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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,738 in Playa del Coco versus $1,587 in Alajuela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,664 in Playa del Coco versus $2,407 in Alajuela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,591 in Playa del Coco versus $3,226 in Alajuela.

Living in Playa del Coco is roughly 9% more expensive than in Alajuela, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Playa del Coco 31% above, Alajuela 19% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.13 ₡7,260

$10.15 ₡4,566

58.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 ₡36.1K

$39.22 ₡17.6K

104.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.10 ₡4,544

$9.47 ₡4,261

6.65%

Cappuccino

$7.05 ₡3,171

$3.69 ₡1,661

91.06%

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

$2.37 ₡1,068

$2.03 ₡916

16.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₡857

$1.35 ₡606

40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,476

$2.16 ₡970

51.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 ₡2,752

$3.60 ₡1,621

70.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.52 ₡1,136

$1.87 ₡840

34.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 ₡1,250

$2.52 ₡1,133

10.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡965

$2.23 ₡1,002

-4.04%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,318

$2.23 ₡1,005

31.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 ₡3,889

$10.14 ₡4,562

-14.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 ₡5,828

$8.99 ₡4,046

44.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 ₡6,093

$13.50 ₡6,074

0.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₡2,052

$3.85 ₡1,733

18.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₡684

$1.49 ₡672

2.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 ₡1,875

$4.24 ₡1,906

-1.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 ₡744

$2.88 ₡1,296

-42.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 ₡1,485

$2.86 ₡1,288

15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,321

$2.54 ₡1,143

15.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡431

$1.01 ₡455

-4.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,330

$2.48 ₡1,116

19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,226

$4.84 ₡2,179

2.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.51 ₡8,330

$22.01 ₡9,905

-15.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₡940

$2.17 ₡976

-3.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₡1,205

$2.51 ₡1,129

6.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 ₡526

$0.87 ₡392

34.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 ₡50.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 ₡1,319

$1.39 ₡626

110.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 ₡812

$1.32 ₡592

37.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.68 ₡3,458

$7.74 ₡3,482

-0.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 ₡827

$1.39 ₡626

32.37%

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

$38.5K ₡17.3M

$37.7K ₡17.0M

2.09%

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

$32.3K ₡14.5M

$32.0K ₡14.4M

1.10%

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

$175 ₡78.5K

$44.51 ₡20.0K

292.07%

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

$26.08 ₡11.7K

$19.99 ₡8,997

30.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 ₡26.5K

$33.06 ₡14.9K

78.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₡25.4K

$63.8 ₡28.7K

-11.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.53 ₡10.6K

$44.06 ₡19.8K

-46.60%

Cinema Ticket

$10.08 ₡4,538

$8.80 ₡3,958

14.55%

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

$517 ₡232.7K

$304 ₡136.8K

70.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.8M

$2,361 ₡1.1M

441.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 ₡28.7K

$62.8 ₡28.2K

1.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.3 ₡23.1K

$51.1 ₡23.0K

0.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.4K

$120 ₡53.9K

4.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.3K

$100 ₡45.0K

7.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₡344.9K

$685 ₡308.2K

11.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₡268.6K

$588 ₡264.5K

1.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,521 ₡684.3K

$978 ₡440.2K

55.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$981 ₡441.5K

$928 ₡417.8K

5.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡147.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$775 ₡348.9K

$2,131 ₡958.9K

-63.61%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Alajuela: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $767 in Playa del Coco and $685 in Alajuela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alajuela pays 175% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $80.0 in Playa del Coco vs $39.00 in Alajuela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $344 per month, with Alajuela 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 Alajuela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alajuela is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 175% lower in Alajuela. 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: $767 in Playa del Coco versus $685 in Alajuela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Playa del Coco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,738 per month in Playa del Coco versus $1,587 in Alajuela – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,587 in Alajuela versus $1,738 in Playa del Coco, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alajuela but tight or insufficient in Playa del Coco. The gap between the two cities makes Alajuela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Alajuela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Coco, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Alajuela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Playa del Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.