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

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Coco is 17% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 15.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 14.2% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 32.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
Cartago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.93 ₡7,975
$8 ₡4,006
99.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 ₡40.4K
$31.92 ₡16K
153.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.05 ₡5,032
$9.07 ₡4,540
10.80%
Cappuccino
$7.13 ₡3,571
$3.85 ₡1,929
85.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₡1,193
$2.04 ₡1,020
16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ₡961
$1.22 ₡613
57.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.34 ₡1,670
$2.04 ₡1,021
63.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.9 ₡2,955
$4.68 ₡2,345
26.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
Cartago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 ₡1,285
$1.98 ₡989
29.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 ₡1,383
$2.2 ₡1,103
25.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 ₡1,074
$2.2 ₡1,103
-2.27%
Eggs
$2.88 ₡1,441
$2.87 ₡1,439
0.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.42 ₡4,217
$8.06 ₡4,037
4.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 ₡6,562
$8.9 ₡4,456
47.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.73 ₡6,873
$13.87 ₡6,946
-1.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 ₡2,231
$4.4 ₡2,205
1.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 ₡753
$1.17 ₡585
28.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 ₡2,096
$3.93 ₡1,970
6.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡804
$2.7 ₡1,352
-40.37%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 ₡1,722
$1.98 ₡989
73.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 ₡1,486
$1.93 ₡968
53.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ₡489
$0.97 ₡486
1.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₡1,436
$2.03 ₡1,017
41.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.1 ₡2,551
$5.37 ₡2,688
-5.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.13 ₡7,071
$13.79 ₡6,901
2.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₡1,085
$2.4 ₡1,203
-9.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 ₡1,264
$1.75 ₡878
44.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
Cartago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡609
$1.06 ₡531
15.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$69 ₡34.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ₡1,458
$1.35 ₡677
115.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.8 ₡900
$1.77 ₡886
1.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.7 ₡3,854
$7.7 ₡3,855
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 ₡958
$1.39 ₡695
37.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K ₡19.2M
$37.2K ₡18.6M
3.09%
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
Cartago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 ₡87.8K
$48.99 ₡24.5K
258.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.39 ₡13.2K
$25.87 ₡12.9K
2.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.3 ₡29.7K
$56.3 ₡28.2K
5.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
Cartago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.3 ₡28.7K
$57.7 ₡28.9K
-0.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.26 ₡12.1K
$24.16 ₡12.1K
0.41%
Cinema Ticket
$10.08 ₡5,048
$6.38 ₡3,192
57.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
Cartago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$529 ₡265K
$490 ₡245.4K
7.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K ₡6.2M
$7,079 ₡3.5M
75.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
Cartago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 ₡31.5K
$61.7 ₡30.9K
1.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 ₡26.1K
$52.2 ₡26.1K
0.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡64.3K
$108 ₡54K
18.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ₡52.7K
$79.5 ₡39.8K
32.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
Cartago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 ₡380.9K
$776 ₡388.3K
-1.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 ₡301.5K
$606 ₡303.4K
-0.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,502 ₡751.7K
$734 ₡367.6K
104.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 ₡474.4K
$753 ₡377.1K
25.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$297 ₡148.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
Cartago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$709 ₡354.8K
$1,613 ₡807.4K
-56.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10
1.70%

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 Cartago: October 27, 2025

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