Costa Rica News – It seems the US dollar does not stretch as far anymore in the land of Pura Vida. Costa Rica is one of the most expensive countries to live in throughout Latin America, and the single most expensive in Central America. I would argue that the natural beauty and the beauty of the people make it worth the extra cost of living.
There is something called The Big Mac Index, published by The Economist, which took it’s name from the McDonald’s specialty. It’s a way to measure the purchasing power between currencies. It betters the exchange-rate theory by testing the exchange rates on goods costing the same in different countries. This index lists Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Costa Rica, and Chile as the most expensive in Latin America.
The first most expensive is Venezuela, with a consumer price index (CPI) of 103.49. It has the highest inflation rate of these countries. In 2011 the inflation rate reached 28%, lowering the value of money.
Brazil’s CPI is 83.71. Two of Brazil’s cities, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, are in the top 20 most expensive worldwide cities!
Uruguay, with a CPI of 82.95, has such a high cost of living because of its large size and inefficient expenses.
Chile has one of the best overall economies in Latin America, yet it’s expensive to live in. The costs of housing, food, and education are extremely high. The CPI is 67.39.
Costa Rica has a CPI of 68.43 and seems perfect aside from the costs. Though the cost for housing and food is high, education is inexpensive.
The high salaries, low crime, governmental stability, and neutral political status make Costa Rica an ideal choice, even with the high cost of living.
By Kerry La
1 comment
At least it’s cheap to put bars on your windows, and doors, and chicken coop and carport and a gate and a car alarm and your trash container and your electric gate opener and your pool pump and your gas tank and your TV in the rancho. Chains are cheap too ! For your moto, your quad, your gold cart, your outdoor furniture your hog pen,your gate, ( extra protection) your mailbo…..OH there are no mail boxes. Guess why ?
Chain link and razor wire is cheap too ! For your bananas, your oranges, your tomatoes, your plantains your _____________.Make sure and bury it a foot in the ground and concrete the bottom in. Same for electric cables. Oh don’t bother with an alarm unless you’re in the central valley or within 100 feet of a police station. nobody pays attention and are scared to call. Might have to be a witness and they’ll be out within two hours of being arrested.
Pooduhhhh. VeeeDuhhhh !