Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Playa del Coco Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Playa del Coco

😐 Solo nomad: Alajuela is 0.8% more expensive than Playa del Coco without rent, and 10.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Alajuela is 8.2% cheaper than Playa del Coco without rent, and 12.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.9 ₡4,957

$15.93 ₡7,975

-37.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.44 ₡19.7K

$80.8 ₡40.4K

-51.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₡4,614

$10.05 ₡5,032

-8.26%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ₡1,881

$7.13 ₡3,571

-47.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2 ₡1,003

$2.38 ₡1,193

-15.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡648

$1.92 ₡961

-32.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ₡1,105

$3.34 ₡1,670

-33.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,818

$5.9 ₡2,955

-38.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₡936

$2.57 ₡1,285

-27.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₡1,210

$2.76 ₡1,383

-12.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,120

$2.15 ₡1,074

4.19%

Eggs

$2.21 ₡1,108

$2.88 ₡1,441

-23.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₡4,940

$8.42 ₡4,217

17.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.15 ₡4,582

$13.11 ₡6,562

-30.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 ₡6,749

$13.73 ₡6,873

-1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4 ₡2,003

$4.46 ₡2,231

-10.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡727

$1.5 ₡753

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 ₡2,073

$4.19 ₡2,096

-1.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,426

$1.61 ₡804

77.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₡1,408

$3.44 ₡1,722

-18.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,258

$2.97 ₡1,486

-15.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡507

$0.98 ₡489

3.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,309

$2.87 ₡1,436

-9.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ₡2,461

$5.1 ₡2,551

-3.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.86 ₡9,443

$14.13 ₡7,071

33.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₡1,042

$2.17 ₡1,085

-4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,270

$2.53 ₡1,264

0.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ₡405

$1.22 ₡609

-33.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 ₡55.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₡721

$2.91 ₡1,458

-50.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ₡648

$1.8 ₡900

-28.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 ₡4,038

$7.7 ₡3,854

4.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡697

$1.91 ₡958

-27.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.1K ₡19.1M

$38.4K ₡19.2M

-0.61%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.4K ₡16.2M

$33.1K ₡16.6M

-2.16%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$45.25 ₡22.7K

$175 ₡87.8K

-74.20%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.72 ₡9,873

$26.39 ₡13.2K

-25.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.46 ₡16.2K

$59.3 ₡29.7K

-45.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 ₡32.3K

$57.3 ₡28.7K

12.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.61 ₡22.3K

$24.26 ₡12.1K

83.88%

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 ₡4,444

$10.08 ₡5,048

-11.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$297 ₡148.5K

$529 ₡265K

-43.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,329 ₡1.2M

$12.4K ₡6.2M

-81.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡30.8K

$62.8 ₡31.5K

-2.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$52.2 ₡26.1K

-2.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡59.7K

$128 ₡64.3K

-7.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₡50.7K

$105 ₡52.7K

-3.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₡355K

$761 ₡380.9K

-6.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡301.3K

$602 ₡301.5K

-0.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 ₡502.8K

$1,502 ₡751.7K

-33.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$936 ₡468.5K

$948 ₡474.4K

-1.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ₡1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 ₡741.5K

$297 ₡148.9K

398.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 ₡609K

$709 ₡354.8K

71.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Coco: October 27, 2025

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