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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,758 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,595 in Ojochal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,661 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,382 in Ojochal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,565 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,170 in Ojochal, rent included.

Playa del Coco costs about 10% more than Ojochal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Coco and Ojochal sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 31%, Ojochal by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 ₡7,399

$10.05 ₡4,591

61.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 ₡36.2K

$51.0 ₡23.3K

55.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.21 ₡4,667

$9.91 ₡4,527

3.03%

Cappuccino

$7.09 ₡3,238

$3.72 ₡1,697

90.59%

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

$2.39 ₡1,090

$2.04 ₡934

17.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡888

$1.57 ₡718

23.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₡1,467

$3.05 ₡1,395

5.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 ₡2,748

$4.58 ₡2,095

31.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.48 ₡1,133

$1.98 ₡904

25.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,300

$2.91 ₡1,328

-2.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,011

$2.13 ₡973

3.76%

Eggs

$2.90 ₡1,324

$3.02 ₡1,382

-3.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.67 ₡3,963

$9.84 ₡4,498

-11.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.78 ₡5,841

$9.27 ₡4,234

37.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 ₡6,131

$13.71 ₡6,263

-2.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 ₡2,094

$4.58 ₡2,093

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡690

$1.50 ₡686

0.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,002

$4.32 ₡1,974

1.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₡744

$3.22 ₡1,472

-49.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,580

$3.33 ₡1,523

3.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,342

$2.93 ₡1,339

0.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡436

$1.03 ₡469

-7.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,333

$2.91 ₡1,329

0.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 ₡2,310

$5.04 ₡2,301

0.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 ₡7,694

$17.25 ₡7,883

-2.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₡996

$2.28 ₡1,042

-4.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₡1,178

$2.55 ₡1,165

1.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₡528

$0.96 ₡438

20.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₡1,325

$1.80 ₡824

61.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡840

$1.78 ₡812

3.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₡3,548

$7.97 ₡3,640

-2.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡872

$1.40 ₡639

36.43%

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

$37.2K ₡17.0M

$37.1K ₡16.9M

0.25%

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

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.1K ₡14.7M

0.99%

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

$172 ₡78.4K

$95.7 ₡43.7K

79.36%

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

$25.70 ₡11.7K

$25.72 ₡11.8K

-0.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 ₡27.7K

$51.9 ₡23.7K

16.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡26.4K

$57.7 ₡26.4K

0.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.19 ₡11.1K

$24.22 ₡11.1K

-0.12%

Cinema Ticket

$10.12 ₡4,624

$10.05 ₡4,593

0.70%

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

$519 ₡236.9K

$526 ₡240.5K

-1.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.9M

$12.4K ₡5.7M

3.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡28.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡23.8K

$51.1 ₡23.4K

1.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.4K

$124 ₡56.5K

1.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.9K

$107 ₡49.1K

-0.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₡343.7K

$766 ₡350.1K

-1.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₡272.0K

$600 ₡274.2K

-0.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,544 ₡705.3K

$1,509 ₡689.7K

2.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 ₡436.3K

$973 ₡444.5K

-1.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡149.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$781 ₡357.0K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ojochal: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Playa del Coco versus $766 in Ojochal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Playa del Coco versus $51.0 in Ojochal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $358 – making Ojochal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ojochal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,758 in Playa del Coco, $1,595 in Ojochal – roughly 10% apart. Playa del Coco costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,637 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,392 in Ojochal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ojochal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,758 in Playa del Coco and $1,595 in Ojochal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $519 per month in Playa del Coco and $526 in Ojochal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ojochal, where all-in costs run around $1,595, than in Playa del Coco at $1,758. In Ojochal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ojochal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ojochal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Coco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.