Costs
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When you live in Costa Rica you get more for your money - and this is a major attraction, with just about everything being cheaper than in the US. In addition, there’s a favorable exchange rate - and lack of inflation means your money goes further.
The cost of medical care, food, general utilities and entertainment are substantially lower than in the US. You’ll pay up to 70% less for groceries – or you can dine out for about $12.00 a head. Utility bills are also substantially cheaper.
By living in Costa Rica, you get access to world-class healthcare at up to 70% less than back home - and medical insurance is cheap.
If you move to Costa Rica, you’ll find that you can have a comfortable lifestyle for around $2,000 a month.
Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. However, traditional export sectors have not kept pace. Low coffee prices and an overabundance of bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to grapple with its deficit and with the need to modernize the state-owned electricity and telecommunications sector.
GDP
Purchasing power parity - $25 billion (2000 est.)
GDP Real Growth Rate
3% (2000 est.)
GDP Per Capita
Purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2000 est.)
GDP Composition by Sector
Agriculture: 12.5%
Industry: 30.7%
Services: 56.8% (1999)
Population below Poverty Line
20.6% (1999 est.)
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: 1.3%
Highest 10%: 34.7% (1996)
Inflation Rate (consumer prices)
11% (2000 est.)
Labor Force
1.9 million (1999)
Labor Force - by Occupation
Agriculture 20%, Industry 22%, Services 58% (1999 est.)
Unemployment Rate
5.2% (2000 est.)
Budget
Revenues: $1.95 billion
Expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries
Microprocessors, Food Processing, Textiles and Clothing, Construction materials, Fertilizer, Plastic Products
Industrial production growth rate
4.3% (2000)
Electricity Production
5.805 billion KWh (1999)
Electricity Production by Source
Fossil fuel: 2.41%
Hydro: 83.32%
Nuclear: 0%
Other: 14.27% (1999)
Electricity Consumption
5.303 billion KWh (1999)
Electricity Exports
165 million kWh (1999)
Electricity Imports
69 million kWh (1999)
Agriculture Products
Coffee, Pineapples, Bananas, Sugar, Corn, Rice, Beans, Potatoes; Beef; Timber
Exports
$6.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports Commodities
Coffee, Bananas, Sugar; Pineapples; Textiles, Electronic Components, Medical Equipment
Exports Partners
US 54.1%, EU 21.3%, Central America 8.6% (1999)
Imports
$5.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports Commodities
Raw Materials, Consumer Goods, Capital Equipment, Petroleum
Imports Partners
US 56.4%, EU 9%, Mexico 5.4%, Japan 4.7%, (1999)
Debt External
$4.2 billion (2000 est.)
Currency
Costa Rican colón (CRC)
Exchange Rates
Costa Rican colónes per US dollar - 318.95 (2001), 308.19 (2000), 285.68 (1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996)
Fiscal Year
Calendar year
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