😐A single person spends $1,767 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,606 in San Pedro, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,660 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,402 in San Pedro, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,552 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,199 in San Pedro, rent included.
😐Playa del Coco costs about 10% more than San Pedro, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Coco and San Pedro sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 32%, San Pedro by 20%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
San Pedro
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.61₡7,099
$10.75₡4,889
45.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4₡35.6K
$59.5₡27.0K
31.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.00₡4,549
$9.97₡4,536
0.30%
Cappuccino
$7.10₡3,229
$3.73₡1,696
90.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44₡1,110
$2.03₡924
20.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84₡837
$1.65₡751
11.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.31₡1,505
$2.91₡1,324
13.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01₡2,731
$4.63₡2,107
29.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
San Pedro
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50₡1,136
$1.96₡890
27.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87₡1,306
$2.79₡1,269
2.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21₡1,003
$2.23₡1,016
-0.90%
Eggs
$2.91₡1,324
$3.00₡1,363
-3.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.29₡3,770
$10.21₡4,644
-18.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.73₡5,791
$8.99₡4,089
41.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.48₡6,132
$13.47₡6,125
0.07%
Apples(1kg)
$4.55₡2,069
$4.37₡1,987
4.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44₡656
$1.44₡653
-
Oranges(1kg)
$4.14₡1,881
$4.30₡1,958
-3.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66₡753
$3.56₡1,617
-53.37%
Potato(1kg)
$3.42₡1,554
$3.44₡1,563
-0.58%
Onion(1kg)
$3.02₡1,373
$3.08₡1,402
-1.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02₡463
$1.02₡465
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.90₡1,320
$2.92₡1,326
-0.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.90₡2,230
$5.14₡2,339
-4.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.70₡7,593
$22.20₡10.1K
-24.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11₡957
$2.45₡1,115
-13.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53₡1,150
$2.81₡1,279
-9.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
San Pedro
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22₡555
$0.95₡431
28.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.91₡1,323
$1.86₡844
56.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.77₡807
$1.80₡819
-1.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.68₡3,491
$8.06₡3,667
-4.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81₡822
$1.46₡662
23.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K₡16.9M
$37.1K₡16.9M
0.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K₡14.7M
$32.4K₡14.7M
-0.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
San Pedro
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177₡80.4K
$94.8₡43.1K
86.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.55₡11.6K
$26.30₡12.0K
-2.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.3₡27.4K
$59.0₡26.8K
2.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
San Pedro
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.4₡25.6K
$56.0₡25.5K
0.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.50₡10.7K
$23.51₡10.7K
-0.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.99₡4,542
$10.23₡4,651
-2.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
San Pedro
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$531₡241.5K
$576₡261.8K
-7.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5K₡5.7M
$12.8K₡5.8M
-2.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
San Pedro
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.0₡28.2K
$62.4₡28.4K
-0.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4₡23.8K
$51.0₡23.2K
2.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128₡58.1K
$127₡57.6K
0.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106₡48.3K
$110₡49.8K
-3.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
San Pedro
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$754₡342.7K
$759₡345.3K
-0.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$587₡266.9K
$603₡274.4K
-2.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,536₡698.5K
$1,491₡677.8K
3.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$961₡437.0K
$971₡441.3K
-0.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$323₡146.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
San Pedro
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 Pedro: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $754 in Playa del Coco versus $759 in San Pedro. 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 $59.0 in San Pedro. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Playa del Coco vs $368 in San Pedro – so Playa del Coco wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Pedro: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Coco or San Pedro?
Playa del Coco costs about 10% more than San Pedro, 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 Pedro?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,650 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,409 in San Pedro. 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 Pedro?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Pedro, 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 Pedro?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Playa del Coco and $59.0 in San Pedro. 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 Pedro?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Playa del Coco – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Playa del Coco or San Pedro?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Pedro, where all-in costs run around $1,606, than in Playa del Coco at $1,767. In San Pedro 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 Pedro – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Playa del Coco or San Pedro?
If budget matters most, go with San Pedro. 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