Cost of Living Comparison Between Perez Zeledon and Playa del Coco Cost of Living Comparison Between Perez Zeledon and Playa del Coco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,171 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $1,767 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,927 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $2,660 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,683 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $3,552 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

Perez Zeledon is about 34% cheaper than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Perez Zeledon sits 13% below the global median, while Playa del Coco is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 ₡3,082

$15.61 ₡7,099

-56.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.34 ₡17.9K

$78.4 ₡35.6K

-49.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 ₡4,539

$10.00 ₡4,549

-0.20%

Cappuccino

$3.80 ₡1,729

$7.10 ₡3,229

-46.48%

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

$1.45 ₡661

$2.44 ₡1,110

-40.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡725

$1.84 ₡837

-13.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₡1,325

$3.31 ₡1,505

-12.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 ₡2,154

$6.01 ₡2,731

-21.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₡886

$2.50 ₡1,136

-22.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,254

$2.87 ₡1,306

-3.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡973

$2.21 ₡1,003

-3.17%

Eggs

$2.53 ₡1,148

$2.91 ₡1,324

-13.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₡3,725

$8.29 ₡3,770

-1.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 ₡4,099

$12.73 ₡5,791

-29.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.51 ₡6,144

$13.48 ₡6,132

0.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 ₡2,053

$4.55 ₡2,069

-0.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ₡470

$1.44 ₡656

-28.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 ₡1,909

$4.14 ₡1,881

1.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.42 ₡1,553

$1.66 ₡753

106.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,294

$3.42 ₡1,554

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₡1,273

$3.02 ₡1,373

-7.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 ₡174

$1.02 ₡463

-62.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,337

$2.90 ₡1,320

1.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,317

$4.90 ₡2,230

3.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.95 ₡9,981

$16.70 ₡7,593

31.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₡977

$2.11 ₡957

1.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₡691

$2.53 ₡1,150

-39.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 ₡334

$1.22 ₡555

-39.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡841

$2.91 ₡1,323

-36.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 ₡819

$1.77 ₡807

1.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₡3,684

$7.68 ₡3,491

5.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡635

$1.81 ₡822

-22.65%

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

$38.2K ₡17.3M

$37.2K ₡16.9M

2.69%

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

$33.2K ₡15.1M

$32.3K ₡14.7M

2.84%

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

$93.5 ₡42.5K

$177 ₡80.4K

-47.11%

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

$21.44 ₡9,750

$25.55 ₡11.6K

-16.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.1 ₡26.9K

$60.3 ₡27.4K

-2.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.20 ₡13.7K

$56.4 ₡25.6K

-46.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.49 ₡10.7K

$23.50 ₡10.7K

-0.04%

Cinema Ticket

$9.70 ₡4,413

$9.99 ₡4,542

-2.90%

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

$500 ₡227.3K

$531 ₡241.5K

-5.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₡5.9M

$12.5K ₡5.7M

2.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡28.9K

$62.0 ₡28.2K

2.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 ₡23.1K

$52.4 ₡23.8K

-2.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.8K

$128 ₡58.1K

-2.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.0K

$106 ₡48.3K

1.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₡153.0K

$754 ₡342.7K

-55.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₡119.8K

$587 ₡266.9K

-55.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 ₡699.1K

$1,536 ₡698.5K

0.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₡287.3K

$961 ₡437.0K

-34.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$323 ₡146.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$759 ₡345.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

-11.50%

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

Last update for Perez Zeledon: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Perez Zeledon versus $754 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 $39.00 in Perez Zeledon versus $78.0 in Playa del Coco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $364 – making Perez Zeledon 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

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

Yes – Playa del Coco is pricier by about 51%, 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 $1,756 per month in Perez Zeledon 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 Perez Zeledon, 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 $1,171 in Perez Zeledon and $1,767 in Playa del Coco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $500 per month in Perez Zeledon and $531 in Playa del Coco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perez Zeledon, where all-in costs run around $1,171, than in Playa del Coco at $1,767. In Perez Zeledon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Perez Zeledon. 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.