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 16.1% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 13.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 8% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 5.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98 ₡7,524
$10.75 ₡5,062
48.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 ₡37.6K
$60.1 ₡28.3K
32.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 ₡4,623
$10.05 ₡4,732
-2.29%
Cappuccino
$7.13 ₡3,355
$3.90 ₡1,837
82.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 ₡1,124
$2.05 ₡964
16.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₡916
$1.65 ₡778
18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 ₡1,519
$2.92 ₡1,375
10.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89 ₡2,771
$4.78 ₡2,248
23.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 ₡1,210
$2.05 ₡965
25.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 ₡1,360
$2.86 ₡1,345
1.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 ₡1,007
$2.21 ₡1,039
-3.17%
Eggs
$2.88 ₡1,353
$3.01 ₡1,416
-4.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.63 ₡4,063
$9.79 ₡4,606
-11.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.08 ₡6,159
$9.39 ₡4,419
39.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.94 ₡6,560
$13.61 ₡6,405
2.42%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 ₡2,143
$4.44 ₡2,089
2.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ₡692
$1.45 ₡685
1.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 ₡2,051
$4.28 ₡2,014
1.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 ₡787
$3.46 ₡1,629
-51.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.36 ₡1,584
$3.57 ₡1,682
-5.88%
Onion (1kg)
$3.05 ₡1,438
$3.12 ₡1,467
-2.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡457
$0.96 ₡452
1.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 ₡1,339
$2.94 ₡1,382
-3.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.98 ₡2,345
$5.13 ₡2,416
-2.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 ₡6,923
$19.99 ₡9,409
-26.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 ₡1,036
$2.50 ₡1,175
-12.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,199
$2.88 ₡1,357
-11.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 ₡554
$0.95 ₡448
24.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.57 ₡19.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ₡1,423
$1.87 ₡881
61.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 ₡848
$1.78 ₡840
1.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 ₡3,804
$7.81 ₡3,677
3.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 ₡897
$1.40 ₡658
35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K ₡17.9M
$38.2K ₡18.0M
-0.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K ₡15.3M
$32.2K ₡15.2M
0.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 ₡82.9K
$95.4 ₡44.9K
84.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.89 ₡12.2K
$25.62 ₡12.1K
1.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡28.5K
$60.7 ₡28.6K
-0.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 ₡27.1K
$57.5 ₡27.1K
0.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.16 ₡11.4K
$37.65 ₡17.7K
-35.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.83 ₡4,625
$9.98 ₡4,698
-1.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$522 ₡245.7K
$559 ₡263.3K
-6.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡6.0M
$12.7K ₡6.0M
-0.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6 ₡29.5K
$61.5 ₡28.9K
1.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 ₡24.6K
$51.1 ₡24.1K
2.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₡59.2K
$125 ₡58.9K
0.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₡51.3K
$107 ₡50.3K
2.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ₡355.8K
$874 ₡411.6K
-13.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 ₡285.8K
$531 ₡249.8K
14.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 ₡704.4K
$1,466 ₡690.2K
2.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$968 ₡455.8K
$1,048 ₡493.1K
-7.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,300 ₡1.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$317 ₡149.0K
$1,743 ₡820.3K
-81.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$740 ₡348.4K
$985 ₡463.7K
-24.87%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for San Jose: March 1, 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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