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

🙂 Solo nomad: Arenal is 13.8% cheaper than Playa del Coco without rent, and 9.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Arenal is 8.9% cheaper than Playa del Coco without rent, and 8.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.9 ₡5,456

$15.93 ₡7,975

-31.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡29.3K

$80.8 ₡40.4K

-27.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 ₡4,918

$10.05 ₡5,032

-2.29%

Cappuccino

$3.8 ₡1,904

$7.13 ₡3,571

-46.70%

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

$1.98 ₡990

$2.38 ₡1,193

-16.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₡805

$1.92 ₡961

-16.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3 ₡1,502

$3.34 ₡1,670

-10.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 ₡2,367

$5.9 ₡2,955

-19.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,033

$2.57 ₡1,285

-19.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,428

$2.76 ₡1,383

3.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₡1,112

$2.15 ₡1,074

3.26%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,469

$2.88 ₡1,441

1.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₡4,874

$8.42 ₡4,217

15.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 ₡4,546

$13.11 ₡6,562

-30.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.84 ₡6,931

$13.73 ₡6,873

0.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.4 ₡2,203

$4.46 ₡2,231

-1.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡756

$1.5 ₡753

0.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 ₡2,183

$4.19 ₡2,096

4.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,779

$1.61 ₡804

120.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₡1,765

$3.44 ₡1,722

2.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 ₡1,605

$2.97 ₡1,486

8.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡484

$0.98 ₡489

-1.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,427

$2.87 ₡1,436

-0.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 ₡2,695

$5.1 ₡2,551

5.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ₡9,343

$14.13 ₡7,071

32.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₡1,259

$2.17 ₡1,085

16.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,476

$2.53 ₡1,264

16.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₡520

$1.22 ₡609

-14.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₡891

$2.91 ₡1,458

-38.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡921

$1.8 ₡900

2.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ₡4,058

$7.7 ₡3,854

5.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.4 ₡700

$1.91 ₡958

-26.70%

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

$37.7K ₡18.9M

$38.4K ₡19.2M

-1.79%

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

$33.1K ₡16.6M

0.15%

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

$94.5 ₡47.3K

$175 ₡87.8K

-46.14%

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

$25.71 ₡12.9K

$26.39 ₡13.2K

-2.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.1 ₡29.6K

$59.3 ₡29.7K

-0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡28.9K

$57.3 ₡28.7K

0.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.97 ₡12K

$24.26 ₡12.1K

-1.20%

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 ₡4,873

$10.08 ₡5,048

-3.47%

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

$561 ₡280.7K

$529 ₡265K

5.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.4M

$12.4K ₡6.2M

2.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡30.8K

$62.8 ₡31.5K

-1.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 ₡26.2K

$52.2 ₡26.1K

0.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡63.1K

$128 ₡64.3K

-1.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡54K

$105 ₡52.7K

2.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₡380.1K

$761 ₡380.9K

-0.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₡299K

$602 ₡301.5K

-0.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₡767.2K

$1,502 ₡751.7K

2.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$968 ₡484.4K

$948 ₡474.4K

2.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$297 ₡148.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$709 ₡354.8K

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 Arenal: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Coco: October 27, 2025

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