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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,512 in Cartago versus $1,758 in Playa del Coco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,121 in Cartago versus $2,661 in Playa del Coco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,730 in Cartago versus $3,565 in Playa del Coco.

Living in Cartago costs roughly 14% less than in Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cartago 13% above, Playa del Coco 31% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.95 ₡3,615

$16.19 ₡7,366

-50.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.47 ₡14.3K

$79.2 ₡36.0K

-60.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.17 ₡4,172

$10.21 ₡4,646

-10.19%

Cappuccino

$3.82 ₡1,738

$7.09 ₡3,224

-46.12%

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

$1.93 ₡880

$2.39 ₡1,085

-19.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₡558

$1.94 ₡884

-36.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 ₡913

$3.21 ₡1,461

-37.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 ₡2,159

$6.01 ₡2,736

-20.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₡894

$2.48 ₡1,128

-20.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 ₡996

$2.85 ₡1,295

-23.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡976

$2.21 ₡1,006

-2.71%

Eggs

$2.91 ₡1,325

$2.90 ₡1,318

0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 ₡3,566

$8.67 ₡3,945

-9.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.30 ₡4,228

$12.78 ₡5,815

-27.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 ₡6,199

$13.42 ₡6,103

1.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₡2,014

$4.58 ₡2,085

-3.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ₡534

$1.51 ₡687

-22.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 ₡1,832

$4.38 ₡1,993

-7.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 ₡1,201

$1.63 ₡741

61.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 ₡890

$3.46 ₡1,573

-43.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 ₡899

$2.94 ₡1,336

-32.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡471

$0.95 ₡434

9.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡884

$2.92 ₡1,327

-33.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.11 ₡2,326

$5.06 ₡2,300

0.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 ₡6,960

$16.84 ₡7,659

-9.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₡1,112

$2.18 ₡991

12.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 ₡820

$2.58 ₡1,172

-30.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡461

$1.16 ₡525

-12.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.0 ₡31.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 ₡622

$2.90 ₡1,319

-52.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡848

$1.84 ₡836

1.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.91 ₡3,599

$7.77 ₡3,532

1.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡643

$1.91 ₡868

-26.18%

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

$37.4K ₡17.0M

$37.2K ₡16.9M

0.71%

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

$32.3K ₡14.7M

$32.5K ₡14.8M

-0.40%

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

$49.02 ₡22.3K

$172 ₡78.0K

-71.43%

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

$25.60 ₡11.6K

$25.70 ₡11.7K

-0.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 ₡26.3K

$60.6 ₡27.5K

-4.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₡26.0K

$57.8 ₡26.3K

-0.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.06 ₡10.9K

$24.19 ₡11.0K

-0.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ₡2,944

$10.12 ₡4,603

-36.07%

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

$491 ₡223.1K

$519 ₡235.9K

-5.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,189 ₡3.3M

$12.8K ₡5.8M

-43.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ₡28.0K

$61.9 ₡28.1K

-0.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 ₡23.5K

$52.2 ₡23.7K

-0.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 ₡49.4K

$126 ₡57.1K

-13.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 ₡36.6K

$107 ₡48.7K

-24.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₡345.6K

$752 ₡342.1K

1.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡273.6K

$595 ₡270.8K

1.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₡333.9K

$1,544 ₡702.1K

-52.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₡350.1K

$955 ₡434.3K

-19.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡148.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,312 ₡596.8K

$781 ₡355.4K

67.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

-1.67%

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

Last update for Cartago: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $760 in Cartago and $752 in Playa del Coco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cartago pays 68% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $31.00 in Cartago vs $79.0 in Playa del Coco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $366 per month, with Cartago 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

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

Cartago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cartago pays 68% 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: $760 in Cartago versus $752 in Playa del Coco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Playa del Coco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,512 per month in Cartago versus $1,758 in Playa del Coco – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,512 in Cartago versus $1,758 in Playa del Coco, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cartago but tight or insufficient in Playa del Coco. The gap between the two cities makes Cartago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Cartago and Playa del Coco are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cartago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Playa del Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.