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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,738 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,584 in San Rafael, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,664 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,437 in San Rafael, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,591 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,290 in San Rafael, rent included.

Playa del Coco costs about 10% more than San Rafael, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Coco and San Rafael sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 31%, San Rafael by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.13 ₡7,234

$10.74 ₡4,814

50.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 ₡36.0K

$60.8 ₡27.3K

31.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.10 ₡4,528

$10.08 ₡4,519

0.20%

Cappuccino

$7.05 ₡3,160

$3.92 ₡1,759

79.85%

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

$2.37 ₡1,064

$2.00 ₡898

18.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₡854

$1.58 ₡707

20.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$3.06 ₡1,373

7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 ₡2,742

$4.65 ₡2,085

31.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.52 ₡1,132

$2.06 ₡926

22.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 ₡1,245

$2.84 ₡1,275

-2.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡962

$2.21 ₡991

-3.17%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,313

$2.92 ₡1,310

0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 ₡3,875

$10.09 ₡4,523

-14.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 ₡5,808

$8.93 ₡4,006

45.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 ₡6,072

$13.52 ₡6,064

0.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₡2,045

$4.45 ₡1,995

2.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.52 ₡681

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 ₡1,868

$4.17 ₡1,871

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 ₡741

$3.58 ₡1,605

-53.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 ₡1,480

$3.45 ₡1,546

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,317

$3.23 ₡1,450

-8.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡429

$1.01 ₡452

-4.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,326

$2.84 ₡1,275

4.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,218

$5.38 ₡2,412

-7.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.51 ₡8,301

$21.36 ₡9,579

-13.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₡937

$2.43 ₡1,088

-13.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₡1,200

$2.89 ₡1,296

-7.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 ₡524

$1.03 ₡463

13.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 ₡1,314

$1.88 ₡841

55.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 ₡810

$1.77 ₡792

2.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.68 ₡3,445

$7.98 ₡3,578

-3.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 ₡824

$1.40 ₡627

31.43%

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

$38.5K ₡17.2M

$38.1K ₡17.1M

0.95%

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

$32.3K ₡14.5M

$32.8K ₡14.7M

-1.61%

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

$175 ₡78.2K

$93.1 ₡41.7K

87.54%

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

$26.08 ₡11.7K

$25.84 ₡11.6K

0.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 ₡26.4K

$59.3 ₡26.6K

-0.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₡25.3K

$56.0 ₡25.1K

0.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.53 ₡10.5K

$24.15 ₡10.8K

-2.57%

Cinema Ticket

$10.08 ₡4,522

$10.03 ₡4,498

0.50%

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

$517 ₡231.9K

$570 ₡255.4K

-9.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.7M

$12.6K ₡5.7M

1.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 ₡28.6K

$62.0 ₡27.8K

2.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.3 ₡23.0K

$51.8 ₡23.2K

-0.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.1K

-0.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₡343.7K

$762 ₡341.9K

0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₡267.7K

$608 ₡272.8K

-1.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,521 ₡681.9K

$1,549 ₡694.5K

-1.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$981 ₡440.0K

$975 ₡437.4K

0.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡146.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$775 ₡347.7K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $767 in Playa del Coco versus $762 in San Rafael. 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 $80.0 in Playa del Coco versus $61.0 in San Rafael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $367 – making San Rafael 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 Rafael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Coco costs about 10% more than San Rafael, 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 $2,607 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,376 in San Rafael. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Rafael, 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 $80.0 in Playa del Coco and $61.0 in San Rafael. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $1,584, than in Playa del Coco at $1,738. In San Rafael 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 Rafael – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with San Rafael. 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.