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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,570 in Alajuela versus $1,745 in Playa del Coco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,362 in Alajuela versus $2,665 in Playa del Coco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Alajuela versus $3,585 in Playa del Coco.

Living in Alajuela costs roughly 10% less than in Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alajuela 17% above, Playa del Coco 30% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.77 ₡4,416

$15.89 ₡7,180

-38.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.38 ₡17.8K

$80.9 ₡36.6K

-51.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 ₡4,372

$10.14 ₡4,582

-4.54%

Cappuccino

$3.55 ₡1,604

$6.98 ₡3,155

-49.14%

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

$1.99 ₡900

$2.37 ₡1,072

-16.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡582

$1.88 ₡849

-31.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ₡961

$3.19 ₡1,443

-33.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ₡1,658

$5.98 ₡2,702

-38.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₡880

$2.55 ₡1,153

-23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 ₡1,133

$2.86 ₡1,294

-12.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ₡995

$2.15 ₡971

2.33%

Eggs

$2.22 ₡1,004

$2.89 ₡1,305

-23.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.68 ₡4,375

$8.61 ₡3,889

12.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 ₡4,152

$13.14 ₡5,938

-30.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 ₡6,160

$13.79 ₡6,232

-1.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 ₡1,778

$4.48 ₡2,024

-12.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₡677

$1.45 ₡654

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 ₡1,954

$4.23 ₡1,912

2.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,286

$1.66 ₡748

71.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 ₡1,266

$3.35 ₡1,512

-16.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 ₡1,188

$3.07 ₡1,385

-14.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡458

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 ₡1,163

$2.89 ₡1,307

-11.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.86 ₡2,197

$4.87 ₡2,201

-0.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.72 ₡9,814

$16.62 ₡7,510

30.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₡971

$2.08 ₡939

3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₡1,109

$2.57 ₡1,163

-4.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ₡401

$1.15 ₡522

-22.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 ₡51.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 ₡628

$2.90 ₡1,311

-52.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 ₡617

$1.77 ₡799

-22.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 ₡3,598

$7.87 ₡3,555

1.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡664

$1.91 ₡865

-23.04%

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

$37.5K ₡17.0M

$37.4K ₡16.9M

0.34%

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

$32.3K ₡14.6M

$32.9K ₡14.9M

-1.99%

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

$44.21 ₡20.0K

$175 ₡79.2K

-74.77%

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

$20.15 ₡9,104

$25.51 ₡11.5K

-21.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.37 ₡14.6K

$60.8 ₡27.5K

-46.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 ₡28.7K

$56.0 ₡25.3K

13.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$42.94 ₡19.4K

$24.00 ₡10.8K

78.92%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ₡4,010

$9.71 ₡4,389

-8.65%

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

$304 ₡137.4K

$521 ₡235.3K

-41.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,368 ₡1.1M

$12.7K ₡5.8M

-81.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ₡27.8K

$62.0 ₡28.0K

-0.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 ₡23.7K

$52.1 ₡23.5K

0.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡53.9K

$124 ₡55.9K

-3.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.2 ₡44.8K

$107 ₡48.4K

-7.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$697 ₡315.1K

$754 ₡340.5K

-7.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 ₡274.1K

$597 ₡269.9K

1.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 ₡442.0K

$1,514 ₡684.1K

-35.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$942 ₡425.7K

$950 ₡429.1K

-0.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$331 ₡149.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,078 ₡939.0K

$751 ₡339.3K

176.73%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $697 in Alajuela and $754 in Playa del Coco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alajuela pays 177% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Alajuela vs $81.0 in Playa del Coco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $367 per month, with Alajuela cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alajuela vs Playa del Coco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alajuela is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Alajuela pays 177% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $697 in Alajuela versus $754 in Playa del Coco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Playa del Coco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,570 per month in Alajuela versus $1,745 in Playa del Coco – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,570 in Alajuela versus $1,745 in Playa del Coco, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alajuela but tight or insufficient in Playa del Coco. The gap between the two cities makes Alajuela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Alajuela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Coco, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Alajuela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Playa del Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.