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: $1,745 in Playa del Coco versus $1,570 in Alajuela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,665 in Playa del Coco versus $2,362 in Alajuela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,585 in Playa del Coco versus $3,154 in Alajuela.

Living in Playa del Coco is roughly 11% more expensive than Alajuela, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Playa del Coco 30% above, Alajuela 17% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.89 ₡7,180

$9.77 ₡4,416

62.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 ₡36.6K

$39.38 ₡17.8K

105.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 ₡4,582

$9.68 ₡4,372

4.75%

Cappuccino

$6.98 ₡3,155

$3.55 ₡1,604

96.62%

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

$2.37 ₡1,072

$1.99 ₡900

19.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₡849

$1.29 ₡582

45.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 ₡1,443

$2.13 ₡961

49.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 ₡2,702

$3.67 ₡1,658

62.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.55 ₡1,153

$1.95 ₡880

30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,294

$2.51 ₡1,133

13.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡971

$2.20 ₡995

-2.27%

Eggs

$2.89 ₡1,305

$2.22 ₡1,004

30.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.61 ₡3,889

$9.68 ₡4,375

-11.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.14 ₡5,938

$9.19 ₡4,152

42.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.79 ₡6,232

$13.63 ₡6,160

1.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 ₡2,024

$3.94 ₡1,778

13.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡654

$1.50 ₡677

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 ₡1,912

$4.33 ₡1,954

-2.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡748

$2.85 ₡1,286

-41.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.35 ₡1,512

$2.80 ₡1,266

19.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 ₡1,385

$2.63 ₡1,188

16.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡458

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,307

$2.57 ₡1,163

12.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.87 ₡2,201

$4.86 ₡2,197

0.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.62 ₡7,510

$21.72 ₡9,814

-23.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₡939

$2.15 ₡971

-3.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 ₡1,163

$2.46 ₡1,109

4.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 ₡522

$0.89 ₡401

29.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 ₡51.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₡1,311

$1.39 ₡628

108.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡799

$1.37 ₡617

29.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 ₡3,555

$7.96 ₡3,598

-1.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡865

$1.47 ₡664

29.93%

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

$37.4K ₡16.9M

$37.5K ₡17.0M

-0.34%

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

$32.9K ₡14.9M

$32.3K ₡14.6M

2.03%

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

$175 ₡79.2K

$44.21 ₡20.0K

296.36%

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

$25.51 ₡11.5K

$20.15 ₡9,104

26.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 ₡27.5K

$32.37 ₡14.6K

87.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₡25.3K

$63.6 ₡28.7K

-11.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.00 ₡10.8K

$42.94 ₡19.4K

-44.11%

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 ₡4,389

$8.87 ₡4,010

9.47%

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

$521 ₡235.3K

$304 ₡137.4K

71.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡5.8M

$2,368 ₡1.1M

438.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 ₡28.0K

$61.5 ₡27.8K

0.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 ₡23.5K

$52.5 ₡23.7K

-0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡55.9K

$119 ₡53.9K

3.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.4K

$99.2 ₡44.8K

7.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₡340.5K

$697 ₡315.1K

8.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₡269.9K

$607 ₡274.1K

-1.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 ₡684.1K

$978 ₡442.0K

54.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$950 ₡429.1K

$942 ₡425.7K

0.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$331 ₡149.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 ₡339.3K

$2,078 ₡939.0K

-63.86%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Alajuela: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $754 in Playa del Coco and $697 in Alajuela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alajuela pays 177% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81.0 in Playa del Coco vs $39.00 in Alajuela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 vs $346 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Alajuela earns 177% 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: $754 in Playa del Coco versus $697 in Alajuela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Playa del Coco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,745 per month in Playa del Coco versus $1,570 in Alajuela – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,570 in Alajuela versus $1,745 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 11% less than in Playa del Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.