Cost of Living In Costa Rica: An Average Week's Cost For Food

Living in Costa Rica is wonderful! A nice tropical climate, lush nature, beautiful beaches, and delicious food. But although a lot of people assume the living costs are cheaper than in the US, that might not be the case per se. In fact, Costa Rica is often called the Switzerland of Latin America, because the living cost is well above average.

In this article, we’ll break down the living costs in a few categories. We’ll look at the prices of groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables and also eating out at a variety of restaurants. Since it depends entirely on the diet of a person, we’ve included prices of some standard items to give you an idea of the cost of living in Costa Rica.

Average Costs to Feed One Adult in Costa Rica

Below we guesstimated the average cost for an adult for one week in Costa Rica.

Assuming you’re going out to diner or lunch a few times a week and cook at home the rest of the time. We’ll break down the cost of food in different kinds of supermarkets and restaurants.

The local currency is Costa Rican Colon. At the time of writing (April 7, 2021), USD$1 equals ₡612.99

Farmer’s Market

The Farmer’s market is a great place to stock up on quality fruit and vegetables for a very reasonable price. It’s definitely cheaper than buying your fruits and veggies in the supermarket. Teeming with good vibes, laughter, and fresh local produce, it’s also a great way to immerse yourself in the Tico culture!

On average, if you buy your fruits and vegetables here for the whole week, you’ll spend around USD$17 per person.

Below are some example prices in USD$:

• 1 papaya 0.98
• 1 pineapple 1.63
• a hand of bananas 1.14
• 3-4 tomatoes 0.82
• ½ kilo of potatoes 1.14
• 1 broccoli 1.14
• 1 cauliflower 0.98
• 1 lettuce 0.90
• 1 kilo of avocados 3.26
• 1 eggplant 0.41
• 1 zucchini 0.41
• 10 eggs 1.63
• 
  
• So, add this all up, and you see that with a budget of USD$17 you can easily cover your breakfast and dinner for one person for a whole week.
  

Supermarket

Costa Rica has several supermarkets that are a bit cheaper than Walmart or Price Mart (which are located in the metropolitan areas). Palí or Maxi Palí, Mas por Menos, Super Despensa, Mega Super, are the local supermarkets and offer everything you need.

• 1 kg rice 1.31
• 1 kg black beans 1.47
• 2 lbs of minced meat 6.53
• 1 liter of milk 2.45
• 2 lbs of cheese 4.08
• Poultry 4.08
• 2 lbs of seafood/fish 4.89-6.53
• 1 loaf of bread 2.45
• Cereal 3.26

Automercado is another supermarket chain. It has high-end products and therefore is more expensive. Here you can find organic and green products, imported goods like Italian-made pesto, pink Himalayan Salt, couscous, etc. For 10 articles expect to spend around USD$40 to USD$70.

Pulperías

Ah, the famous pulperías! These cozy small convenient stores offer mostly basic sustenance like rice, beans, few types of meat, and often a large offer of candy and sweets. Expect prices to be slightly higher than in regular supermarkets.

Photo by Graffiti Restro Cafe

So, What’s the Damage?

Although Costa Rica is still a developing country, it’s not a budget destination at all. Expect to pay the same, or slightly more, as you would back home in the US. For groceries, depending on which supermarket you shop at, a budget of USD$10-USD$20 per person per week should suffice.

For eating out at regular restaurants, expect to pay around USD$15 per person, per meal if you’re not doing anything crazy.

Having said that, there are ways to reduce the cost, like dining at sodas, buying your groceries in bulk, stocking up on the local farmer’s market, and cooking more often yourself.

So, there you have it! Hopefully, you now have a clear idea of the living cost in Costa Rica. If this article has helped you plan out your budget, make sure to let us know in the comment section below!

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