Costa Rica

Compared with Romania, using real observed prices.

Baseline: Romania = 1×

Costa Rica vs

Romania

Overall verdict

Costa Rica is about 0.97× Romania.

Average across 3 categories, 4 items with data

The shape of prices (vs Romania = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is Romania. A bar running right means Costa Rica is pricier; running left means cheaper. The thin bar behind shows the range from the cheapest to the priciest item in that category.

← Cheaper than

Romania Romania = 1×

Costa Rica is pricier →

🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×1.52
⛽ Transport 2 items

×0.79
⚡ Utilities 1 item

×0.77

Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)

In Costa Rica, Big Mac costs 1.5× what it does in Romania — but Diesel 1L costs only 0.7×. What is expensive here is labour, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Big Mac 1 burger ×1.52

Costa Rica RON 26.50 CRC 2,990

Romania RON 17.45 RON 17.45

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.87

Costa Rica RON 7.67 USD 1.668

Romania RON 8.79 USD 1.911

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.77

Costa Rica RON 0.75 USD 0.17

Romania RON 0.98 USD 0.222

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.72

Costa Rica RON 6.93 USD 1.507

Romania RON 9.60 USD 2.087

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com