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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,047 in Escazu versus $1,738 in Playa del Coco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,851 in Escazu versus $2,664 in Playa del Coco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,655 in Escazu versus $3,591 in Playa del Coco.

Living in Escazu is roughly 18% more expensive than in Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Escazu 54% above, Playa del Coco 31% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.73 ₡4,830

$16.13 ₡7,260

-33.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 ₡27.4K

$80.2 ₡36.1K

-24.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.79 ₡4,406

$10.10 ₡4,544

-3.07%

Cappuccino

$3.89 ₡1,751

$7.05 ₡3,171

-44.82%

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

$1.98 ₡891

$2.37 ₡1,068

-16.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡743

$1.90 ₡857

-13.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.00 ₡1,349

$3.28 ₡1,476

-8.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 ₡2,069

$6.12 ₡2,752

-24.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₡879

$2.52 ₡1,136

-22.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,243

$2.78 ₡1,250

-0.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ₡992

$2.14 ₡965

2.80%

Eggs

$3.03 ₡1,362

$2.93 ₡1,318

3.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 ₡4,567

$8.64 ₡3,889

17.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.02 ₡4,059

$12.95 ₡5,828

-30.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 ₡6,072

$13.54 ₡6,093

-0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,966

$4.56 ₡2,052

-4.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₡686

$1.52 ₡684

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,967

$4.17 ₡1,875

4.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.28 ₡1,478

$1.65 ₡744

98.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ₡1,576

$3.30 ₡1,485

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 ₡1,460

$2.94 ₡1,321

10.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡429

$0.96 ₡431

-1.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,321

$2.96 ₡1,330

-0.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 ₡2,279

$4.95 ₡2,226

2.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.00 ₡8,551

$18.51 ₡8,330

2.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₡779

$2.09 ₡940

-17.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ₡1,212

$2.68 ₡1,205

0.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 ₡436

$1.17 ₡526

-17.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 ₡788

$2.93 ₡1,319

-40.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 ₡805

$1.81 ₡812

-1.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₡3,497

$7.68 ₡3,458

1.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡636

$1.84 ₡827

-23.37%

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

$31.1K ₡14.0M

$38.5K ₡17.3M

-19.19%

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

$32.0K ₡14.4M

$32.3K ₡14.5M

-1.05%

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

$66.7 ₡30.0K

$175 ₡78.5K

-61.80%

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

$25.68 ₡11.6K

$26.08 ₡11.7K

-1.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.8 ₡22.8K

$58.9 ₡26.5K

-13.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 ₡47.3K

$56.4 ₡25.4K

86.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.18 ₡4,581

$23.53 ₡10.6K

-56.74%

Cinema Ticket

$9.82 ₡4,420

$10.08 ₡4,538

-2.58%

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

$565 ₡254.4K

$517 ₡232.7K

9.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₡6.4M

$12.8K ₡5.8M

11.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ₡28.1K

$63.7 ₡28.7K

-2.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 ₡22.8K

$51.3 ₡23.1K

-1.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡56.6K

$125 ₡56.4K

0.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡47.7K

$107 ₡48.3K

-1.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 ₡477.7K

$767 ₡344.9K

38.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 ₡475.1K

$597 ₡268.6K

76.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,652 ₡743.4K

$1,521 ₡684.3K

8.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 ₡585.8K

$981 ₡441.5K

32.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,380 ₡621.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,232 ₡554.3K

$327 ₡147.2K

276.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,783 ₡802.5K

$775 ₡348.9K

130.00%

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 Escazu: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Escazu and $767 in Playa del Coco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 130% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Escazu vs $80.0 in Playa del Coco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $357 vs $369 per month, with Escazu 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

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

Playa del Coco is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 130% higher in Escazu, 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: $1,062 in Escazu versus $767 in Playa del Coco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Escazu pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,047 per month in Escazu versus $1,738 in Playa del Coco – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,738 in Playa del Coco versus $2,047 in Escazu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Playa del Coco but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Coco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Escazu 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 Playa del Coco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.