According to a study done by Mercer in 2008, Costa Rica occupies the position 139 in the rankings of global cost of living. The aspects evaluated were the following: food, transportation, clothing, household durable goods, cost of housing and entertainment. Even though the cost of living in Costa Rica is substantially lower than that on the United States, it´s the highest is the Central American isthmus, this, according to the Central American Council of Consumer Protection.
The Costa Rican government recognized that they are going through difficult times due to the increments of the oil prices and the food crisis. The cost of living augmentations made Costa Rica face, in the last trimester of this year, the highest inflation levels in the last 12 years.
The prices are not going down anytime soon. The cost of living in Costa Rica is forcing many low/middle class people to modify their meals and the way they live life. Some “ticos” claim they are barely eating chicken or “olla de carne” anymore.
However, there are ways to overcome the situation, such as understanding and planning your expenses, buying only necessary things, turning off the lights you are not using, among others; learning how to live cheap is a skill that can be developed and hopefully enforced.
