Costa Rica has modern super markets where you are likely to find all
the comforts of home, but depending on where you shop, you might pay
MORE!
If you want to watch how you spend your money, shop at local markets and buy Costa Rican Brand Products.
You can definitely get more bang for your buck than in the U.S.
Utilities, rent, cell phones, medical expenses, haircuts, some
groceries, and in general, commodities that have a labor component are
less expensive than in the U.S, but long distance phone calls,
gasoline, automobiles (purchase price new or used) and dry cleaning
might be the same or cost even more.
Costa Rica makes and
distributes many of its own products (mayonnaise, cookies, cheese, ice
cream, etc.) If you buy Costa Rican products, you will DEFINITELY SAVE
money, but if your determined to buy U.S. brand products like
Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese, Nabisco cookies and Ziploc brand bags,
etc. you're going to pay MORE than in the U.S. because these items have
import taxes that raise the cost and thus the price.
Comparison Shopping:
We
shopped at the Auto Mercado in Costa Rica and at a Harris Teeter
Grocery store, a popular grocery store in the Eastern United States, to
compare the prices of groceries and other products. All prices were
converted from colones to dollars and all kilograms and grams were
converted to pounds and ounces, respectively.
|
ITEM
|
$ in US Grocery Store
|
$ in CR Grocery Store
|
|
PRODUCE:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Red Delicious Apples (per lb)
|
1.49
|
1.13
|
|
Bananas (per lb)
|
.59
|
0.24
|
|
Lemon (each)
|
.99
|
0.06
|
|
Tangerines (per lb)
|
1.16
|
0.32
|
|
Grapes- Red Seedless (per lb)
|
2.99
|
2.79
|
|
Cantaloupe (each)
|
3.49
|
0.48
|
|
Watermelon (each)
|
7.99
|
1.06
|
|
Star Fruit (each)
|
2.99
|
0.21
|
|
Pineapple (each)
|
4.79
|
1.25
|
|
Red mango (each)
|
1.49
|
0.64
|
|
Snap green beans (per lb)
|
2.99
|
0.41
|
|
Eggplant (per lb)
|
1.49
|
0.77
|
|
Cabbage (per lb)
|
.59
|
0.27
|
|
Carrots (per lb)
|
.99
|
0.24
|
|
Cucumbers (each)
|
.99
|
0.35
|
|
Lettuce, Romaine (each)
|
1.99
|
0.41
|
|
Lettuce, Red Leaf (each)
|
1.79
|
0.43
|
|
Onion, Red (per lb)
|
1.29
|
1.93
|
|
Garlic (per clove)
|
.50
|
.30
|
|
Red Bell Pepper (each)
|
2.99
|
0.19
|
|
Potato, white (per lb)
|
.99
|
0.62
|
|
Tomato, Slicing (per lb)
|
2.99
|
1.74
|
|
Total Produce
|
US=$47.56
|
CR=$15.84
|
|
PASTA, SAUCES, GRAINS & CEREALS:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Kraft Mac & Cheese, (7.25oz box)
|
.99
|
.75
|
|
Lasagna, (8oz box)
|
1.19
|
.91
|
|
Barilla Spaghetti (16oz box)
|
.79
|
1.14
|
|
Classico Mushroom & Garlic Pasta Sauce (26oz jar)
|
2.69
|
5.62
|
|
Long Grain Brown Rice (35.27oz)
|
2.13
|
.81
|
|
Ex. Long White Rice (32oz)
|
1.86
|
.98
|
|
Fruit Loops (7.6oz)
|
2.20
|
2.28
|
|
Cheerios (15oz)
|
3.39
|
3.85
|
|
Complete, Wheat Bran (17.3oz)
|
4.13
|
3.12
|
|
Oatmeal, Variety Pack (10ct. of 13oz pkts)
|
2.89
|
2.86
|
|
Syrup, Aunt Jemima (24oz)
|
2.89
|
3.46
|
|
Cheddar Cheese, block, sharp (8oz)
|
2.39
|
2.48
|
|
Mozzarella, shredded (8oz)
|
3.22
|
3.24
|
|
Breakstone Cottage Cheese, 4% fat (24oz)
|
2.69
|
5.85
|
|
Phili Brand Cream Cheese (8oz)
|
1.55
|
3.67
|
|
Sour Cream (7.05oz)
|
1.04
|
.81
|
|
Eggs, Grade A large (per dozen)
|
1.49
|
1.82
|
|
Milk, whole (1/2 gallon)
|
2.59
|
1.03
|
|
Total Pasta, Sauces, Grains & Cereals
|
US=$40.09
|
CR=$44.68
|
|
DELI:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Turkey (per lb)
|
8.99
|
6.52
|
|
Ham (per lb)
|
6.99
|
6.52
|
|
Roast beef (per lb)
|
7.99
|
8.04
|
|
Total Deli
|
US=$23.97
|
CR=$21.08
|
|
BAKING:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Chocolate Chips, semi-sweet (12oz)
|
2.29
|
2.91
|
|
White Flour (5lb)
|
1.89
|
1.54
|
|
Bertolli Olive Oil (17fl.oz)
|
5.29
|
4.41
|
|
Vegetable Oil, Crisco (48oz)
|
2.49
|
4.36
|
|
Pepper, (2oz)
|
1.59
|
1.51
|
|
Salt, (26oz)
|
.49
|
.41
|
|
Sugar, white (5lb)
|
2.49
|
1.45
|
|
Splenda, packets 100ct.
|
3.99
|
4.02
|
|
Equal, packets 100ct.
|
3.89
|
3.48
|
|
Total Baking
|
US=$24.41
|
CR=$24.09
|
|
MEAT & SEAFOOD:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Chicken breast, boneless (per lb)
|
2.99
|
2.88
|
|
Pork Chops (per lb)
|
1.40
|
3.81
|
|
Beef, ground chuck (per lb)
|
3.49
|
2.60
|
|
Steak, top sirloin (per lb)
|
5.99
|
3.01
|
|
Total Meat & Seafood
|
US=$13.87
|
CR=$12.30
|
|
CANNED GOODS:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Baked Beans (16oz)
|
.99
|
1.45
|
|
Refried Beans, Delmonte (16oz)
|
1.29
|
1.26
|
|
Fruit Cocktail, in juice (15oz)
|
1.25
|
1.61
|
|
Corn, Golden Sweet Delmonte (11oz)
|
1.00
|
1.24
|
|
Sweet Peas, (8.5oz)
|
.70
|
.96
|
|
Chicken Soup, Campbell’s(10.5oz)
|
1.39
|
1.27
|
|
Mushrooms, whole (4.5oz)
|
1.49
|
2.03
|
|
Heart of Palm (14.8oz)
|
2.99
|
1.67
|
|
Tomato, whole (14.5oz)
|
1.19
|
1.02
|
|
Total Canned Goods
|
US=$12.29
|
CR=$12.51
|
|
BEVERAGES:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Corona Beer, 6pk of 12oz bottles
|
7.99
|
8.97
|
|
Heineken, 6pk of 12oz bottles
|
8.29
|
6.91
|
|
Coffee, Starbucks (12oz)
|
8.99
|
4.00
|
|
Motts Apple Juice (64oz)
|
2.39
|
5.29
|
|
Orange Juice (46oz)
|
1.77
|
1.06
|
|
Ocean Spray cranberry (64oz)
|
2.99
|
5.82
|
|
Coca Cola, 2liter
|
1.69
|
1.69
|
|
Coca Cola (20 fl.oz)
|
1.29
|
0.78
|
|
Total Beverages
|
US=$35.40
|
CR=$35.42
|
|
SNACKS:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Doritos (13oz)
|
3.49
|
3.52
|
|
Oreos (15oz)
|
3.79
|
1.87
|
|
Crackers, Carrs Table Water
|
2.99
|
1.97
|
|
Popcorn, microwave (each)
|
.63
|
0.43
|
|
Total Snacks
|
US=$10.90
|
CR=$7.79
|
|
TOBACCO:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Marlboro Red, hard pack
|
4.49
|
1.32
|
|
Camel, hard pack
|
4.49
|
1.32
|
|
Total Tobacco
|
US=$8.98
|
CR=$2.64
|
|
HEALTH & BEAUTY:
|
---
|
---
|
|
Secret Deodorant (2.6oz)
|
4.39
|
2.95
|
|
Shampoo, Dove 2 in 1 Moisture (12 fl.oz)
|
4.37
|
6.16
|
|
Toothpaste, Aqua fresh (6.4 oz)
|
2.29
|
1.76
|
|
Razors, Gillette Women’s refills (10ct)
|
13.99
|
10.35
|
|
Razors, Venus Refills (4ct)
|
8.99
|
14.93
|
|
Razors, Gillette disposable men’s (5ct)
|
4.59
|
5.46
|
|
Razors, Mach3 Turbo refills (4ct)
|
8.99
|
11.69
|
|
Banana Boat SPF4 (8fl.oz)
|
7.49
|
7.07
|
|
L’Oreal Hydra-fresh Face Wash (6.5oz)
|
6.19
|
7.47
|
|
Ivory Soap (3pk)
|
1.39
|
2.35
|
|
Total Health & Beauty
|
US=$62.68
|
CR=$70.19
|
|
HOME SUPPLIES & PLASTICS:
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