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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,738 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,305 in Atenas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,664 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,221 in Atenas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,591 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,137 in Atenas, rent included.

Playa del Coco costs about 33% more than Atenas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Coco sits 31% above the global median, while Atenas is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.13 ₡7,260

$8.84 ₡3,976

82.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 ₡36.1K

$52.7 ₡23.7K

52.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.10 ₡4,544

$10.24 ₡4,608

-1.37%

Cappuccino

$7.05 ₡3,171

$3.76 ₡1,690

87.50%

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

$2.37 ₡1,068

$2.07 ₡933

14.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₡857

$1.60 ₡721

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,476

$3.07 ₡1,380

6.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 ₡2,752

$4.54 ₡2,042

34.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.52 ₡1,136

$1.98 ₡891

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 ₡1,250

$2.86 ₡1,289

-2.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡965

$1.94 ₡872

10.31%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,318

$2.98 ₡1,342

-1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 ₡3,889

$10.04 ₡4,518

-13.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 ₡5,828

$8.78 ₡3,951

47.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 ₡6,093

$9.55 ₡4,299

41.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₡2,052

$4.04 ₡1,817

12.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₡684

$1.51 ₡677

0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 ₡1,875

$2.41 ₡1,086

73.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 ₡744

$2.24 ₡1,009

-26.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 ₡1,485

$3.46 ₡1,558

-4.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,321

$2.41 ₡1,086

21.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡431

$1.03 ₡465

-6.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,330

$2.93 ₡1,317

1.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,226

$5.28 ₡2,377

-6.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.51 ₡8,330

$19.04 ₡8,567

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₡940

$2.40 ₡1,082

-12.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₡1,205

$2.40 ₡1,081

11.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 ₡526

$1.94 ₡871

-39.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 ₡1,319

$1.85 ₡833

58.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 ₡812

$1.87 ₡840

-3.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.68 ₡3,458

$7.87 ₡3,540

-2.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 ₡827

$1.41 ₡635

30.50%

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

$38.5K ₡17.3M

$37.9K ₡17.1M

1.37%

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

$32.3K ₡14.5M

-0.03%

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

$175 ₡78.5K

$94.2 ₡42.4K

85.31%

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

$26.08 ₡11.7K

$26.02 ₡11.7K

0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 ₡26.5K

$47.33 ₡21.3K

24.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₡25.4K

$40.51 ₡18.2K

39.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.53 ₡10.6K

$9.69 ₡4,362

142.83%

Cinema Ticket

$10.08 ₡4,538

$8.36 ₡3,761

20.57%

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

$517 ₡232.7K

$561 ₡252.6K

-7.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.8M

$6,006 ₡2.7M

113.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 ₡28.7K

$62.0 ₡27.9K

2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.3 ₡23.1K

$49.97 ₡22.5K

2.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.4K

$120 ₡53.9K

4.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.3K

$108 ₡48.5K

-0.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₡344.9K

$539 ₡242.5K

42.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₡268.6K

$406 ₡182.5K

47.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,521 ₡684.3K

$1,359 ₡611.3K

11.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$981 ₡441.5K

$1,141 ₡513.4K

-14.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡147.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$775 ₡348.9K

$1,301 ₡585.4K

-40.39%

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 Atenas: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $767 in Playa del Coco versus $539 in Atenas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 68% higher in Atenas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Playa del Coco versus $53.0 in Atenas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $330 – making Atenas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Atenas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Coco is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,607 per month in Playa del Coco and $1,958 in Atenas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Atenas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Playa del Coco and $53.0 in Atenas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Playa del Coco, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Atenas, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Playa del Coco at $1,738. In Atenas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Atenas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Atenas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Coco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.