North Americans and Europeans are usually surprised when they first go shopping in Costa Rica. Prices at most supermarkets average about 60% below U.S. levels, and produce is even cheaper at outdoor markets.
As a general rule, locally grown produce is the best value, while some imported goods can be relatively expensive.
Costa Rica has several excellent supermarket chains, including Auto Mercado and Mega Super, which are now competing with branches of Wal-Mart, Target, and other American retailers.
Here are some recent prices:
McDonald's and most other fast-food chains have been in Costa Rica for many years, but the country also has several of its own fast-food restaurants that offer similar food in a local style--and often at bargain prices.
RostiPollos, for instance, sells a $14.32 family meal that includes a whole roast chicken, tortillas, frijoles, chips, and pickled onions. Kentucky Fried Chicken charges $7 for meal for two: four pieces of chicken, potatoes, biscuits, and two soft drinks.
If you occasionally invite a couple over for a first-class home-cooked meal, you'll probably spend $16 to $20 on the ingredients. It won't take long before you learn what you can buy for that amount.
Interested in living in a different destination? Then check out these similar pages:
| Living in Panama | Living in Nicaragua |
| Living in Honduras | Living in Argentina |
| Living in Mexico | Living in Ecuador |