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: $1,747 in Playa del Coco versus $2,033 in Escazu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,655 in Playa del Coco versus $2,804 in Escazu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,564 in Playa del Coco versus $3,574 in Escazu.

Living in Playa del Coco costs roughly 14% less than in Escazu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Playa del Coco 31% above, Escazu 53% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.12 ₡7,264

$10.92 ₡4,918

47.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 ₡35.7K

$58.7 ₡26.4K

35.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.22 ₡4,604

$10.22 ₡4,606

Cappuccino

$7.04 ₡3,172

$3.91 ₡1,760

80.05%

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

$2.41 ₡1,085

$2.04 ₡918

18.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡869

$1.65 ₡744

16.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₡1,448

$2.95 ₡1,331

8.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 ₡2,637

$4.73 ₡2,131

23.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.61 ₡1,174

$2.07 ₡931

26.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 ₡1,248

$2.86 ₡1,286

-3.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡964

$2.13 ₡959

0.47%

Eggs

$3.05 ₡1,373

$3.01 ₡1,355

1.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 ₡3,826

$9.92 ₡4,470

-14.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.02 ₡5,866

$8.94 ₡4,030

45.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.62 ₡6,138

$13.75 ₡6,194

-0.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 ₡1,974

$4.43 ₡1,995

-1.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₡686

$1.44 ₡650

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 ₡1,885

$4.32 ₡1,948

-3.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 ₡745

$3.19 ₡1,436

-48.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₡1,537

$3.55 ₡1,601

-3.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 ₡1,314

$3.12 ₡1,407

-6.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡456

$1.01 ₡454

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,327

$2.96 ₡1,335

-0.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 ₡2,182

$4.96 ₡2,233

-2.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.33 ₡8,257

$18.40 ₡8,292

-0.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₡972

$1.73 ₡781

24.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₡1,203

$2.77 ₡1,247

-3.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 ₡548

$0.94 ₡424

29.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 ₡1,317

$1.66 ₡749

75.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡833

$1.87 ₡842

-1.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.01 ₡3,608

$8.06 ₡3,630

-0.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 ₡844

$1.40 ₡629

33.57%

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

$38.2K ₡17.2M

$31.4K ₡14.1M

21.80%

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

$32.0K ₡14.4M

$32.5K ₡14.6M

-1.51%

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

$175 ₡79.0K

$65.5 ₡29.5K

167.67%

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

$25.76 ₡11.6K

$25.43 ₡11.5K

1.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.5 ₡27.3K

$50.9 ₡22.9K

18.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₡25.7K

$107 ₡48.3K

-46.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.42 ₡10.6K

$9.86 ₡4,444

137.53%

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 ₡4,552

$9.70 ₡4,369

4.12%

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

$536 ₡241.4K

$560 ₡252.1K

-4.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.7M

$14.1K ₡6.4M

-10.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 ₡28.5K

$61.6 ₡27.8K

2.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 ₡23.1K

-0.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡56.0K

$124 ₡55.8K

0.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.0K

$110 ₡49.3K

-2.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₡349.8K

$1,067 ₡480.7K

-27.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$589 ₡265.3K

$1,092 ₡491.9K

-46.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,525 ₡687.1K

$1,631 ₡734.8K

-6.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$977 ₡440.1K

$1,307 ₡588.7K

-25.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,986 ₡894.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$325 ₡146.3K

$1,132 ₡510.1K

-71.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$783 ₡352.6K

$1,728 ₡778.4K

-54.71%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Escazu: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $776 in Playa del Coco and $1,067 in Escazu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 121% 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: $79.0 in Playa del Coco vs $59.0 in Escazu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $370 vs $357 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 Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 121% lower in Escazu. 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: $776 in Playa del Coco versus $1,067 in Escazu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Escazu pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,747 per month in Playa del Coco versus $2,033 in Escazu – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,747 in Playa del Coco versus $2,033 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 16% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.