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

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Coco is 16.1% more expensive than Arenal without rent, and 10.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 9.8% more expensive than Arenal without rent, and 9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
Arenal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.93 ₡7,975
$10.9 ₡5,456
46.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 ₡40.4K
$58.6 ₡29.3K
37.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.05 ₡5,032
$9.82 ₡4,918
2.34%
Cappuccino
$7.13 ₡3,571
$3.8 ₡1,904
87.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₡1,193
$1.98 ₡990
20.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ₡961
$1.61 ₡805
19.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.34 ₡1,670
$3 ₡1,502
11.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.9 ₡2,955
$4.73 ₡2,367
24.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
Arenal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 ₡1,285
$2.06 ₡1,033
24.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 ₡1,383
$2.85 ₡1,428
-3.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 ₡1,074
$2.22 ₡1,112
-3.15%
Eggs
$2.88 ₡1,441
$2.93 ₡1,469
-1.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.42 ₡4,217
$9.74 ₡4,874
-13.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 ₡6,562
$9.08 ₡4,546
44.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.73 ₡6,873
$13.84 ₡6,931
-0.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 ₡2,231
$4.4 ₡2,203
1.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 ₡753
$1.51 ₡756
-0.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 ₡2,096
$4.36 ₡2,183
-3.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡804
$3.55 ₡1,779
-54.65%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 ₡1,722
$3.52 ₡1,765
-2.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 ₡1,486
$3.21 ₡1,605
-7.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ₡489
$0.97 ₡484
1.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₡1,436
$2.85 ₡1,427
0.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.1 ₡2,551
$5.38 ₡2,695
-5.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.13 ₡7,071
$18.66 ₡9,343
-24.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₡1,085
$2.52 ₡1,259
-13.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 ₡1,264
$2.95 ₡1,476
-14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
Arenal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡609
$1.04 ₡520
17.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ₡1,458
$1.78 ₡891
63.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.8 ₡900
$1.84 ₡921
-2.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.7 ₡3,854
$8.11 ₡4,058
-5.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 ₡958
$1.4 ₡700
36.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K ₡19.2M
$37.7K ₡18.9M
1.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K ₡16.6M
$33.1K ₡16.6M
-0.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
Arenal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 ₡87.8K
$94.5 ₡47.3K
85.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.39 ₡13.2K
$25.71 ₡12.9K
2.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.3 ₡29.7K
$59.1 ₡29.6K
0.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
Arenal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.3 ₡28.7K
$57.8 ₡28.9K
-0.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.26 ₡12.1K
$23.97 ₡12K
1.21%
Cinema Ticket
$10.08 ₡5,048
$9.73 ₡4,873
3.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
Arenal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$529 ₡265K
$561 ₡280.7K
-5.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K ₡6.2M
$12.7K ₡6.4M
-2.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
Arenal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 ₡31.5K
$61.6 ₡30.8K
2.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 ₡26.1K
$52.4 ₡26.2K
-0.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡64.3K
$126 ₡63.1K
1.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ₡52.7K
$108 ₡54K
-2.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
Arenal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 ₡380.9K
$759 ₡380.1K
0.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 ₡301.5K
$597 ₡299K
0.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,502 ₡751.7K
$1,533 ₡767.2K
-2.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 ₡474.4K
$968 ₡484.4K
-2.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$297 ₡148.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
Arenal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$709 ₡354.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
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 Arenal: October 27, 2025

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