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 $1,796 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,460 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,728 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,202 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,943 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

Playa del Coco costs about 23% 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 34%, Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.81 ₡7,054

$10.91 ₡4,867

44.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 ₡35.7K

$49.10 ₡21.9K

63.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 ₡4,333

$10.05 ₡4,484

-3.38%

Cappuccino

$7.01 ₡3,129

$2.74 ₡1,221

155.84%

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

$2.37 ₡1,057

$2.06 ₡919

15.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₡853

$1.65 ₡735

15.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 ₡1,468

$2.95 ₡1,316

11.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 ₡2,642

$3.96 ₡1,766

49.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.58 ₡1,150

$1.89 ₡844

36.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,286

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡954

$2.14 ₡955

Eggs

$3.04 ₡1,358

$3.00 ₡1,337

1.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.20 ₡3,657

$8.81 ₡3,930

-6.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.79 ₡5,705

$8.39 ₡3,745

52.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 ₡6,170

$13.41 ₡5,983

3.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₡2,027

$2.40 ₡1,071

89.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡654

$1.08 ₡482

36.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 ₡1,913

$1.63 ₡725

163.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡718

$1.77 ₡792

-9.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 ₡1,483

$2.04 ₡912

63.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₡1,326

$1.90 ₡849

56.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡447

$0.83 ₡372

20.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,298

$1.76 ₡785

65.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 ₡2,158

$2.94 ₡1,312

64.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ₡8,284

$15.42 ₡6,879

20.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₡963

$2.46 ₡1,096

-12.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,135

$2.93 ₡1,305

-13.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 ₡543

$1.17 ₡524

4.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.23 ₡17.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₡1,294

$1.67 ₡743

73.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡819

$1.65 ₡738

11.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.06 ₡3,597

$7.74 ₡3,454

4.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡853

$1.47 ₡655

29.93%

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

$38.0K ₡16.9M

$38.2K ₡17.1M

-0.73%

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

$32.9K ₡14.7M

$32.1K ₡14.3M

2.43%

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

$173 ₡77.2K

$93.4 ₡41.7K

85.16%

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

$26.40 ₡11.8K

$25.73 ₡11.5K

2.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.8 ₡26.7K

$60.7 ₡27.1K

-1.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₡25.2K

$57.3 ₡25.6K

-1.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.92 ₡10.7K

$23.65 ₡10.5K

1.14%

Cinema Ticket

$10.24 ₡4,567

$9.97 ₡4,447

2.71%

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

$515 ₡229.8K

$566 ₡252.5K

-8.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.7M

$12.7K ₡5.7M

0.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡28.3K

$59.7 ₡26.7K

6.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 ₡23.1K

$23.65 ₡10.6K

118.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡56.5K

$91.1 ₡40.6K

39.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡47.1K

$49.15 ₡21.9K

114.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₡347.4K

$765 ₡341.4K

1.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡268.6K

$603 ₡269.0K

-0.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,539 ₡686.7K

$1,538 ₡685.9K

0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$980 ₡437.4K

$959 ₡427.6K

2.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$326 ₡145.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$783 ₡349.1K

$969 ₡432.2K

-19.23%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $779 in Playa del Coco versus $765 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 24% 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 $80.0 in Playa del Coco versus $49.00 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $294 – 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 23% 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 $2,694 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,190 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 $80.0 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 26% 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 $1,460, than in Playa del Coco at $1,796. 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 $1,460 versus $1,796 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.