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

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Coco is 79.5% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 39.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 32.8% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 35.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
Puntarenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98 ₡7,517
$7.26 ₡3,413
120.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 ₡37.6K
$59.9 ₡28.2K
33.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 ₡4,619
$9.24 ₡4,346
6.28%
Cappuccino
$7.13 ₡3,352
$3.82 ₡1,797
86.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 ₡1,123
$2.07 ₡972
15.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₡915
$1.66 ₡780
17.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 ₡1,517
$2.96 ₡1,394
9.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89 ₡2,769
$4.62 ₡2,171
27.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
Puntarenas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 ₡1,209
$1.97 ₡925
30.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 ₡1,359
$2.81 ₡1,322
2.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 ₡1,006
$2.03 ₡954
5.42%
Eggs
$2.88 ₡1,352
$2.27 ₡1,068
26.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.63 ₡4,059
$3.32 ₡1,563
159.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.08 ₡6,153
$7.80 ₡3,670
67.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.94 ₡6,554
$8.75 ₡4,114
59.31%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 ₡2,141
$3.56 ₡1,676
27.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ₡691
$0.99 ₡465
48.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 ₡2,049
$1.17 ₡551
272.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 ₡786
$1.33 ₡627
25.56%
Potato (1kg)
$3.36 ₡1,582
$1.59 ₡749
111.32%
Onion (1kg)
$3.05 ₡1,436
$1.62 ₡760
88.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡456
$0.82 ₡385
18.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 ₡1,338
$1.91 ₡897
48.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.98 ₡2,343
$4.56 ₡2,143
9.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 ₡6,917
$7.66 ₡3,604
92.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 ₡1,035
$1.63 ₡765
34.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,198
$2.39 ₡1,124
6.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
Puntarenas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 ₡554
$0.95 ₡449
24.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ₡1,422
$1.87 ₡881
61.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 ₡847
$1.80 ₡846
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 ₡3,801
$7.95 ₡3,738
1.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 ₡896
$1.31 ₡615
45.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K ₡17.9M
$38.4K ₡18.1M
-0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K ₡15.3M
$16.8K ₡7.9M
92.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
Puntarenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 ₡82.8K
$50.5 ₡23.7K
248.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.89 ₡12.2K
$19.56 ₡9,199
32.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡28.5K
$24.11 ₡11.3K
151.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
Puntarenas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 ₡27.1K
$57.7 ₡27.1K
-0.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.16 ₡11.4K
$23.83 ₡11.2K
1.38%
Cinema Ticket
$9.83 ₡4,621
$10.05 ₡4,724
-2.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
Puntarenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$522 ₡245.5K
$579 ₡272.3K
-9.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡6.0M
$12.9K ₡6.1M
-1.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
Puntarenas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6 ₡29.5K
$23.83 ₡11.2K
162.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 ₡24.6K
$15.94 ₡7,495
227.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₡59.1K
$128 ₡60.1K
-1.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₡51.3K
$46.91 ₡22.1K
132.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
Puntarenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ₡355.5K
$766 ₡360.4K
-1.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 ₡285.5K
$588 ₡276.4K
3.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 ₡703.8K
$1,488 ₡699.9K
0.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$968 ₡455.4K
$975 ₡458.6K
-0.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$966 ₡454.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$317 ₡148.9K
$636 ₡298.9K
-50.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
Puntarenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$740 ₡348.1K
$934 ₡439.0K
-20.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
6
69.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Coco: March 2, 2026

Last update for Puntarenas: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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