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: $1,796 in Playa del Coco versus $1,479 in Cartago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,728 in Playa del Coco versus $2,112 in Cartago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Playa del Coco versus $2,744 in Cartago.

Living in Playa del Coco is roughly 21% more expensive than in Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Playa del Coco 34% above, Cartago 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.81 ₡7,074

$8.04 ₡3,595

96.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 ₡35.8K

$32.05 ₡14.3K

149.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 ₡4,345

$8.83 ₡3,951

9.97%

Cappuccino

$7.01 ₡3,138

$3.95 ₡1,765

77.47%

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

$2.37 ₡1,060

$2.04 ₡911

16.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₡855

$1.23 ₡550

55.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 ₡1,472

$2.02 ₡905

62.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 ₡2,650

$4.63 ₡2,072

27.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.58 ₡1,153

$2.06 ₡923

25.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,289

$2.15 ₡963

33.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡956

$2.13 ₡953

0.47%

Eggs

$3.04 ₡1,362

$2.97 ₡1,329

2.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.20 ₡3,667

$8.02 ₡3,587

2.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.79 ₡5,721

$8.95 ₡4,002

42.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 ₡6,187

$13.53 ₡6,051

2.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₡2,032

$4.38 ₡1,957

3.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡656

$1.17 ₡522

25.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 ₡1,919

$3.92 ₡1,753

9.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$2.63 ₡1,176

-38.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 ₡1,488

$1.96 ₡876

69.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₡1,330

$2.03 ₡906

46.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡448

$1.01 ₡453

-0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,302

$2.02 ₡904

44.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 ₡2,164

$5.40 ₡2,417

-10.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ₡8,307

$15.54 ₡6,951

19.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₡965

$2.52 ₡1,129

-14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,138

$1.76 ₡785

44.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 ₡545

$1.07 ₡477

14.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.3 ₡31.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₡1,298

$1.36 ₡607

113.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡821

$1.86 ₡834

-1.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.06 ₡3,607

$8.12 ₡3,631

-0.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡855

$1.45 ₡647

31.72%

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

$38.0K ₡17.0M

$37.7K ₡16.9M

0.72%

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

$32.9K ₡14.7M

$32.6K ₡14.6M

1.09%

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

$173 ₡77.4K

$47.57 ₡21.3K

263.59%

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

$26.40 ₡11.8K

$25.51 ₡11.4K

3.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.8 ₡26.8K

$56.1 ₡25.1K

6.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₡25.3K

$56.9 ₡25.5K

-0.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.92 ₡10.7K

$23.47 ₡10.5K

1.92%

Cinema Ticket

$10.24 ₡4,580

$6.50 ₡2,910

57.54%

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

$515 ₡230.5K

$491 ₡219.8K

4.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.7M

$7,083 ₡3.2M

80.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡28.4K

$63.1 ₡28.2K

0.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 ₡23.1K

$51.9 ₡23.2K

-0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡56.7K

$107 ₡48.0K

17.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡47.2K

$78.6 ₡35.2K

34.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₡348.3K

$768 ₡343.6K

1.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡269.3K

$605 ₡270.7K

-0.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,539 ₡688.6K

$734 ₡328.3K

109.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$980 ₡438.6K

$761 ₡340.6K

28.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$326 ₡145.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$783 ₡350.1K

$1,319 ₡590.2K

-40.68%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Cartago: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $779 in Playa del Coco and $768 in Cartago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cartago pays 69% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $80.0 in Playa del Coco vs $32.00 in Cartago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $370 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 69% 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: $779 in Playa del Coco versus $768 in Cartago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Playa del Coco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,796 per month in Playa del Coco versus $1,479 in Cartago – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,479 in Cartago versus $1,796 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 21% less than in Playa del Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.