Cost of living in Costa Rica compared to Bulgaria
Currency:
| Food | + 43% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Costa Rica is 43% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| Costa Rica | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | ₡ 6,632 (24 лв) | 17 лв | + 44% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | ₡ 4,600 (17 лв) | 16 лв | + 5% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | ₡ 1,968 (7 лв) | 8 лв | - 6% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | ₡ 1,107 (4.01 лв) | 3.40 лв | + 18% | |
| 12 eggs, large | ₡ 2,038 (7 лв) | 8 лв | - 3% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | ₡ 1,378 (4.99 лв) | 4.17 лв | + 20% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | ₡ 3,221 (12 лв) | 10 лв | + 12% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | ₡ 1,678 (6 лв) | 2.86 лв | + 113% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | ₡ 1,630 (5.91 лв) | 2.13 лв | + 178% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | ₡ 1,084 (3.93 лв) | 2.33 лв | + 69% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | ₡ 9,341 (34 лв) | 21 лв | + 62% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | ₡ 1,557 (5.64 лв) | 3.12 лв | + 81% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | ₡ 891 (3.23 лв) | 1.05 лв | + 209% | |
| Housing | + 50% | |||
| Housing in Costa Rica is 50% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| Costa Rica | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | ₡ 539,231 (1,954 лв) | 1,292 лв | + 51% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | ₡ 331,404 (1,201 лв) | 872 лв | + 38% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | ₡ 42,537 (154 лв) | 218 лв | - 29% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | ₡ 438,529 (1,589 лв) | 786 лв | + 102% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | ₡ 285,596 (1,035 лв) | 705 лв | + 47% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | ₡ 35,314 (128 лв) | 174 лв | - 26% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | ₡ 17,647 (64 лв) | 17 лв | + 281% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | ₡ 207,090 (751 лв) | 607 лв | + 24% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | ₡ 77,559 (281 лв) | 181 лв | + 56% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | ₡ 6,812 (25 лв) | 17 лв | + 42% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | ₡ 2,763 (10 лв) | 25 лв | - 60% | |
| Clothes | - 2% | |||
| Clothes in Costa Rica is about the same as in Bulgaria | ||||
| Costa Rica | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | ₡ 30,752 (111 лв) | 118 лв | - 5% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | ₡ 22,577 (82 лв) | 89 лв | - 8% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | ₡ 70,562 (256 лв) | 204 лв | + 26% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | ₡ 45,015 (163 лв) | 186 лв | - 12% | |
| Transportation | + 27% | |||
| Transportation in Costa Rica is 27% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| Costa Rica | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | ₡ 16,174,200 (58,623 лв) | 52,642 лв | + 11% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | ₡ 698 (2.53 лв) | 2.65 лв | - 5% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | ₡ 20,734 (75 лв) | 47 лв | + 60% | |
| Personal Care | + 61% | |||
| Personal Care in Costa Rica is 61% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
| Costa Rica | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | ₡ 3,614 (13 лв) | 15 лв | - 13% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | ₡ 8,586 (31 лв) | 24 лв | + 31% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | ₡ 38,057 (138 лв) | 78 лв | + 77% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | ₡ 5,595 (20 лв) | 7 лв | + 205% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | ₡ 3,658 (13 лв) | 6 лв | + 104% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | ₡ 3,852 (14 лв) | 8 лв | + 75% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | ₡ 1,754 (6 лв) | 4.06 лв | + 56% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | ₡ 2,149 (8 лв) | 3.73 лв | + 109% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | ₡ 10,685 (39 лв) | 28 лв | + 40% | |
| Entertainment | - 3% | |||
| Entertainment in Costa Rica is about the same as in Bulgaria | ||||
| Costa Rica | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | ₡ 18,029 (65 лв) | 53 лв | + 24% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | ₡ 7,058 (26 лв) | 27 лв | - 5% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | ₡ 27,540 (100 лв) | 50 лв | + 98% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | ₡ 36,113 (131 лв) | 118 лв | + 11% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | ₡ 5,513 (20 лв) | 14 лв | + 43% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | ₡ 2,982 (11 лв) | 5.17 лв | + 109% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | ₡ 1,411 (5.11 лв) | 4.45 лв | + 15% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | ₡ 279,856 (1,014 лв) | 1,897 лв | - 47% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | ₡ 38 (0.14 лв) | 0.33 лв | - 58% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | ₡ 35,666 (129 лв) | 72 лв | + 80% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | ₡ 2,306 (8 лв) | 7 лв | + 14% | |
| TOTAL | + 29% | |||
These prices were last updated on March 22, 2025.
Exchange rate:
0.00362
BGN
/
CRC
This comparison is based on abundant and consistent data. It is based on 947 prices entered by 130 different people.
Cost of living in Costa Rica is 29% more expensive than in Bulgaria
Other Country Comparisons
- Cost of living in United Arab Emirates is 93% more expensive than in Bulgaria
- Cost of living in Angola is 21% cheaper than in Bulgaria
- Cost of living in Argentina is 25% more expensive than in Bulgaria
- Cost of living in Albania is 15% cheaper than in Bulgaria
- Cost of living in Antigua and Barbuda is 59% more expensive than in Bulgaria
- Cost of living in Andorra is 73% more expensive than in Bulgaria
- Cost of living in Antarctica is in Bulgaria
- Cost of living in Armenia is 27% more expensive than in Bulgaria