Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Jaco Beach Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Jaco Beach

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,746 in Playa del Coco versus $1,456 in Jaco Beach.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,752 in Playa del Coco versus $2,288 in Jaco Beach.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,758 in Playa del Coco versus $3,120 in Jaco Beach.

Living in Playa del Coco is roughly 20% more expensive than in Jaco Beach, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Playa del Coco 27% above, Jaco Beach 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 ₡8,203

$11.65 ₡5,213

57.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 ₡26.2K

$44.54 ₡19.9K

31.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.81 ₡5,284

$9.67 ₡4,329

22.13%

Cappuccino

$4.22 ₡1,889

$4.06 ₡1,819

3.94%

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

$2.59 ₡1,160

$2.41 ₡1,078

7.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₡734

$1.87 ₡838

-12.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 ₡1,606

$3.23 ₡1,447

11.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 ₡2,633

$4.29 ₡1,920

37.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.45 ₡1,096

$1.97 ₡882

24.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,276

$2.22 ₡996

28.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 ₡1,129

$2.48 ₡1,112

1.61%

Eggs

$3.53 ₡1,578

$2.63 ₡1,178

34.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₡4,812

$10.62 ₡4,751

1.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.38 ₡4,644

$8.96 ₡4,008

15.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.00 ₡6,268

$12.14 ₡5,432

15.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.05 ₡2,260

$4.94 ₡2,211

2.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₡740

$1.57 ₡701

5.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.43 ₡1,535

$4.56 ₡2,041

-24.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 ₡1,559

$3.56 ₡1,592

-2.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 ₡1,359

$1.55 ₡692

96.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.23 ₡1,444

$1.47 ₡659

119.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$0.95 ₡426

18.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 ₡1,241

$1.92 ₡860

44.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.87 ₡2,626

$5.81 ₡2,601

1.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 ₡7,539

$14.11 ₡6,314

19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₡1,194

$2.61 ₡1,168

2.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₡1,217

$2.22 ₡996

22.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 ₡1,488

$2.41 ₡1,078

38.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡729

$1.63 ₡730

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.90 ₡3,982

$8.66 ₡3,875

2.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡917

$1.53 ₡683

33.99%

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

$22.2K ₡10.0M

$22.3K ₡10.0M

-0.36%

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

$35.5K ₡15.9M

$34.8K ₡15.6M

2.03%

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

$97.3 ₡43.6K

$79.9 ₡35.8K

21.77%

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

$29.69 ₡13.3K

$24.02 ₡10.7K

23.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$47.07 ₡21.1K

29.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 ₡33.2K

$53.9 ₡24.1K

37.66%

Cinema Ticket

$8.31 ₡3,718

$8.19 ₡3,663

1.47%

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

$864 ₡386.9K

$483 ₡216.1K

79.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.7M

$7,329 ₡3.3M

133.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 ₡31.8K

$24.95 ₡11.2K

185.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 ₡25.5K

$56.9 ₡25.5K

0.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₡58.8K

$130 ₡58.1K

1.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 ₡60.0K

$132 ₡59.0K

1.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡355.4K

$771 ₡345.0K

3.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₡282.5K

$533 ₡238.6K

18.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,847 ₡826.8K

$1,995 ₡892.8K

-7.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,283 ₡574.2K

$1,114 ₡498.6K

15.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$332 ₡148.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 ₡343.4K

$405 ₡181.3K

89.38%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Jaco Beach: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $794 in Playa del Coco and $771 in Jaco Beach. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Coco pays 89% 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: $59.0 in Playa del Coco vs $45.00 in Jaco Beach for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $326 per month, with Jaco Beach 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 Jaco Beach: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jaco Beach is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 89% higher in Playa del Coco, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $794 in Playa del Coco versus $771 in Jaco Beach. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $864 in Playa del Coco versus $483 in Jaco Beach. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jaco Beach – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $59.0 in Playa del Coco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,456 in Jaco Beach versus $1,746 in Playa del Coco, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jaco Beach but tight or insufficient in Playa del Coco. The gap between the two cities makes Jaco Beach the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Playa del Coco and Jaco Beach 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 Jaco Beach gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Playa del Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.