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: $1,747 in Playa del Coco versus $1,674 in Cartago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,752 in Playa del Coco versus $2,346 in Cartago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,758 in Playa del Coco versus $3,018 in Cartago.

Living in Playa del Coco is roughly 4% more expensive than in Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Playa del Coco 28% above, Cartago 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.10 ₡8,044

$8.96 ₡3,983

102.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₡25.2K

$35.29 ₡15.7K

60.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.00 ₡4,891

$10.07 ₡4,474

9.24%

Cappuccino

$4.24 ₡1,885

$4.52 ₡2,008

-6.19%

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

$2.64 ₡1,175

$2.23 ₡993

18.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₡764

$1.44 ₡640

19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 ₡1,578

$2.18 ₡970

62.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.22 ₡2,764

$4.24 ₡1,884

46.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₡1,035

$2.45 ₡1,090

-4.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 ₡1,123

$2.38 ₡1,059

6.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,114

$2.53 ₡1,122

-0.79%

Eggs

$3.45 ₡1,535

$3.52 ₡1,566

-1.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 ₡4,716

$8.83 ₡3,926

20.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,677

$10.37 ₡4,611

1.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.25 ₡7,221

$13.92 ₡6,185

16.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 ₡2,062

$5.08 ₡2,257

-8.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₡804

$1.30 ₡576

39.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.17 ₡1,407

$4.54 ₡2,018

-30.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,588

$3.08 ₡1,370

15.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₡1,451

$2.28 ₡1,016

42.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,372

$2.24 ₡995

37.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡425

$1.10 ₡489

-12.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₡1,039

$2.25 ₡1,002

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.74 ₡2,549

$5.95 ₡2,643

-3.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.43 ₡7,301

$15.50 ₡6,888

6.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₡1,190

$2.80 ₡1,244

-4.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,180

$1.97 ₡878

35.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡605

$1.29 ₡574

5.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.5 ₡34.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 ₡1,516

$1.34 ₡597

154.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡723

$1.58 ₡701

3.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.68 ₡4,304

$9.01 ₡4,005

7.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡879

$1.50 ₡668

32.00%

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

$21.1K ₡9.4M

$21.9K ₡9.7M

-3.45%

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

$32.6K ₡14.5M

$34.9K ₡15.5M

-6.50%

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

$95.2 ₡42.3K

$54.2 ₡24.1K

75.53%

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

$30.38 ₡13.5K

$36.97 ₡16.4K

-17.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 ₡26.5K

$62.3 ₡27.7K

-4.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.4 ₡33.0K

$74.1 ₡32.9K

0.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$77.4 ₡34.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.53 ₡3,792

$7.08 ₡3,146

20.48%

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

$813 ₡361.3K

$559 ₡248.6K

45.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.6M

$7,916 ₡3.5M

116.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.8 ₡35.0K

$73.0 ₡32.5K

7.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.3 ₡25.5K

$55.9 ₡24.8K

2.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡52.9K

$124 ₡55.1K

-4.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 ₡62.3K

$89.3 ₡39.7K

56.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ₡318.1K

$874 ₡388.3K

-18.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 ₡275.1K

$718 ₡319.1K

-13.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 ₡949.3K

$1,873 ₡832.7K

14.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 ₡519.1K

$733 ₡325.8K

59.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$330 ₡146.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$779 ₡346.2K

$1,335 ₡593.3K

-41.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Playa del Coco: September 15, 2026

Last update for Cartago: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Playa del Coco and $874 in Cartago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cartago pays 71% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $57.0 in Playa del Coco vs $35.00 in Cartago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $370 vs $351 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, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 71% lower in Cartago. 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: $716 in Playa del Coco versus $874 in Cartago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Playa del Coco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,747 per month in Playa del Coco versus $1,674 in Cartago – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,674 in Cartago versus $1,747 in Playa del Coco, a $2,500 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 4% less than in Playa del Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.