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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,758 in Playa del Coco versus $1,601 in Acosta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,661 in Playa del Coco versus $2,400 in Acosta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,565 in Playa del Coco versus $3,200 in Acosta.

Living in Playa del Coco is roughly 10% more expensive than Acosta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Playa del Coco 31% above, Acosta 20% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 ₡7,399

$9.81 ₡4,481

65.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 ₡36.2K

$50.9 ₡23.2K

55.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.21 ₡4,667

$9.85 ₡4,501

3.65%

Cappuccino

$7.09 ₡3,238

$3.85 ₡1,760

84.16%

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

$2.39 ₡1,090

$2.04 ₡934

17.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡888

$1.64 ₡749

18.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₡1,467

$3.05 ₡1,391

5.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 ₡2,748

$4.62 ₡2,112

30.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.48 ₡1,133

$2.03 ₡928

22.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,300

$2.76 ₡1,261

3.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,011

$2.21 ₡1,010

Eggs

$2.90 ₡1,324

$2.89 ₡1,321

0.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.67 ₡3,963

$10.02 ₡4,576

-13.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.78 ₡5,841

$9.36 ₡4,278

36.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 ₡6,131

$13.92 ₡6,360

-3.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 ₡2,094

$4.43 ₡2,026

3.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡690

$1.52 ₡696

-0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,002

$4.22 ₡1,928

3.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₡744

$3.18 ₡1,454

-48.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,580

$3.44 ₡1,573

0.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,342

$3.04 ₡1,389

-3.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡436

$0.95 ₡435

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,333

$2.80 ₡1,279

4.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 ₡2,310

$4.85 ₡2,217

4.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 ₡7,694

$15.47 ₡7,067

8.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₡996

$2.36 ₡1,077

-7.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₡1,178

$2.61 ₡1,194

-1.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₡528

$0.98 ₡448

18.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.97 ₡11.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₡1,325

$1.79 ₡818

62.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡840

$1.77 ₡808

3.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₡3,548

$7.75 ₡3,540

0.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡872

$1.40 ₡638

36.43%

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

$37.2K ₡17.0M

$37.1K ₡17.0M

0.08%

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

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.7K ₡14.9M

-0.59%

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

$172 ₡78.4K

$93.0 ₡42.5K

84.42%

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

$25.70 ₡11.7K

$25.56 ₡11.7K

0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 ₡27.7K

$53.5 ₡24.4K

13.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡26.4K

$56.0 ₡25.6K

3.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.19 ₡11.1K

$23.68 ₡10.8K

2.15%

Cinema Ticket

$10.12 ₡4,624

$9.74 ₡4,452

3.90%

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

$519 ₡236.9K

$525 ₡239.8K

-1.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.9M

$12.7K ₡5.8M

1.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡28.3K

$62.7 ₡28.7K

-1.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡23.8K

$51.1 ₡23.4K

1.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.4K

$127 ₡58.1K

-1.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.9K

$106 ₡48.6K

0.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₡343.7K

$763 ₡348.8K

-1.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₡272.0K

$598 ₡273.0K

-0.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,544 ₡705.3K

$1,526 ₡697.1K

1.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 ₡436.3K

$975 ₡445.3K

-2.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,977 ₡903.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡149.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$781 ₡357.0K

$1,506 ₡688.0K

-48.10%

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 Playa del Coco: May 30, 2026

Last update for Acosta: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Playa del Coco and $763 in Acosta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Acosta pays 93% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Playa del Coco vs $51.0 in Acosta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $353 per month, with Acosta 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

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

Playa del Coco and Acosta differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,758 vs $1,601 including rent). Acosta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Acosta earns 93% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $752 in Playa del Coco versus $763 in Acosta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Playa del Coco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,758 per month in Playa del Coco versus $1,601 in Acosta – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,601 in Acosta versus $1,758 in Playa del Coco, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Acosta but tight or insufficient in Playa del Coco. The gap between the two cities makes Acosta 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, Playa del Coco and Acosta 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 Acosta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Playa del Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.