😐A single person spends $1,767 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,588 in San Isidro, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,660 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,395 in San Isidro, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,552 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,202 in San Isidro, rent included.
😐Playa del Coco costs about 11% more than San Isidro, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Coco and San Isidro sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 32%, San Isidro by 19%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
San Isidro
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.61₡7,099
$9.80₡4,458
59.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4₡35.6K
$50.8₡23.1K
54.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.00₡4,549
$9.88₡4,491
1.21%
Cappuccino
$7.10₡3,229
$3.67₡1,671
93.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44₡1,110
$2.05₡934
19.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84₡837
$1.58₡719
16.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.31₡1,505
$3.05₡1,386
8.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01₡2,731
$4.62₡2,103
30.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
San Isidro
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50₡1,136
$1.95₡887
28.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87₡1,306
$2.86₡1,302
0.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21₡1,003
$2.24₡1,020
-1.34%
Eggs
$2.91₡1,324
$2.88₡1,308
1.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.29₡3,770
$9.77₡4,443
-15.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.73₡5,791
$9.33₡4,243
36.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.48₡6,132
$13.92₡6,329
-3.16%
Apples(1kg)
$4.55₡2,069
$4.46₡2,029
2.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44₡656
$1.50₡684
-4.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.14₡1,881
$4.30₡1,957
-3.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66₡753
$3.21₡1,460
-48.29%
Potato(1kg)
$3.42₡1,554
$3.42₡1,553
-
Onion(1kg)
$3.02₡1,373
$3.07₡1,395
-1.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02₡463
$1.01₡460
0.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.90₡1,320
$2.83₡1,287
2.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.90₡2,230
$4.89₡2,223
0.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.70₡7,593
$16.12₡7,332
3.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11₡957
$2.26₡1,027
-6.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53₡1,150
$2.57₡1,171
-1.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
San Isidro
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22₡555
$1.01₡457
20.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.91₡1,323
$1.80₡819
61.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.77₡807
$1.77₡807
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.68₡3,491
$8.00₡3,638
-4.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81₡822
$1.45₡657
24.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K₡16.9M
$37.5K₡17.1M
-0.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K₡14.7M
$32.0K₡14.5M
0.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
San Isidro
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177₡80.4K
$95.0₡43.2K
86.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.55₡11.6K
$25.41₡11.6K
0.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.3₡27.4K
$52.1₡23.7K
15.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
San Isidro
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.4₡25.6K
$55.7₡25.3K
1.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.50₡10.7K
$23.72₡10.8K
-0.93%
Cinema Ticket
$9.99₡4,542
$10.19₡4,635
-1.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
San Isidro
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$531₡241.5K
$525₡238.9K
1.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5K₡5.7M
$12.5K₡5.7M
0.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
San Isidro
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.0₡28.2K
$62.0₡28.2K
0.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4₡23.8K
$51.6₡23.5K
1.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128₡58.1K
$125₡57.1K
1.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106₡48.3K
$105₡47.9K
0.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
San Isidro
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$754₡342.7K
$752₡342.1K
0.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$587₡266.9K
$589₡267.8K
-0.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,536₡698.5K
$1,508₡685.8K
1.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$961₡437.0K
$969₡440.5K
-0.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$323₡146.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
San Isidro
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$759₡345.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Coco: April 28, 2026
Última actualización para San Isidro: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $754 in Playa del Coco versus $752 in San Isidro. 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 $78.0 in Playa del Coco versus $51.0 in San Isidro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $354 – making San Isidro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Coco vs San Isidro: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Coco or San Isidro?
Playa del Coco costs about 11% more than San Isidro, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Coco vs San Isidro?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,650 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,381 in San Isidro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Coco or San Isidro?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Isidro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Coco vs San Isidro?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Playa del Coco and $51.0 in San Isidro. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Coco or San Isidro?
Groceries cost about 3% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Coco or San Isidro?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Isidro, where all-in costs run around $1,588, than in Playa del Coco at $1,767. In San Isidro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward San Isidro – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Playa del Coco compared to San Isidro?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Coco or San Isidro?
If budget matters most, go with San Isidro. 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.
Playa del Coco vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado