranked 51st vs 114th for Thailand 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 0.9 months in Thailand. Ranked 66th and 67th best countries to live in the world.

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the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Costa Rica vs Thailand infographic

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Prices in Costa Rica vs Thailand

We calculate prices for Costa Rica and Thailand as a population-weighted mean of 9 and 35 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 Thailand
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$9.67
$2.79
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$48.3
$27.5
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$9.11
$6.14
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.72
$2.49
 Cappuccino
$4.09
$2.27
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.93
$0.65
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$626
$497
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$406
$251
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1078
$1457
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$722
$707
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$58.4
$49.4
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$89.9
$75.8
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$45.2
$15.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
9.96%
5.89%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2614
$4500
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1569
$2279
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.96
$1
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$51.1
$32.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$15.8
$10.8
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.43
$1.21
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.06
$1.84
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.35
$1.35
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.97
$1.33
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.1
$2.14
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$10.8
$18.4
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.45
$2.88
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.9
$9.52
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.94
$3.12
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.41
$1.53
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.43
$2.03
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.74
$1.79
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.71
$1.55
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.56
$1.31
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.64
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$3.18
$1.29
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$16
$17.7
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.27
$1.78
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.96
$4.2
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$8.11
$2.41
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$7.96
$4.27
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$3.22
$1.77
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$3.77
$1.83
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$57.6
$49.9
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$8.89
$6.9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$72
$34.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$15.2
$8.47
👖 Brand Jeans
$64.6
$48.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$123
$95.8
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$560
$478
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$11203
$12855

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
$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 Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$941
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$691
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$717
256K
Pak Kret
$715
185K
Surat Thani
$563
131K
Nakhon Pathom
$548
78.8K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$763
106K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$588
134K
Klaeng
$685
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$739
133K
Hat Yai
$570
159K
Udon Thani
$543
130K
Rangsit
$595
79.3K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$748
76.7K
Phuket
$940
77.6K
Pattaya
$781
120K
Lat Luang
$753
73.9K
Ko Samui
$705
69K
Tha Khlong
$641
72.8K
Nakhon Sawan
$654
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$743
77.8K
Hua Hin
$656
59.4K
Nong Prue
$752
70.6K
Krabi
$782
30.5K
Phitsanulok
$537
70.9K
Ko Lanta
$772
33.4K
Khon Kaen
$568
116K
Ubon Ratchathani
$545
79K
Chiang Rai
$584
70.6K
Ao Nang
$792
14K