Costa Rica

Compared with United States, using real observed prices.

Baseline: United States = 1×

Costa Rica vs

United States

Overall verdict

Costa Rica is about 1.04× United States.

Average across 3 categories, 4 items with data

The shape of prices (vs United States = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is United States. 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

United States United States = 1×

Costa Rica is pricier →

⛽ Transport 2 items

×1.27
🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×0.99
⚡ Utilities 1 item

×0.90

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

In Costa Rica, Gasoline 1L costs 1.5× what it does in United States — but Electricity 1kWh (household) costs only 0.9×. What is expensive here is energy, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Gasoline 1L 1 L ×1.46

Costa Rica $1.67 USD 1.668

United States $1.15 USD 1.146

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.11

Costa Rica $1.51 USD 1.507

United States $1.36 USD 1.356

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Big Mac 1 burger ×0.99

Costa Rica $6.04 CRC 2,990

United States $6.12 USD 6.12

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.90

Costa Rica $0.17 USD 0.17

United States $0.19 USD 0.188

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com