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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,595 per month in Ojochal vs $1,758 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,382 per month in Ojochal vs $2,661 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,170 per month in Ojochal vs $3,565 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

Ojochal is about 9% cheaper than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ojochal and Playa del Coco sit above the global median – Ojochal by 19%, Playa del Coco by 31%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 ₡4,591

$16.19 ₡7,399

-37.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 ₡23.3K

$79.2 ₡36.2K

-35.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 ₡4,527

$10.21 ₡4,667

-2.94%

Cappuccino

$3.72 ₡1,697

$7.09 ₡3,238

-47.53%

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

$2.04 ₡934

$2.39 ₡1,090

-14.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₡718

$1.94 ₡888

-19.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 ₡1,395

$3.21 ₡1,467

-4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 ₡2,095

$6.01 ₡2,748

-23.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡904

$2.48 ₡1,133

-20.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 ₡1,328

$2.85 ₡1,300

2.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡973

$2.21 ₡1,011

-3.62%

Eggs

$3.02 ₡1,382

$2.90 ₡1,324

4.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.84 ₡4,498

$8.67 ₡3,963

13.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.27 ₡4,234

$12.78 ₡5,841

-27.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.71 ₡6,263

$13.42 ₡6,131

2.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 ₡2,093

$4.58 ₡2,094

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₡686

$1.51 ₡690

-0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 ₡1,974

$4.38 ₡2,002

-1.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 ₡1,472

$1.63 ₡744

97.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 ₡1,523

$3.46 ₡1,580

-3.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₡1,339

$2.94 ₡1,342

-0.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡469

$0.95 ₡436

8.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,329

$2.92 ₡1,333

-0.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.04 ₡2,301

$5.06 ₡2,310

-0.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.25 ₡7,883

$16.84 ₡7,694

2.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₡1,042

$2.18 ₡996

4.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,165

$2.58 ₡1,178

-1.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡438

$1.16 ₡528

-17.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡824

$2.90 ₡1,325

-37.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡812

$1.84 ₡840

-3.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.97 ₡3,640

$7.77 ₡3,548

2.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡639

$1.91 ₡872

-26.70%

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

$37.1K ₡16.9M

$37.2K ₡17.0M

-0.24%

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

$32.1K ₡14.7M

$32.5K ₡14.8M

-0.98%

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

$95.7 ₡43.7K

$172 ₡78.4K

-44.25%

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

$25.72 ₡11.8K

$25.70 ₡11.7K

0.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 ₡23.7K

$60.6 ₡27.7K

-14.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₡26.4K

$57.8 ₡26.4K

-0.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.22 ₡11.1K

$24.19 ₡11.1K

0.12%

Cinema Ticket

$10.05 ₡4,593

$10.12 ₡4,624

-0.69%

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

$526 ₡240.5K

$519 ₡236.9K

1.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K ₡5.7M

$12.8K ₡5.9M

-2.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡28.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡23.4K

$52.2 ₡23.8K

-1.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡56.5K

$126 ₡57.4K

-1.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡49.1K

$107 ₡48.9K

0.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$766 ₡350.1K

$752 ₡343.7K

1.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 ₡274.2K

$595 ₡272.0K

0.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ₡689.7K

$1,544 ₡705.3K

-2.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$973 ₡444.5K

$955 ₡436.3K

1.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡149.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$781 ₡357.0K

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 Ojochal: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $766 in Ojochal versus $752 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Ojochal versus $79.0 in Playa del Coco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $366 – making Ojochal 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,595 in Ojochal, $1,758 in Playa del Coco – roughly 10% apart. Playa del Coco costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,392 per month in Ojochal and $2,637 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 Ojochal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,595 in Ojochal and $1,758 in Playa del Coco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $526 per month in Ojochal and $519 in Playa del Coco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ojochal, where all-in costs run around $1,595, than in Playa del Coco at $1,758. In Ojochal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ojochal – 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 Ojochal. 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.