

That means there are many restaurants to please your palate, but they come at a cost, sometimes even higher than back in the states. More restaurants and supermarkets aimed at tourists and expats with more disposable income have caused an increase in prices.
In Costa Rica, food and groceries have seen escalating prices over the years. Residents enjoy the benefits of the Caja, short for Caja del Seguro Social, or Social Security, which provides many services free of charge.Īs this country is expat centered, many popular tourist destinations like beach settings will feel more expensive. Here, health care is top shelf and of low cost, and that’s why it’s the second most popular American destination for medical tourism. The closer you are to San José and it’s downtown, the higher the prices. Around $2,000 should be a minimum for a couple around here, especially in cities like the capital, San José. This could make for life in a small apartment or home, groceries, transportation, entertainment, etc.
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Anyway, if you know where to look, and how to ask, you can unlock local prices and save even more than expected.Ī managed expectation of day-to-day minimum spending can go for $1,300 and up for a single person. Expats are seen as rich, and to some extent, they are, based on the median income of the average Costa Rican, which goes for around 700$. Costa Rica grew accustomed to having so many expats, and the term “gringo price” is almost a norm for anyone who is not Latino. As the second most popular destination for American expats, many pose themselves the same question: How much does it cost to live in Costa Rica? The only possible answer is definitely a: “It depends on you”, but we can attest that expenses in Costa Rica can be a half of yours back in the homeland.
