Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,758 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,483 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,661 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,195 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,565 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,906 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

Playa del Coco costs about 19% more than Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Coco and Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 31%, Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 ₡7,399

$10.82 ₡4,945

49.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 ₡36.2K

$49.25 ₡22.5K

60.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.21 ₡4,667

$9.88 ₡4,516

3.34%

Cappuccino

$7.09 ₡3,238

$2.73 ₡1,247

159.71%

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

$2.39 ₡1,090

$2.04 ₡932

17.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡888

$1.58 ₡724

22.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₡1,467

$2.90 ₡1,327

10.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 ₡2,748

$3.88 ₡1,774

54.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.48 ₡1,133

$1.94 ₡885

27.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,300

$2.90 ₡1,324

-1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,011

$2.25 ₡1,026

-1.78%

Eggs

$2.90 ₡1,324

$2.88 ₡1,315

0.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.67 ₡3,963

$9.21 ₡4,209

-5.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.78 ₡5,841

$8.52 ₡3,894

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 ₡6,131

$13.45 ₡6,145

-0.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 ₡2,094

$2.41 ₡1,100

90.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡690

$1.12 ₡513

34.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,002

$1.58 ₡721

177.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₡744

$1.83 ₡837

-10.93%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,580

$2.14 ₡978

61.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,342

$1.91 ₡872

53.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡436

$0.82 ₡377

15.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,333

$1.80 ₡824

62.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 ₡2,310

$2.92 ₡1,334

73.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 ₡7,694

$15.31 ₡6,994

9.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₡996

$2.53 ₡1,154

-13.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₡1,178

$2.89 ₡1,322

-10.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 ₡528

$1.21 ₡553

-4.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.61 ₡18.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₡1,325

$1.62 ₡741

79.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡840

$1.59 ₡729

15.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₡3,548

$8.04 ₡3,671

-3.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡872

$1.46 ₡667

30.82%

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

$37.2K ₡17.0M

$38.0K ₡17.4M

-2.26%

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

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.9K ₡15.0M

-1.32%

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

$172 ₡78.4K

$92.9 ₡42.5K

84.63%

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

$25.70 ₡11.7K

$25.71 ₡11.7K

-0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 ₡27.7K

$60.3 ₡27.5K

0.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡26.4K

$57.3 ₡26.2K

0.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.19 ₡11.1K

$23.90 ₡10.9K

1.21%

Cinema Ticket

$10.12 ₡4,624

$9.70 ₡4,430

4.33%

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

$519 ₡236.9K

$578 ₡264.1K

-10.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.9M

$12.8K ₡5.8M

0.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡28.3K

$60.0 ₡27.4K

3.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡23.8K

$24.32 ₡11.1K

114.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.4K

$89.4 ₡40.9K

40.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.9K

$50.2 ₡22.9K

113.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₡343.7K

$776 ₡354.4K

-3.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₡272.0K

$588 ₡268.7K

1.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,544 ₡705.3K

$1,516 ₡692.7K

1.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 ₡436.3K

$964 ₡440.4K

-0.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡149.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$781 ₡357.0K

$993 ₡453.8K

-21.32%

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 Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Playa del Coco versus $776 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Playa del Coco versus $49.00 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $298 – making Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon 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 Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Coco costs about 19% more than Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,637 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,224 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Playa del Coco and $49.00 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Playa del Coco, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, where all-in costs run around $1,483, than in Playa del Coco at $1,758. In Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon costs $1,483 versus $1,758 in Playa del Coco. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. 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.