Many visitors are astounded when they come to Costa Rica and find out just how much more expensive it is than the rest of Central America.
When I first moved here, I was slightly surprised. Lots of prices for food and groceries were similar, if not more, than the United States. But it’s more to the price tag than the tourism industry. The government plays a huge role in determining prices of items here as import taxes are very high.
6 Things More Expensive in Costa Rica
So here’s a list of some things I’ve noticed are more expensive in Costa Rica. Because of this, lots of people who move to Costa Rica brings a bunch of stuff down in their luggage. You can read about what things I bring down to Costa Rica all the time!
Sunglasses and Clothing/Shoes
Sunglasses are necessary where we live, but expensive if you want a good quality one.
We’ve spent more than we care to on sunglasses, since we go through them so much. In Costa Rica, you can find brands like Oakley in surf shops but they’re so expensive! We found one for 140,000 CRC (~$280 USD) and this exact pair was $150 USD on Amazon.
If you go to a clothing store, you’ll notice that prices are quite high, especially for brand name clothing. And it’s not even fancy brands – brands like Roxy, Hurley, Billabong.
Yeison and I rarely buy clothes and shoes in Costa Rica. We always buy clothes and shoes in the US. It’s cheaper, more sales, more variety. Clothes in Costa Rica can be twice as much, if you’re looking for good quality brands.
Electronics
We always buy all our electronics, including cameras and laptops in the US. First, you can’t even get computer towers or laptops with high specs in Costa Rica if you want to customize them. Second, they’re so expensive!
Laptops are consistently around 30% more expensive in Costa Rica and we don’t normally have the latest models either, until like 6 months or a year later. Since we work online, we need solid machines that we can depend on for work, as well as cameras.
Gas
The price of gas has increased a lot in the United States, but gas in Costa Rica has always been a lot. Gas in Costa Rica has always hovered around $5 USD per gallon. Diesel is slightly cheaper.
Video Games
We have a Playstation and Nintendo Switch here at home. When I was still living in the States, I’d bring games down for Yeison all the time.
Video games and consoles are so expensive in Costa Rica. Games can cost up to twice as much as you can find them in the United States, and they hardly go on sale.
I’ve brought down Playstations, the Wii and Nintendo Switch to Costa Rica and all the games and accessories. It’s just not worth purchasing them here.
Cars
Buying a car is a pain here is not the most fun thing to do especially if you are not a Costa Rican. Importing your car is a hassle and buying one, used or new comes with a lot of work.
The majority of Ticos and expats buy used cars because the price tag on new ones are a little through the roof due to all the taxes and fees.
Take this Toyota Landcruiser for example.
The starting price for the basic model is around $78,000 in the United States. The price tag in the picture and the starting price is $128,000!
Sunscreen and mosquito repellent
Unfortunately, as necessary as those items are they are not as cheap as we hope them to be. Luckily, they aren’t outrageously more expensive but even $5 more adds up when you have to buy them fairly often.
A bottle of Hawaiian Tropic SPF 50 is around 9,109 (~$18 USD) colones at the little store by our place where online it is $8 USD.
You can read a list of the different sunscreens you can find in Costa Rica and the ones we recommend. But as always, we recommend buying it well, not in Costa Rica because of the price.
As for mosquito repellent, a bottle of Off! Family care Smooth and Dry costs around 5000 colones ($10 USD) which you can find for …$3 on Amazon. To see which mosquito repellents you should bring, check out our post about the best repellents we tested ourselves.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a few items that are more expensive in Costa Rica than the States.
This list is just to give you an idea of what the cost of living here is like and help you figure out what to pack.
Of course there are things that are cheaper such as tropical fruits, rice, beans, eating at a restaurant, beer, coffee, some home items and more (see what else is cheaper in Costa Rica). It makes sense, depending on if you import the product or produce it here yourself.
If you’re thinking about moving to Costa Rica, these are a few things to think about bringing down. You can’t do anything about the gas or the cars but it is possible for electronics or clothing.
Prices also vary depending on where you are in the country. All these prices are pertaining to Playas del Coco/Guanacaste region and could be cheaper in San Jose or other places.
If you’re curious to see what our monthly budget is like, we have a cost breakdown of how we live in Costa Rica for $1500 a month.
John says
Beans and rice are pretty cheap.
yeison says
Yes they are but compare with all the rest of the countries in Central America Costa Rica has the higher prices 🙁
Gisselle says
My Mom is from the US and my Dad is Costa Rican and I have been living in Costa Rica with my tico husband and daughter for the past 20 years. We live in Escazu and yes, its the most expensive place for real estate these days. However, I wanted to be sure we would live securely and I admit to being a city rat because I love to have all the ammenites just a few blocks away. My husband works in Heredia at one of the Industrial Zones and my daughter is studying her last year high school at a private school near the Sabana park area and she is looking into studying at the State University in San Pedro. All these factors kind of force us to live in an urban setting as well. Electricity is going up but I recently bought a nice gas range and oven and changed most of our bulbs to LED and my bill is no more than $10 a month. No need for air conditioning in Escazu since the house keeps cool all year round. We visit the farmers market in town every Saturday morning to buy fresh veggies and fruit and also visit a local butcher. I buy a few imported items at Automercado but at least 97% of what we eat is locally produced. I admit, electronics are SUPER expensive, so are clothing and shoes. I prefer to get online into either JC Penney or Old Navy and buy clothes there and just send them to relatives or to the company HQ where my husband works and wait patiently until someone comes to visit. We just bought a small property at a Carrillo Beach, next to Samara and its less exploited and touristy so the prices are not as high as El Coco. Its also closer, at only 3 hours vs. 5 hours to get to El Coco and the beach is way more beautiful as well.
Brian says
Costa Rica can be expensive, especially if you are used to the unbridled materialism of the states. But if you are flexible enough to really change your lifestyle, it can be affordable.
First, cost averaging is important. Remember, you are not paying sales taxes, 7-9% in most states. You also get $97,500 of income before paying income tax back in the states. That’s a 20-35% savings.
I do belong to PriceSmart and buy most fruits and veggies at the Farmer’s Market. But I walk right past that $7.00 bottle of A1 sauce at the Mercado.
Golfito is a duty free zone if you need appliances or video and audio electronics. A Whirlpool 25sq ft. refrigerator is the same price as Home Depot. You can it trucked to your home within 3 days for 3% of the purchase price (Tica wife negotiated 2.5%).
Yes, I married a Tica and have learned through her how to navigate the culture. She negotiates and I disappear. The sight of a Gringo doubles the price in many instances, especially labor. Find a trusted Tico to negotiate for you, Even working with the government institutions can be difficult (Riteve) and having a native’s help is invaluable.
I also noticed that most people on this board live at the beach. I tried it for six months, but I can’t justify a $200 a month air conditioning bill. Instead, I chose to live at 3500 feet near Grecia with a view of the Valley. The temps are consistently 65 to 85, so there no need for heating or air. My water bill was $8.00 in June, electric $30, Satellite $22, and Internet $27 for 4KB. Property tax is $36.00 every three months on a $150,000, 900 square meter, 3 bedroom. When I want the beach, Puenta Leona is still only 75 minutes away!
My point is this: Do your homework and learn to live within your means. I walked away from corporate America at 55 and I’m not looking back!
Sammi says
Yikes $200?? The most we’ve ever paid for our electricity bill was $80 and we use AC everyday! That’s too bad, I personally love living at the beach. Instead of a 75 minute drive, I walk 2 minutes to the beach and see beautiful beach sunsets everyday. I don’t know any Ticos who pay that much for electricity! Everything is getting more expensive here though, prices keep going up unfortunately. They soo need to put a Pricemart in Liberia!
Juan Eduardos says
To lease a car in Costa Rica is $700. per month with insurance included, and that’s the smallest car on the road with a standard transmission. In North America I can get a monthly lease agreement for $150. per month, that’s for a small brand new Nissan.
Electricity in Costa Rica is going up another 16% in the near future, Caja rates for Pensionados has increased 45%, and the cost of groceries are about the same as in North America, with the selection being very poor. One Canadian expat couple had their Caja premiums increased to $700. per month, due to the pension income they reported when getting status. They moved back to Canada where health care is free. Due to the very high import taxes Costa Rica has become the most expensive country in Central America “and that will never change”. Some school teachers here in Costa Rica have not been paid for six months, now that’s a bad sign. Homes suitable for Gringo habitation are grossly over priced, tours are expensive, and hotel accommodation prices are insane, especially for the Canadians who can purchase low cost all inclusive vacation packages to Cuba.
Lester Hein says
This.
Costa Rica has amazing natural beauty and fantastic beaches. Pretty much anything that didn’t have to be man-made is great. If you’re coming for a two week vacation, it’s lovely.
Living here, however is a nightmare. I don’t live on the beach, I live in the ‘city’, San Jose.
Overpriced goods, non-existent service and apathy everywhere (Pura Vida, right?). I’ve lived here for 4 years now, and other than my meeting my fiance and having our beautiful daughter here, I can honestly say that I regret it.
There is nothing to love about San Jose if you’re not wealthy.
Sammi says
Oh man I can’t imagine living in San Jose. Every time we visit Yeison’s family in Heredia I am so grateful we don’t live in the city. Granted, the beach is more expensive so in that sense it’s not any better. It’s amazing at how much things cost now in Costa Rica! I know many people have the same sentiment about the beach – it’s no fun unless you got the $$ and a lot of people don’t know that and they move here thinking it’ll be paradise. Sadly they’re in for a real shocker.
Mary Lu says
we are planing to live in Costa Rica deep in the jungle with subistancial life any tips?
yeison says
Hi Mary,
Depends of what do you mean with “Jungle” I know places in the jungle where the closest store in 60 miles away and I know communities close to national parks or reserves also what kind of weather are you looking to live in here in Costa Rica we have so many kinds of weathers. People from teh USA and Canada they love to move to Guanacaste because is warm. Let me know what are you looking for and I will try to give you my best answer.
David Castillo says
You can’t. Unless you own like a huge ass piece of land. Most forests are national parks or protected zones. People can’t live there, much less if they plan on living by killing stuff.
Juan Eduardo says
In Costa Rica a few elite families control the government, the operate grocery prices, and even the banks.
The import taxes on many items can be as high as 80%, and the Chinese can sell terrible products here, which are items that cannot be sold in other parts of the world. Costa Rica is no longer a retirement destination as many Gringos cannot even afford the electricity bills “and the new cost of Caja health care coverage”. It’s sad to see Costa Rica in this condition, and it’s unfortunate that the country will never recover. I think there will be a nation wide rebellion soon, some Ticos here are working for as low as $14. per day.
Sammi says
Sadly that is quite true 🙁 I hope with the new government they’ll be able to turn it around since Costa Rica still does have so much potential. Well I do have to say as a college graduate I was making less than $14 a day at my first job so the economy in the States is definitely on the up and up either. Unemployment and high cost of living seems to be the trend in the world.
Juan Eduardo says
Many teachers in Costa Rica have not been paid for six months or more, plus the public has been notified that electricity rates will soon increase by 16%. Many Expats who have residentcy have been informed that their health care premiums will increase by almost 50%. Between not being able to pay the electric bill to run AC, and the higher rates for health care, many Expats are throwing in the towel and moving to either Panama or back to the states. I guess when you are over 65 health care in the US is less expensive?
Anyway! It’s a sad situation in Costa Rica, and it is highly unlikely things will recover in the near future.
The Americans came in an inflated the home prices, many suckers bought these over priced homes, and now they are stuck with them “maybe forever”. They can’t be sold so they’re being rented out to tourists who can afford to pay $500. per month electric bills.
Groceries, gas, the price of cars, the 80% import taxes on imported goods, and the high price of tourist accommodation, it’s all destroying what was once a great country to retire and vacation in.
Sammi says
Ah yeah, I’ve been watching the news about the strike for the teachers. Electricity here is already quite expensive and it’s insane it’s getting more expensive, along with gas. I met many older people who had bought tons of property in Costa Rica 10 years ago and they’ve been stuck with it ever since cause nobody wants to buy it and they don’t want to build anything because that’s also expensive. It’s a deep hole they’ve dug themselves for sure.
David Castillo says
Esta mal. Pero no tanto. No exagere.
Charlie says
Sun screen and gas are totally cheaper than the UK yay!
Sammi says
Haha load up on the sunscreen for your trip !
Jodie says
When I moved to Costa Rica I was shocked at how much small home appliances cost. I paid $40 for a basic toaster!
When it comes to food, as with most places, if you buy things that are imported, it’s going to cost you. But if you eat like a local, the prices are quite reasonable.
I never had to buy sunglasses while I was there, so it’s good to know!
Sammi says
Oh yes small appliances are more too! I forgot about that as well. We always buy local brands, it’s just too expensive to bu imported! Their sales and import tax is very high in Costa Rica so that makes it more expensive 🙁
Juan Eduardos says
You can buy a brand new Suzuki Alto car in San Jose for approximately $13,000US
if you have a Tico approach the salesman for the price. That was a year ago.
It has 3 cylinders and great on gas, we rented one for two months. There is an operation in San Jose called Mycostaricacontact, they do all the leg work for anything you want to buy.
They even have their own mechanic to do inspections on used cars they find for you.
David Castillo says
You need to go to crautos.com… not to make them publicity. But let me put it this way: All Costa Ricans sell their cars on that site. It’s free market in action. Every time I have changed cars, I have to sell my current one. That’s where I’ve done it.
Chelsea says
So true! And the internet cafes…sheesh. I lived there for a couple years when I was younger. I lived in Coco but went to school at Teocali in Liberia….You guys should do something on the education in Costa Rica. Plus, you guys definitely need to visit Tamarindo, Playa Avellanas, and Langosta. I really hope you guys have had granizados with both leches. So darn good. I haven’t been back in like 6 years and I miss it every single day.
Sammi says
Education is actually a good idea, we’ll look into it! We went to Tamarindo for a week last month and had a great time, it’s so different than Coco! hehe, we had the churchills at Puntarenas but man that is too sweet for me but delicious. Hope you make it back here sometime, Coco’s changed a lot the past few years!
David Castillo says
Cafe internets? Those stopped existing in Costa Rica since like 2010. Everybody has internet on the cell so internet cafes no longer exist.
Terry Reid/ Abuelita Pipilacha says
Since I have lived in the area for two different decades in two different centuries & have had to live below the poverty level in the 70s & relatively comfortably pensioned since 2002, I think that it was easier to live with little then because very little was available & many things were only found in San Jose after an 8 hour bus trip. Few imported items ever made it to Guanacaste & there were no phones in small towns, only a telegraph office. The mail came to everyone weeks & sometimes months after it was sent, even within the country, & lots of mail was never delivered, lost along the way. There were few cars, usually old Toyota Land Cruisers that looked & rode like Jeeps. Our town had one, Sardinal a few more & Coco had a few as well. Everyone traveled on the local buses & went to San Jose on a much smaller, slower Pulmitan bus over a very long & winding road. There were no electronics, cars, video games, computers, sunscreen, or Oakley sunglasses. Everything took some effort but we never really felt poor. We were just like our neighbors & friends. Hauling water, chopping weeds, planting something we could eat. Raising children, chickens, turkeys & goats until they ate almost all our young avocado trees.
Things have changed in quantum leaps in some ways, universal electricity & running water, more cars & inexperienced drivers, university education, cleaner work in tourism, availability of all those things you mentioned & more people who earn enough to afford them. I’m glad I lived then & glad to be alive now. Home is where the heart is & my heart is here.
Ruthie Turner says
I really like how you break down the items along with prices. For anyone that is considering moving or visiting Costa Rica, they’ll be able to get great information not only from this post but your awesome website as well!
Thank you for all you do!
Best,
Ruthie
Ruthie’s Routes
yeison says
Hi Ruthie … I am glad you like the post, thanks for all the kind words, hope to met you in person one day !!! Pura vida