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

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Coco is 13.9% more expensive than Alajuela without rent, and 9.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 31.2% more expensive than Alajuela without rent, and 16.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.08 ₡7,973

$9.65 ₡4,786

66.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 ₡39.4K

$39.43 ₡19.5K

101.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.10 ₡5,008

$9.41 ₡4,668

7.33%

Cappuccino

$7.14 ₡3,539

$3.60 ₡1,783

98.33%

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

$2.39 ₡1,187

$1.96 ₡972

21.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₡950

$1.34 ₡662

43.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 ₡1,649

$2.17 ₡1,078

53.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.10 ₡3,026

$3.64 ₡1,802

67.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.59 ₡1,285

$1.85 ₡915

40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 ₡1,438

$2.50 ₡1,241

16.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡1,066

$2.14 ₡1,063

0.47%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,492

$2.24 ₡1,110

34.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.20 ₡4,066

$10.17 ₡5,040

-19.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.71 ₡6,299

$9.37 ₡4,643

35.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.71 ₡6,798

$13.92 ₡6,899

-1.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₡2,249

$4.07 ₡2,017

11.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡741

$1.52 ₡755

-1.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,172

$4.19 ₡2,079

4.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ₡793

$2.86 ₡1,416

-44.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 ₡1,646

$2.78 ₡1,376

19.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 ₡1,467

$2.58 ₡1,277

14.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₡503

$0.96 ₡475

6.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,458

$2.58 ₡1,277

13.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.86 ₡2,412

$5.01 ₡2,485

-2.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 ₡6,997

$17.79 ₡8,822

-20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 ₡1,089

$2.12 ₡1,050

3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,296

$2.44 ₡1,209

6.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 ₡582

$0.87 ₡429

34.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 ₡54.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 ₡1,453

$1.43 ₡710

104.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡917

$1.37 ₡677

35.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.12 ₡4,028

$8.02 ₡3,974

1.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 ₡939

$1.41 ₡699

34.04%

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

$37.1K ₡18.4M

$38.3K ₡19.0M

-3.03%

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

$32.4K ₡16.1M

$32.8K ₡16.3M

-1.20%

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

$174 ₡86.4K

$45.49 ₡22.6K

282.92%

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

$25.86 ₡12.8K

$19.69 ₡9,763

31.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.0 ₡29.2K

$33.41 ₡16.6K

76.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₡28.0K

$65.6 ₡32.5K

-13.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.91 ₡11.9K

$42.96 ₡21.3K

-44.34%

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ₡5,027

$9.11 ₡4,516

11.31%

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

$519 ₡257.3K

$297 ₡147.1K

74.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.3M

$2,310 ₡1.1M

449.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 ₡30.4K

$63.1 ₡31.3K

-2.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 ₡25.5K

$52.3 ₡26.0K

-1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡62.8K

$120 ₡59.5K

5.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡52.9K

$98.1 ₡48.7K

8.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₡372.7K

$696 ₡344.9K

8.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 ₡296.3K

$600 ₡297.3K

-0.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 ₡738.2K

$978 ₡484.7K

52.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$981 ₡486.2K

$955 ₡473.7K

2.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,004 ₡993.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$306 ₡151.5K

$1,520 ₡753.4K

-79.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$708 ₡350.8K

$1,216 ₡602.8K

-41.81%

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for Alajuela: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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