HOW MUCH Do Groceries COST In Costa Rica? - Cost Of Living In A Beach Town 2023! 🇨🇷

Stay connected on the go! With a Holafly eSIM for Costa Rica, Mexico, Asia, the US, Europe, or wherever you want using the discount THEDUFRESNES or click here:
esim.holafly.c...
In this video we show some pricing of groceries here in Costa Rica in 2023, how different is it since our video in 2019? check that video our here.
• Cost of Living in Cost...
Support our channel an help us to keep making more videos.
PATREON - / thedufresnes
Buy us a coffee: www.buymeacoff...
LINKS TO AMAZING TRAVEL NEEDS:
BANKING:
Easily bank internationally with a Wise account and card! Sign up here:
wise.prf.hn/l/...
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
safetywing.com...
ONLINE PROTECTION:
go.nordvpn.net...
Do you have a product, a travel related business or restaurant? Would you be interested in working with us? We are always looking for partnerships/sponsors, especially to help you grow your business!
Send us an email!: [e-mail]
Order Prints of our best photos here:
chrisdufresne....
GET COPYRIGHT FREE MUSIC TO USE IN YOUR VIDEOS - The best variety:
www.epidemicso...
Get amazing underwater shots with G Dome:
getgdome.com?aff=1696
INTERESTED IN STAYING AT SEA CASA SAMARA www.seacasasam...
Casa Nautical:
www.airbnb.com...
Casa Tropical:
www.airbnb.com...
Thanks for the support!
MERCH - teespring.com/...
- teespring.com/...
Follow us: @TheDufresnes
Instagram - / thedufresnes
Facebook - / thedufresnes
note we do make a small commission from links listed

[@nickbrooks7171]

I’m Costa Rican. We have the normal supermarkets where we buy, they are cheap. Don’t think all Costa Rica I expensive.

[@ronpassmore7053]

Hola Nick. Thanks for this comment. I am single male and looking forward to learning about your country. If you have any ideas how to learn, please share my brother. For now, I am focusing on the language and looking at real estate. Nice to meet you Nick. Ronnie.

[@SilverTurtle65]

Costa Rica ain’t cheap especially now with the low dollar exchange rates. It’s good to shop around but most places are similar in price. I went grocery shopping yesterday at Mega Super and on Saturdays they have two for one specials on a lot of items. Excellent video.

[@TheDufresnes]

Who ever said Costa Rica is cheap has never been here. It's also not expensive, anyone from California will save money moving here as our neighbours did which is the case for a few states and other countries as well. If you're buying imported brands be prepared to spend a bit more monthly.

[@johnnydee123]

Dollar is killing us… stop printing… 🖨️

[@rustyshacklefort3715]

@@TheDufresnes I live in Florida on the beach and this is way more expensive than here. It might be cheaper than California but that means nothing. California should never be a comparison for anything when it comes to cost. Costa Rica is more expensive than probably 85%+ of the US.

[@TheDufresnes]

Alright, we are seeing a lot of comments how groceries are more expensive here than the USA, here is a challenge for you... Go online and check out the prices at your local grocery store (not Walmart or Costco as they have buying power) and tell us the prices of what 1 free range chicken egg is, a head of leaf lettuce, price for a kg of onions, a kg of tomatoes, price of kg of pork chops and price of kg of ground beef. The higher priced items in this video are the imported stuff from the USA which is much cheaper in the USA naturally.

[@amywamala]

I am not sure because we use lbs here not Kilos. I am getting ready to go shopping now so will let you know 😊!

[@amywamala]

Thanks for the detailed video! Omg 😲 I can't believe how expensive food is in Costa Rica 😳 compared to here in the USA!!! I can go to Aldi, Walmart and Sam's club and still spend wayyyy less than that expensive store! The ice cream prices were insane 😳!! I am telling you with those prices I would be such a skinny minny there!! 😂😂😂 I am guessing it's so pricy because everything is imported??? Are all grocery stores that expensive in CR or just that particular one??? Sorry, but those prices are outrageous even by US standards 😬

[@TheDufresnes]

There are ways to spend less yes but you have to travel for it or if you're eating healthy not buying imported stuff you're going to spend less, as you saw in our cost of living video we spend around $1000 to $1300 a month for a family of 4. There are still a lot of states and countries that are more expensive then here. Canada is definitely more. You also save on living in other aspects here.

[@amywamala]

@TheDufresnes yes I am sure the cost of living may be a lot less for sure but was just shocked 😲 at those prices! A jar of peanut butter 🥜 in Aldi is a little over a dollar, however rent for a 1 bedroom apartment is like $1400!! So, I guess it evens out.

[@TheDufresnes]

@Lisa-oy9ts haha supported the local farmers market but then shopped at Walmart, that's funny. Don't support the small grocery stores tho, did you know the fruits and vegetables in these small markets are from the same farmers as the farmers markets? And the same prices as food prices are regulated by the government. Also the meat is from local farmers. You're comment is very contradicting. 🤔 USA is cheaper in some states but the quality is also a lot lower.

[@danielgbrittonsr8921]

@@amywamala Not anymore. Rents in Costa Rica have surpassed the U.S.

[@TheDufresnes]

@danielgbrittonsr8921 really? What's rent in NY or San Francisco? And rent and availability has dropped here now. Definitely better to own here tho.

[@NatashaandMisha]

In central valley expensive also if don’t shop at the local weekly farmers market. Maxi Pali vs Aldi, day and night. Aldi half the price surely.

[@yaremcio]

Well done video! I live in BC and I think everything everywhere has gone up. Yes some items are crazy in CR as I was just there in March and maple syrup was like $50 cdn. And I agree, you have to take time and gas into consideration when you live in smaller towns in Costa Rica where you can't easily whip to a Walmart etc. Organic eggs here at a farmers market have just hit $8 because of chicken feed skyrocketing. Farm stands you can still get them for $6. A kg. of tomatoes in the summer was $1.99, now $2.49 but go as high as $3.99/kg at other times. Head of lettuce now is $2.49 in stores, I paid $4 yesterday for an organic HUGE head at the farmers market here.

[@TheDufresnes]

Yes British Columbia is one of the places where food is more expensive then here. My brother said sliced roast turkey breast was over $49 a kg. Thanks for sharing the prices so people can realize it's not all that expensive here compared to what people like yourself are paying.

[@carmenthiemann1497]

if you buy the same products you consume here in the states of course is expensive, but not if you purchase what the local ticos eat. I am a tica and used to eat arroz y frijoles so it is not expensive for me when visiting, lot of fruits and vegetables and fish and really not expensive.

[@ronpassmore7053]

Thanks Carmen. I like your ideas. Spot on. I want to buy a home in CR, and I will definitely immerse in CR life, not US life in CR. Any ideas on groups, places to go to learn how to be reasonable and frugal in CR, appreciated. I have 30 favorite DVDs with Spanish sub-titles, so, I'll be ready!! :-) Any help will be appreciated, y tambien, puedo hablar con uds en espanol. Woo hoo! Ronnie.

[@icysurfer1]

Anywhere most people will stay will make you queasy. Food is the biggest problem in Tourist areas in CR> Grocery shopping can be incredibly expensive. Local brands cost a little less.

[@ib516]

Being from Canada a few things stood out to me. What is way more expensive in CR--> butter, cheese, milk , bread, toilet paper, laundry detergent / dishwasher tabs (at least the imported North American branded stuff like tide and cascade), paper products like TP and paper towel. What was about the same --> Soda/soft drinks, meat, liquor, wine, beer, apples, eggs, pineapple, peanut butter (not the JIF). What was cheaper --> Bananas, veggies

[@TheDufresnes]

Toilet paper and Pt can be found for cheaper even in Samara, most everything else is cheaper then British Columbia and Ontario for sure. Except some of the imported stuff of course. Alcohol is way cheaper here then B.C and Ontario

[@jennyg.6884]

Milk is way cheaper in CR

[@rodvarmo]

These are the prices on a small touristy area supermarket, so they are more expensive.. Apples are grown in Costa Rica. The costarican apples are smaller, yellow redish and more sour than regular apples.

[@TheDufresnes]

Not the apples in the video, they are imported from Chile. Yes prices will vary just like anywhere because of transport. Economics are a lot of people's weak point

[@billassim9014]

Great Video, locals probably feel the inflation,,

[@laurascott8455]

Very informative video. We bring certain things with us that we know is cheaper back home in canada. Then it's local foods while there. If you want it, you will pay

[@dougdileo4727]

wow, expensive at the beach area, perhaps you need to travel 10 or 20 miles and shop better prices

[@TheDufresnes]

There are definitely cheaper ways to buy groceries, here you are paying for convenience. We shot our original video in this store so we wanted to shoot it again in the same location. Places like Pricesmart are going to save you money but you need to stock up when you go, you also have to consider time and fuel into the equation.

[@mirroreffectchannel]

Heading that way soon this was informative

[@lifewith9cats153]

Good information. A bit stunned as most everything is atleast twice or more expensive than here in Alabama, USA.

[@TheDufresnes]

Ya Alabama is one of the states that is cheaper. Same as Utah, Montana and Iowa

[@jennyg.6884]

Buy costa rican brands, go to local markets. Much cheaper

[@TheDufresnes]

Actually some Costa Rican brands can be more expensive, Dos Piños for example. This is a local market, if you are speaking about a farmers market then yes you can in most cases get stuff for more cost reasonable but again food prices are regulated by the government so you'll pay about the same for fruits, veggies and meat.

[@johnnydee123]

Great video 👍🏼 I’d forgotten how expensive Guanacaste can get -specially down towards de Samara/Nosara area-, those prices are a bit more expensive than in San Jose even at the AutoMercado supermarkets, which are the better ones…. Obviously that’s more like an unbranded local convenience store or supermarket, well stacked though, but I think going to a branded supermarket chain, even in that area, would probably be less expensive than that particular one… although it’s pretty well stocked and obviously if one can just walk to it it’s always convenient…

[@TheDufresnes]

We've traveled all over the country and pricing is very much the same unless you go to Pali and Walmart you may be able to hit a sale. We were just at Auto Mercado and it was more expensive.

[@johnnydee123]

👍🏼

[@djmack8]

Been living here almost 2 years now. It’s definitely expensive here. Lots of people will tell you it doesn’t have to be if you adjust your lifestyle. Just remember that means living in a remote area with horrible infrastructure, very little to do socially, and and limiting what you can eat and do for entertainment. Costa Rica is for ex pats that have a high paying online job, or have saved a ton of money and don’t have to worry about it. Personally, the main draw here was the peaceful country image, and now that that’s gone, places like Colombia or El Salvador are better options.

[@donalbershardt9290]

Check out Panamá

[@letsexploreandtravelonadis6424]

Thank you for the video. The prices are high in Costa Rica compared to the US. But it seems that vegetables and coffee are reasonable in CR, which is good for plant based diets.

[@TheDufresnes]

For products from the USA yes because they are imported, also depends on which state in the USA you compare to

[@guy739]

We spend a couple of weeks in Costa Rica every year, We love it there, but it is much more expensive than where We live in the US. Many of the things you put on this video are as much as 500% more than what We would pay here. The only thing We found cheaper there was vegetables and coffee.

[@TheDufresnes]

You have 100% completely missed the point of this video. Again, this isn't a comparison video. Yes a lot of stuff in other countries is more expensive than most parts of the United States because of shipping and import, again most of you don't understand economics! In British Columbia, Canada where we are from we paid a lot for stuff, in some cases more than in California. If you're from states that most people don't want to live in like Iowa or Utah then yes its cheaper than here in Costa Rica. But it all balances out when you live here, property tax is a lot cheaper along with many other necessary things. Also, when we visited the Yucatan in Mexico, we found it to be more expensive than Costa Rica.

[@grammasgardenofideas5081]

surely a raised bed or two could provide rosemary cukes tomatoes etc???

[@randallruiz3882]

actually ...there should be price tags everywhere

[@randallruiz3882]

somr imported itens will be always more expensive . one advice is to buy made in Costa Rica like Irex detergent for laundry. pastas Roma ...asking locals for national brands may save you money. unless the business increase prices because foreigbers might not notice the different.

[@tauceti8060]

I thought that countries with weaker currencies compared to the USD would be cheap for Americans,I'm so wrong.

[@TheDufresnes]

The Costa Rican Colone is the strongest against the USD as it has been since we moved down. It's inflation and import taxes that makes stuff more expensive here then some states, if you compare to States like California and New York it's cheaper here, especially to live.

[@isabellechenard9225]

Its really expensive compared to Canada! i am in calgary right now . I have 2 teenagers and we thought moving in Costa Rica and i just change my mind 😂

[@TheDufresnes]

Not all of Canada, Alberta is much cheaper than bc and Ontario and Costa Rica is also cheaper than bc and Ontario

[@seamusog100]

Dam my grocerys for the week would be cheaper in nyc😢

[@TheDufresnes]

we highly doubt that! The only things you may find cheaper is the junk food made in the states, but that's doubtful as well.

[@smilingcroc]

Question! Do Costa Rican grocery stores have any gluten free labeled products like bread or is that not something you’d see?

[@TheDufresnes]

They do have some gluten free, yes. Just not sure exactly what as we don't shop for it

[@kingjesus7926]

I just stayed in escazu and the prices were not this high at all. This is a Gringo store for sure

[@TheDufresnes]

This is not a price comparison video. So many of you don't understand economics. There is costs to ship stuff from the main areas to places out on the coast which increases the prices. Prices are going to be different all over. Stuff in Santa Teresa is more expensive than here due to the distance away.

[@TheDufresnes]

Also not everyone who moves to Costa Rica is a gringo. Gringos are what people from the USA are called.

[@jackdempsey2241]

What's the difference between holafly and WhatsApp?

[@TheDufresnes]

Holafly is a service provider, its a digital sim card that's easier to set up then finding and buying a sim card in a new country. Whatsapp is an app that most people use

[@jackdempsey2241]

@@TheDufresnes thanks. How's the sale of the business looking?

[@jackdempsey2241]

So what do you suggest when we are visiting in CR for phone service?

[@TheDufresnes]

@jackdempsey2241 holafly, if you're phone is unlocked and compatible. There is a list of compatible phones on the website. You can get up to 20 days with unlimited data

[@randallruiz3882]

natilla is the best 😂😂😂🇨🇷🇨🇷🇨🇷🇨🇷🇨🇷

[@be4realz]

Where's the healthy food..lol..markets

[@TheDufresnes]

Haha it's funny that so many people think Costa Rica is healthy. They eat more junk food and bread here than anywhere. If your wanting the best real food then the farmers markets are best

[@be4realz]

@TheDufresnes good to know. We eat healthy, organic and love farmers markets. Where im at, seems the farmwrs markets are more for the artistic then the food

[@bobbarnach3979]

Very expensive

[@TheDufresnes]

All depends on where you are comparing to. Expenses are all relative

[@user-ng8js8ug6p]

looks like I will not be going to Costa Rico

[@TheDufresnes]

No one will be going to Costa Rico, it doesn't exist 🤣

[@amywamala]

@@TheDufresnes 🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂too funny!!!!

[@theteeslanger9866]

Wow these prices suck

[@TheDufresnes]

Not as much as your President! haha

[@shaynadufresne]

​@TheDufresnes sooo true 😂 I'll take a few higher prices over living in North America ANY day!

[@amywamala]

@TheDufresnes any person with a normal thinking 🤔 brain knows that this President was "SELECTED NOT ELECTED "!! UGHHH what an embarrassment this administration is!! 🙄 Give me a couple more years to sort myself out and I will leave the USA 🇺🇸 if things get worse! This is not the same country 😔 I grew up in!!

[@amywamala]

@@shaynadufresne I know, right? This country is an embarrassment 😳 due to this corrupt clown 🤡 show administration 😒 🙄

[@amywamala]

@@TheDufresnes you're hysterical 🤣 😂 😆

[@capecoder73]

Don't you use WhatsApp? What does Holafly do for you that WhatsApp does not?

[@TheDufresnes]

Holafly is a service provider for data usage. Without data you cannot use any apps. Holafly is like your sim card from home but for your travel destination

[@brucegelman5582]

Horrendous selection of pet food

[@TheDufresnes]

It's a VERY small local market in a small beach town. It's not Walmart! Can't expect much 🥴

[@surfing.4ever]

$11 us dollars for butter 🤣😂🤣😂

[@TheDufresnes]

Ya it's strange how a lot of the local cheese and milk products are expensive here