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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,307 per month in Atenas vs $1,767 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,274 per month in Atenas vs $2,726 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,240 per month in Atenas vs $3,686 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

Atenas is about 26% cheaper than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Atenas sits 3% below the global median, while Playa del Coco is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.97 ₡4,100

$16.01 ₡7,314

-43.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.4 ₡23.9K

$80.8 ₡36.9K

-35.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.01 ₡4,571

$10.24 ₡4,680

-2.25%

Cappuccino

$3.75 ₡1,714

$6.81 ₡3,109

-44.93%

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

$1.98 ₡904

$2.48 ₡1,131

-20.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₡718

$1.86 ₡849

-15.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 ₡1,398

$3.19 ₡1,459

-4.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 ₡2,111

$5.96 ₡2,722

-22.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡939

$2.51 ₡1,148

-17.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,307

$2.80 ₡1,279

2.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ₡888

$2.17 ₡992

-10.60%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,374

$2.98 ₡1,360

1.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.73 ₡4,445

$8.31 ₡3,797

17.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 ₡3,994

$12.80 ₡5,846

-31.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.21 ₡4,205

$13.83 ₡6,317

-33.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 ₡1,774

$4.59 ₡2,099

-15.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡661

$1.49 ₡682

-2.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 ₡1,121

$4.19 ₡1,912

-41.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ₡982

$1.59 ₡729

35.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 ₡1,525

$3.36 ₡1,533

-0.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,106

$3.06 ₡1,396

-20.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡463

$1.03 ₡472

-1.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,293

$2.86 ₡1,305

-1.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 ₡2,434

$4.86 ₡2,219

9.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.06 ₡8,250

$16.76 ₡7,657

7.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 ₡1,129

$2.20 ₡1,003

12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₡1,085

$2.54 ₡1,162

-6.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 ₡928

$1.18 ₡539

72.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡817

$2.99 ₡1,366

-40.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡814

$1.79 ₡816

-0.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 ₡3,665

$8.12 ₡3,710

-1.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡635

$1.84 ₡841

-24.46%

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

$38.2K ₡17.5M

$37.8K ₡17.3M

1.13%

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

$32.5K ₡14.9M

$33.0K ₡15.1M

-1.48%

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

$92.7 ₡42.3K

$172 ₡78.5K

-46.08%

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

$26.18 ₡12.0K

$25.98 ₡11.9K

0.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.67 ₡21.8K

$59.4 ₡27.2K

-19.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.90 ₡18.7K

$57.8 ₡26.4K

-29.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.86 ₡4,506

$23.89 ₡10.9K

-58.73%

Cinema Ticket

$8.30 ₡3,792

$9.66 ₡4,413

-14.08%

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

$562 ₡256.6K

$522 ₡238.5K

7.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,050 ₡2.8M

$12.7K ₡5.8M

-52.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 ₡28.3K

$62.4 ₡28.5K

-0.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.74 ₡22.3K

$51.0 ₡23.3K

-4.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡54.2K

$124 ₡56.7K

-4.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.5K

$107 ₡48.8K

1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 ₡250.3K

$779 ₡355.9K

-29.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 ₡179.6K

$585 ₡267.4K

-32.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 ₡622.8K

$1,506 ₡688.2K

-9.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,165 ₡532.2K

$946 ₡432.1K

23.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$323 ₡147.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,288 ₡588.6K

$764 ₡348.9K

68.68%

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 Atenas: April 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $548 in Atenas versus $779 in Playa del Coco. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 69% higher in Atenas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52 in Atenas versus $81 in Playa del Coco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $365 – making Atenas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Coco is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,960 per month in Atenas and $2,650 in Playa del Coco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Atenas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Atenas and $81.0 in Playa del Coco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Playa del Coco, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Atenas, where all-in costs run around $1,307, than in Playa del Coco at $1,767. In Atenas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Atenas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Atenas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Coco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.