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

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Coco is 12.1% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 10.4% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 2.7% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 4.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.93 ₡7,975
$10.76 ₡5,385
48.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 ₡40.4K
$59 ₡29.5K
36.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.05 ₡5,032
$9.85 ₡4,931
2.03%
Cappuccino
$7.13 ₡3,571
$3.88 ₡1,942
83.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₡1,193
$1.96 ₡983
21.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ₡961
$1.59 ₡794
20.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.34 ₡1,670
$3.04 ₡1,522
9.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.9 ₡2,955
$4.59 ₡2,300
28.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 ₡1,285
$2.02 ₡1,013
27.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 ₡1,383
$2.88 ₡1,443
-4.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 ₡1,074
$2.13 ₡1,067
0.94%
Eggs
$2.88 ₡1,441
$2.94 ₡1,472
-2.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.42 ₡4,217
$9.69 ₡4,852
-13.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 ₡6,562
$9.22 ₡4,617
42.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.73 ₡6,873
$13.64 ₡6,831
0.66%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 ₡2,231
$4.47 ₡2,238
-0.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 ₡753
$1.45 ₡728
3.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 ₡2,096
$4.38 ₡2,192
-4.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡804
$3.55 ₡1,779
-54.65%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 ₡1,722
$3.55 ₡1,777
-3.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 ₡1,486
$3.25 ₡1,628
-8.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ₡489
$1.04 ₡519
-5.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₡1,436
$2.8 ₡1,403
2.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.1 ₡2,551
$5.43 ₡2,716
-6.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.13 ₡7,071
$18.98 ₡9,503
-25.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₡1,085
$2.41 ₡1,205
-9.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 ₡1,264
$2.92 ₡1,461
-13.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡609
$1 ₡501
22.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ₡1,458
$1.88 ₡939
54.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.8 ₡900
$1.86 ₡930
-3.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.7 ₡3,854
$7.8 ₡3,904
-1.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 ₡958
$1.4 ₡699
36.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K ₡19.2M
$37.7K ₡18.9M
1.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K ₡16.6M
$32.7K ₡16.4M
1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 ₡87.8K
$92.9 ₡46.5K
88.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.39 ₡13.2K
$25.98 ₡13K
1.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.3 ₡29.7K
$60.2 ₡30.1K
-1.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.3 ₡28.7K
$56.2 ₡28.2K
1.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.26 ₡12.1K
$38.51 ₡19.3K
-37.00%
Cinema Ticket
$10.08 ₡5,048
$9.89 ₡4,953
1.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$529 ₡265K
$567 ₡283.6K
-6.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K ₡6.2M
$12.8K ₡6.4M
-3.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 ₡31.5K
$63.5 ₡31.8K
-1.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 ₡26.1K
$50.8 ₡25.4K
2.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡64.3K
$125 ₡62.6K
2.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ₡52.7K
$107 ₡53.7K
-1.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 ₡380.9K
$865 ₡433K
-12.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 ₡301.5K
$536 ₡268.3K
12.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,502 ₡751.7K
$1,427 ₡714.5K
5.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 ₡474.4K
$1,034 ₡517.9K
-8.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$297 ₡148.9K
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-82.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$709 ₡354.8K
$996 ₡498.4K
-28.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-

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

Last update for Playa del Coco: October 27, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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