VanBasket Costa Rica

Food Prices in Costa Rica — August 2026

Updated: 1 August 2026

Current Index

vs World Average

-5%

Official (IMF + World Bank)

Real grocery prices

Price per unit in your currency

Prices known for 4 of 10 items — help fill the rest

Milk 1 L

open data

$2.33

+32% World (base = 100)
Eggs 12 pcs

open data

$1.90

-45% World (base = 100)
Chicken 1 kg

open data

$4.20

-29% World (base = 100)
Rice 1 kg

open data

$2.50

+11% World (base = 100)
Bread 500 g loaf
Water 1.5 L bottle
Cheese 1 kg
Tomatoes 1 kg
Potatoes 1 kg
Beer 0.5 L bottle

Monthly basket, 1 person

Directional: 4 milk + 2 eggs + 4 chicken + 4 rice

$39.92

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Every traveller price is reviewed by hand; the row shows how many reports from the last 90 days back the figure.

Data: WhereNext (CC BY 4.0, January 2026)

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Reports are reviewed by hand — only what an editor confirms reaches the site.

What this means for vanlife

Food in Costa Rica is close to the world average (index 95). Grocery costs are typical — budget as you normally would.

↓ Year-over-year change: -0.5% 2026

Index History

Index:

Based on World Bank ICP 2021, adjusted with IMF CPI

Compare with Costa Rica

Costa Rica

World (base = 100)

100

If you spend 100 at home:

100

Select home and destination countries to compare food costs

Similar Countries

Montenegro 95 -5%

Uruguay 95 -5%

Lebanon 95 -5%

Poland 96 -4%

Philippines 93.2 -6.8%

More countries in Americas

Argentina 70 -30%

Colombia 72 -28%

Peru 75 -25%

Brazil 78 -22%

Mexico 88 -12%

Panama 88 -12%

FAQ

Is food expensive in Costa Rica?

Food in Costa Rica is close to the world average. The VanBasket Index is 95 (world = 100).

How much should I budget for food in Costa Rica per month?

If the world average monthly food spend is $300, in Costa Rica you can expect to spend around $285. This is based on the VanBasket Index of 95 (world = 100).

How does Costa Rica compare to similar countries?

Costa Rica has a VanBasket Index of 95. Similar or nearby countries: Montenegro, Uruguay, Lebanon.

How often is the food price data for Costa Rica updated?

The index is updated monthly using IMF Consumer Price Index data. The baseline is from World Bank ICP 2021.

About the data: The VanBasket Index is based on World Bank ICP 2021 food price level data, adjusted monthly using IMF CPI. World average = 100. Index > 100 means food is more expensive than the global average. API for developers →

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