Compare countries · Costa Rica vs United States
Costa Rica vs United States
Costa Rica(North America)·
United States(North America)
Across 11 comparable indicators: Costa Rica leads on 6, United States on 5. 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 United States?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Costa Rica at 52.9 and United States at 68.8. Costa Rica is about 23% cheaper overall.
Which has the higher quality of life, Costa Rica or United States?
On the UN Human Development Index, Costa Rica scores 0.833 and United States scores 0.938. United States 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 United States?
GNI per capita runs $17,930 in Costa Rica against $88,810 in United States; people live 81.0 years on average against 78.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 65 against 67. 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
United States
68.8
Worse than 90% of countries
Costa Rica: 23% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Costa Rica
20.3
Worse than 69% of countries
United States
40.7
Worse than 95% of countries
Costa Rica: 50% cheaper rents.
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Costa Rica
0.833
Better than 68% of countries
United States
0.938
Better than 91% of countries
United States: higher human development (0.938 vs 0.833).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Costa Rica
$33,815
Better than 64% of countries
United States
$90,027
Better than 95% of countries
United States: 166% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Costa Rica
81.0 yrs
Better than 80% of countries
United States
78.9 yrs
Better than 75% of countries
Costa Rica: 2.1 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Costa Rica
64.8
Around the global middle
United States
67.0
Better than 59% of countries
United States: better-rated healthcare (67.0 vs 64.8).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Costa Rica
165 Mbps
Better than 72% of countries
United States
308 Mbps
Better than 96% of countries
United States: 86% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Costa Rica
72/100
Better than 78% of countries
United States
63/100
Better than 64% of countries
Costa Rica: freer press (72 vs 63 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Costa Rica
7.44
Better than 97% of countries
United States
6.82
Better than 85% of countries
Costa Rica: happier on the Cantril ladder (7.44 vs 6.82).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Costa Rica
516
Around the global middle
United States
700
Better than 94% of countries
United States: stronger English proficiency (700 vs 516).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Costa Rica
93.1
Better than 85% of countries
United States
75.8
Worse than 60% of countries
Costa Rica: more pleasant climate rating (93.1 vs 75.8).
Not comparable for this pair
- Peace — Global Peace Index: The Global Peace Index doesn't cover one of these countries.
- Perceived street safety: Numbeo doesn't publish a safety index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Costa Rica and United States 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 United States profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.