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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,767 in Playa del Coco versus $2,032 in Escazu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,660 in Playa del Coco versus $2,800 in Escazu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,552 in Playa del Coco versus $3,569 in Escazu.

Living in Playa del Coco costs roughly 13% less than in Escazu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Playa del Coco 32% above, Escazu 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.61 ₡7,099

$10.96 ₡4,984

42.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.4 ₡35.6K

$59.7 ₡27.2K

31.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.00 ₡4,549

$9.90 ₡4,504

1.01%

Cappuccino

$7.10 ₡3,229

$3.90 ₡1,773

82.05%

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

$2.44 ₡1,110

$2.06 ₡935

18.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₡837

$1.66 ₡757

10.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 ₡1,505

$3.02 ₡1,372

9.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 ₡2,731

$4.65 ₡2,117

29.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.50 ₡1,136

$2.06 ₡936

21.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 ₡1,306

$2.75 ₡1,250

4.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,003

$2.21 ₡1,006

Eggs

$2.91 ₡1,324

$2.94 ₡1,338

-1.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.29 ₡3,770

$9.86 ₡4,484

-15.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.73 ₡5,791

$9.28 ₡4,219

37.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 ₡6,132

$13.73 ₡6,243

-1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 ₡2,069

$4.63 ₡2,106

-1.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡656

$1.49 ₡678

-3.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 ₡1,881

$4.21 ₡1,916

-1.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡753

$3.20 ₡1,456

-48.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 ₡1,554

$3.57 ₡1,624

-4.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 ₡1,373

$3.24 ₡1,472

-6.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₡463

$0.95 ₡430

7.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,320

$2.96 ₡1,344

-2.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 ₡2,230

$4.83 ₡2,196

1.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.70 ₡7,593

$18.74 ₡8,522

-10.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₡957

$1.76 ₡802

19.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₡1,150

$2.73 ₡1,242

-7.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 ₡555

$0.96 ₡438

27.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 ₡1,323

$1.66 ₡757

75.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡807

$1.77 ₡805

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.68 ₡3,491

$8.10 ₡3,682

-5.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 ₡822

$1.39 ₡632

30.22%

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

$37.2K ₡16.9M

$31.4K ₡14.3M

18.49%

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

$32.3K ₡14.7M

$32.5K ₡14.8M

-0.63%

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

$177 ₡80.4K

$66.2 ₡30.1K

166.98%

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

$25.55 ₡11.6K

$25.87 ₡11.8K

-1.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.3 ₡27.4K

$50.1 ₡22.8K

20.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₡25.6K

$108 ₡49.0K

-47.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.50 ₡10.7K

$10.16 ₡4,621

131.30%

Cinema Ticket

$9.99 ₡4,542

$9.78 ₡4,446

2.15%

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

$531 ₡241.5K

$580 ₡263.5K

-8.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡5.7M

$14.3K ₡6.5M

-12.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 ₡28.2K

$61.7 ₡28.1K

0.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 ₡23.8K

$51.2 ₡23.3K

2.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡58.1K

$126 ₡57.4K

1.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡48.3K

$105 ₡47.9K

0.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₡342.7K

$1,065 ₡484.5K

-29.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₡266.9K

$1,059 ₡481.6K

-44.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,536 ₡698.5K

$1,681 ₡764.3K

-8.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$961 ₡437.0K

$1,312 ₡596.4K

-26.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 ₡738.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$323 ₡146.9K

$1,132 ₡514.9K

-71.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$759 ₡345.3K

$1,759 ₡799.8K

-56.82%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Escazu: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $754 in Playa del Coco and $1,065 in Escazu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 132% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $78.0 in Playa del Coco vs $60.0 in Escazu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $359 per month, with Escazu 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 Escazu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Coco is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Escazu earns 132% 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: $754 in Playa del Coco versus $1,065 in Escazu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Escazu pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,767 per month in Playa del Coco versus $2,032 in Escazu – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,767 in Playa del Coco versus $2,032 in Escazu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Playa del Coco but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Coco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Coco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Escazu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Playa del Coco and Escazu 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 Playa del Coco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.