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 $1,790 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,706 in Ojochal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,880 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,695 in Ojochal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,969 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,684 in Ojochal, rent included.

Playa del Coco costs about 5% more than Ojochal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Coco and Ojochal sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 30%, Ojochal by 24%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.03 ₡8,088

$11.86 ₡5,323

52.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.9 ₡25.5K

$65.5 ₡29.4K

-13.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 ₡4,466

$12.40 ₡5,562

-19.76%

Cappuccino

$8.28 ₡3,716

$4.70 ₡2,111

76.17%

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

$2.66 ₡1,192

$2.97 ₡1,331

-10.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₡765

$2.09 ₡937

-18.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 ₡1,561

$3.12 ₡1,401

11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 ₡2,625

$3.97 ₡1,782

47.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.43 ₡1,090

$2.36 ₡1,057

2.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 ₡1,226

$2.77 ₡1,244

-1.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 ₡1,155

$2.69 ₡1,209

-4.46%

Eggs

$3.64 ₡1,635

$3.69 ₡1,657

-1.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.77 ₡4,834

$11.76 ₡5,277

-8.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.46 ₡4,695

$11.56 ₡5,185

-9.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 ₡6,234

$14.28 ₡6,407

-2.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.47 ₡2,455

$4.96 ₡2,226

10.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₡769

$1.78 ₡799

-3.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 ₡1,720

$3.58 ₡1,608

6.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 ₡1,501

$3.21 ₡1,439

4.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 ₡1,221

$2.84 ₡1,275

-4.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,388

$3.02 ₡1,357

2.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ₡565

$1.18 ₡530

6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₡1,069

$3.03 ₡1,359

-21.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.65 ₡2,533

$5.06 ₡2,270

11.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.38 ₡7,351

$17.69 ₡7,936

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₡1,182

$2.51 ₡1,126

4.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₡1,196

$2.85 ₡1,278

-6.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡610

$1.48 ₡664

-8.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 ₡1,534

$2.48 ₡1,113

37.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡705

$1.70 ₡764

-7.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.89 ₡3,990

$8.67 ₡3,890

2.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡922

$1.48 ₡662

39.19%

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

$20.7K ₡9.3M

$19.8K ₡8.9M

4.46%

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

$35.4K ₡15.9M

$38.5K ₡17.3M

-8.20%

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

$96.5 ₡43.3K

$97.6 ₡43.8K

-1.14%

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

$30.77 ₡13.8K

$30.24 ₡13.6K

1.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 ₡27.2K

$63.5 ₡28.5K

-4.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.4 ₡32.5K

$74.3 ₡33.4K

-2.62%

Cinema Ticket

$8.01 ₡3,594

$8.77 ₡3,937

-8.67%

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

$971 ₡435.7K

$832 ₡373.2K

16.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K ₡7.6M

$14.8K ₡6.6M

14.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.0 ₡31.8K

$68.1 ₡30.6K

4.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 ₡25.7K

$61.8 ₡27.7K

-7.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ₡51.4K

$146 ₡65.3K

-21.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₡57.3K

$130 ₡58.2K

-1.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$898 ₡402.7K

$806 ₡361.7K

11.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 ₡281.0K

$642 ₡287.8K

-2.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,894 ₡849.7K

$1,839 ₡825.0K

2.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,384 ₡621.0K

$1,284 ₡576.1K

7.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$340 ₡152.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$780 ₡350.0K

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ojochal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $898 in Playa del Coco versus $806 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 $57.0 in Playa del Coco versus $65.0 in Ojochal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 vs $388 – making Playa del Coco 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: $1,790 in Playa del Coco, $1,706 in Ojochal – roughly 5% apart. Playa del Coco costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,686 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,560 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 $1,790 in Playa del Coco and $1,706 in Ojochal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $971 per month in Playa del Coco and $832 in Ojochal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Ojochal, where all-in costs run around $1,706, than in Playa del Coco at $1,790. 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.