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: $2,032 in Escazu versus $1,767 in Playa del Coco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,800 in Escazu versus $2,660 in Playa del Coco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,569 in Escazu versus $3,552 in Playa del Coco.

Living in Escazu is roughly 15% more expensive than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Escazu 52% above, Playa del Coco 32% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.96 ₡4,984

$15.61 ₡7,099

-29.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.7 ₡27.2K

$78.4 ₡35.6K

-23.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 ₡4,504

$10.00 ₡4,549

-1.00%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,773

$7.10 ₡3,229

-45.07%

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

$2.06 ₡935

$2.44 ₡1,110

-15.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₡757

$1.84 ₡837

-9.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,372

$3.31 ₡1,505

-8.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 ₡2,117

$6.01 ₡2,731

-22.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡936

$2.50 ₡1,136

-17.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 ₡1,250

$2.87 ₡1,306

-4.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,006

$2.21 ₡1,003

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,338

$2.91 ₡1,324

1.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 ₡4,484

$8.29 ₡3,770

18.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.28 ₡4,219

$12.73 ₡5,791

-27.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 ₡6,243

$13.48 ₡6,132

1.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 ₡2,106

$4.55 ₡2,069

1.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡678

$1.44 ₡656

3.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 ₡1,916

$4.14 ₡1,881

1.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,456

$1.66 ₡753

92.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,624

$3.42 ₡1,554

4.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 ₡1,472

$3.02 ₡1,373

7.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡430

$1.02 ₡463

-6.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,344

$2.90 ₡1,320

2.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 ₡2,196

$4.90 ₡2,230

-1.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.74 ₡8,522

$16.70 ₡7,593

12.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₡802

$2.11 ₡957

-16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₡1,242

$2.53 ₡1,150

7.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡438

$1.22 ₡555

-21.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 ₡757

$2.91 ₡1,323

-42.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡805

$1.77 ₡807

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₡3,682

$7.68 ₡3,491

5.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡632

$1.81 ₡822

-23.20%

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

$31.4K ₡14.3M

$37.2K ₡16.9M

-15.60%

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

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.3K ₡14.7M

0.64%

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

$66.2 ₡30.1K

$177 ₡80.4K

-62.54%

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

$25.87 ₡11.8K

$25.55 ₡11.6K

1.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 ₡22.8K

$60.3 ₡27.4K

-16.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 ₡49.0K

$56.4 ₡25.6K

91.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.16 ₡4,621

$23.50 ₡10.7K

-56.77%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,446

$9.99 ₡4,542

-2.10%

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

$580 ₡263.5K

$531 ₡241.5K

9.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₡6.5M

$12.5K ₡5.7M

13.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ₡28.1K

$62.0 ₡28.2K

-0.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 ₡23.3K

$52.4 ₡23.8K

-2.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.4K

$128 ₡58.1K

-1.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₡47.9K

$106 ₡48.3K

-0.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 ₡484.5K

$754 ₡342.7K

41.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 ₡481.6K

$587 ₡266.9K

80.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 ₡764.3K

$1,536 ₡698.5K

9.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₡596.4K

$961 ₡437.0K

36.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 ₡738.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,132 ₡514.9K

$323 ₡146.9K

250.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,759 ₡799.8K

$759 ₡345.3K

131.60%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,065 in Escazu and $754 in Playa del Coco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 132% 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: $60.0 in Escazu vs $78.0 in Playa del Coco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $364 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 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Escazu pays 132% 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: $1,065 in Escazu versus $754 in Playa del Coco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Escazu pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,032 per month in Escazu versus $1,767 in Playa del Coco – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,767 in Playa del Coco versus $2,032 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 15% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.