Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and San Isidro Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and San Isidro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,745 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,567 in San Isidro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,665 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,376 in San Isidro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,585 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,186 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 30%, San Isidro by 17%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.89 ₡7,180

$10.21 ₡4,614

55.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 ₡36.6K

$51.3 ₡23.2K

57.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 ₡4,582

$10.16 ₡4,590

-0.20%

Cappuccino

$6.98 ₡3,155

$3.67 ₡1,658

90.19%

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

$2.37 ₡1,072

$2.07 ₡934

14.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₡849

$1.64 ₡739

14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 ₡1,443

$2.97 ₡1,340

7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 ₡2,702

$4.59 ₡2,073

30.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.55 ₡1,153

$1.96 ₡886

30.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,294

$2.75 ₡1,241

4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡971

$2.22 ₡1,002

-3.15%

Eggs

$2.89 ₡1,305

$2.88 ₡1,299

0.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.61 ₡3,889

$9.81 ₡4,432

-12.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.14 ₡5,938

$8.91 ₡4,025

47.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.79 ₡6,232

$13.43 ₡6,068

2.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 ₡2,024

$4.58 ₡2,068

-2.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡654

$1.50 ₡679

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 ₡1,912

$4.33 ₡1,956

-2.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡748

$3.18 ₡1,435

-47.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.35 ₡1,512

$3.29 ₡1,486

1.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 ₡1,385

$3.03 ₡1,369

1.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡458

$0.97 ₡437

4.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,307

$2.82 ₡1,272

2.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.87 ₡2,201

$5.02 ₡2,270

-2.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.62 ₡7,510

$18.60 ₡8,403

-10.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₡939

$2.26 ₡1,021

-7.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 ₡1,163

$2.63 ₡1,190

-2.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 ₡522

$0.94 ₡427

22.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₡1,311

$1.86 ₡841

55.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡799

$1.79 ₡808

-1.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 ₡3,555

$7.71 ₡3,485

2.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡865

$1.40 ₡633

36.43%

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

$37.4K ₡16.9M

$37.2K ₡16.8M

0.63%

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

$32.9K ₡14.9M

$32.0K ₡14.4M

3.08%

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

$175 ₡79.2K

$95.5 ₡43.1K

83.56%

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

$25.51 ₡11.5K

$25.86 ₡11.7K

-1.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 ₡27.5K

$53.2 ₡24.1K

14.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₡25.3K

$56.5 ₡25.5K

-0.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.00 ₡10.8K

$23.65 ₡10.7K

1.48%

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 ₡4,389

$9.85 ₡4,450

-1.42%

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

$521 ₡235.3K

$534 ₡241.2K

-2.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡5.8M

$12.9K ₡5.8M

-1.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 ₡28.0K

$61.3 ₡27.7K

1.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 ₡23.5K

$52.5 ₡23.7K

-0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡55.9K

$125 ₡56.6K

-1.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.4K

$110 ₡49.5K

-2.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₡340.5K

$775 ₡350.3K

-2.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₡269.9K

$605 ₡273.3K

-1.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 ₡684.1K

$1,524 ₡688.5K

-0.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$950 ₡429.1K

$977 ₡441.6K

-2.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$331 ₡149.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 ₡339.3K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for San Isidro: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $754 in Playa del Coco versus $775 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 $81.0 in Playa del Coco versus $51.0 in San Isidro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $354 – making San Isidro 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 San Isidro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,617 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,351 in San Isidro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 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.

Groceries cost about 4% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Isidro, where all-in costs run around $1,567, than in Playa del Coco at $1,745. In San Isidro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.