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 0.7% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 11.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 9% more expensive than Alajuela without rent, and 13.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.93 ₡7,975

$9.9 ₡4,957

60.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 ₡40.4K

$39.44 ₡19.7K

104.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 ₡5,032

$9.22 ₡4,614

9.00%

Cappuccino

$7.13 ₡3,571

$3.76 ₡1,881

89.63%

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

$2.38 ₡1,193

$2 ₡1,003

19.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₡961

$1.29 ₡648

48.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ₡1,670

$2.21 ₡1,105

51.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.9 ₡2,955

$3.63 ₡1,818

62.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 ₡1,285

$1.87 ₡936

37.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,383

$2.42 ₡1,210

14.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡1,074

$2.24 ₡1,120

-4.02%

Eggs

$2.88 ₡1,441

$2.21 ₡1,108

30.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.42 ₡4,217

$9.87 ₡4,940

-14.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.11 ₡6,562

$9.15 ₡4,582

43.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 ₡6,873

$13.48 ₡6,749

1.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 ₡2,231

$4 ₡2,003

11.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.5 ₡753

$1.45 ₡727

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 ₡2,096

$4.14 ₡2,073

1.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡804

$2.85 ₡1,426

-43.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 ₡1,722

$2.81 ₡1,408

22.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₡1,486

$2.51 ₡1,258

18.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ₡489

$1.01 ₡507

-2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₡1,436

$2.61 ₡1,309

9.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.1 ₡2,551

$4.92 ₡2,461

3.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.13 ₡7,071

$18.86 ₡9,443

-25.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₡1,085

$2.08 ₡1,042

4.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₡1,264

$2.54 ₡1,270

-0.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 ₡609

$0.81 ₡405

50.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 ₡55.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 ₡1,458

$1.44 ₡721

102.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.8 ₡900

$1.29 ₡648

39.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.7 ₡3,854

$8.07 ₡4,038

-4.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡958

$1.39 ₡697

37.41%

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

$38.4K ₡19.2M

$38.1K ₡19.1M

0.61%

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

$33.1K ₡16.6M

$32.4K ₡16.2M

2.20%

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

$175 ₡87.8K

$45.25 ₡22.7K

287.62%

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

$26.39 ₡13.2K

$19.72 ₡9,873

33.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 ₡29.7K

$32.46 ₡16.2K

82.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₡28.7K

$64.6 ₡32.3K

-11.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.26 ₡12.1K

$44.61 ₡22.3K

-45.62%

Cinema Ticket

$10.08 ₡5,048

$8.88 ₡4,444

13.51%

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

$529 ₡265K

$297 ₡148.5K

78.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K ₡6.2M

$2,329 ₡1.2M

433.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 ₡31.5K

$61.6 ₡30.8K

2.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡26.1K

$50.8 ₡25.4K

2.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡64.3K

$119 ₡59.7K

7.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₡52.7K

$101 ₡50.7K

3.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$761 ₡380.9K

$709 ₡355K

7.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡301.5K

$602 ₡301.3K

0.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,502 ₡751.7K

$1,004 ₡502.8K

49.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$948 ₡474.4K

$936 ₡468.5K

1.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ₡1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$297 ₡148.9K

$1,481 ₡741.5K

-79.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$709 ₡354.8K

$1,217 ₡609K

-41.74%

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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

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