Compare countries · Costa Rica vs Mexico
Costa Rica vs Mexico
Costa Rica(North America)·
Mexico(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Costa Rica leads on 9, Mexico on 3. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Costa Rica cheaper than Mexico?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Costa Rica at 52.9 and Mexico at 42.6. Mexico is about 19% cheaper overall.
Is Costa Rica or Mexico safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Costa Rica scores 1.86 and Mexico scores 2.65. Costa Rica ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Costa Rica or Mexico?
On the UN Human Development Index, Costa Rica scores 0.833 and Mexico scores 0.789. Costa Rica scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Costa Rica compared to Mexico?
GNI per capita runs $17,930 in Costa Rica against $13,730 in Mexico; people live 81.0 years on average against 75.3; Numbeo users rate healthcare 65 against 72. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Costa Rica
52.9
Worse than 73% of countries
Mexico
42.6
Around the global middle
Mexico: 19% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Costa Rica
20.3
Worse than 69% of countries
Mexico
17.8
Worse than 64% of countries
Mexico: 12% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Costa Rica
1.86
Better than 63% of countries
Mexico
2.65
Worse than 85% of countries
Costa Rica: more peaceful (1.86 vs 2.65).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Costa Rica
0.833
Better than 68% of countries
Mexico
0.789
Better than 58% of countries
Costa Rica: higher human development (0.833 vs 0.789).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Costa Rica
$33,815
Better than 64% of countries
Mexico
$25,868
Better than 57% of countries
Costa Rica: 31% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Costa Rica
81.0 yrs
Better than 80% of countries
Mexico
75.3 yrs
Better than 55% of countries
Costa Rica: 5.7 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Costa Rica
64.8
Around the global middle
Mexico
72.3
Better than 78% of countries
Mexico: better-rated healthcare (72.3 vs 64.8).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Costa Rica
165 Mbps
Better than 72% of countries
Mexico
94 Mbps
Around the global middle
Costa Rica: 76% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Costa Rica
72/100
Better than 78% of countries
Mexico
45/100
Worse than 68% of countries
Costa Rica: freer press (72 vs 45 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Costa Rica
7.44
Better than 97% of countries
Mexico
6.97
Better than 92% of countries
Costa Rica: happier on the Cantril ladder (7.44 vs 6.97).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Costa Rica
516
Around the global middle
Mexico
440
Worse than 85% of countries
Costa Rica: stronger English proficiency (516 vs 440).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Costa Rica
93.1
Better than 85% of countries
Mexico
86.6
Better than 65% of countries
Costa Rica: more pleasant climate rating (93.1 vs 86.6).
Not comparable for this pair
- Perceived street safety: Numbeo doesn't publish a safety index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Costa Rica and Mexico for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Costa Rica profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Mexico profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.