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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,758 in Playa del Coco versus $1,512 in Cartago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,661 in Playa del Coco versus $2,121 in Cartago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,565 in Playa del Coco versus $2,730 in Cartago.

Living in Playa del Coco is roughly 16% more expensive than Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Playa del Coco 31% above, Cartago 13% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 ₡7,366

$7.95 ₡3,615

103.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 ₡36.0K

$31.47 ₡14.3K

151.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.21 ₡4,646

$9.17 ₡4,172

11.34%

Cappuccino

$7.09 ₡3,224

$3.82 ₡1,738

85.60%

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

$2.39 ₡1,085

$1.93 ₡880

23.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡884

$1.23 ₡558

57.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₡1,461

$2.01 ₡913

59.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 ₡2,736

$4.75 ₡2,159

26.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.48 ₡1,128

$1.96 ₡894

26.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,295

$2.19 ₡996

30.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,006

$2.15 ₡976

2.79%

Eggs

$2.90 ₡1,318

$2.91 ₡1,325

-0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.67 ₡3,945

$7.84 ₡3,566

10.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.78 ₡5,815

$9.30 ₡4,228

37.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 ₡6,103

$13.63 ₡6,199

-1.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 ₡2,085

$4.43 ₡2,014

3.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡687

$1.17 ₡534

29.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡1,993

$4.03 ₡1,832

8.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₡741

$2.64 ₡1,201

-38.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,573

$1.96 ₡890

76.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,336

$1.98 ₡899

48.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡434

$1.04 ₡471

-8.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,327

$1.94 ₡884

50.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 ₡2,300

$5.11 ₡2,326

-0.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 ₡7,659

$15.30 ₡6,960

10.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₡991

$2.45 ₡1,112

-11.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₡1,172

$1.80 ₡820

43.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₡525

$1.01 ₡461

14.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.0 ₡31.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₡1,319

$1.37 ₡622

111.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡836

$1.86 ₡848

-1.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₡3,532

$7.91 ₡3,599

-1.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡868

$1.41 ₡643

35.46%

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

$37.2K ₡16.9M

$37.4K ₡17.0M

-0.71%

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

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.3K ₡14.7M

0.40%

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

$172 ₡78.0K

$49.02 ₡22.3K

250.02%

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

$25.70 ₡11.7K

$25.60 ₡11.6K

0.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 ₡27.5K

$57.9 ₡26.3K

4.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡26.3K

$57.3 ₡26.0K

1.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.19 ₡11.0K

$24.06 ₡10.9K

0.54%

Cinema Ticket

$10.12 ₡4,603

$6.47 ₡2,944

56.41%

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

$519 ₡235.9K

$491 ₡223.1K

5.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.8M

$7,189 ₡3.3M

78.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡28.1K

$61.5 ₡28.0K

0.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡23.7K

$51.7 ₡23.5K

0.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.1K

$109 ₡49.4K

15.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.7K

$80.4 ₡36.6K

33.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₡342.1K

$760 ₡345.6K

-1.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₡270.8K

$602 ₡273.6K

-1.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,544 ₡702.1K

$734 ₡333.9K

110.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 ₡434.3K

$770 ₡350.1K

24.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡148.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$781 ₡355.4K

$1,312 ₡596.8K

-40.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

1.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Coco: May 30, 2026

Last update for Cartago: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Playa del Coco and $760 in Cartago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cartago pays 68% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Playa del Coco vs $31.00 in Cartago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $315 per month, with Cartago 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Cartago earns 68% 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: $752 in Playa del Coco versus $760 in Cartago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Playa del Coco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,758 per month in Playa del Coco versus $1,512 in Cartago – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,512 in Cartago versus $1,758 in Playa del Coco, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cartago but tight or insufficient in Playa del Coco. The gap between the two cities makes Cartago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Playa del Coco and Cartago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cartago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Playa del Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.