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 $1,747 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,764 in San Rafael, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,752 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,770 in San Rafael, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,758 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,777 in San Rafael, rent included.

Playa del Coco is about 1% cheaper than San Rafael, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Coco and San Rafael sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 28%, San Rafael by 29%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.10 ₡8,044

$12.15 ₡5,399

48.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₡25.2K

$59.0 ₡26.2K

-3.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.00 ₡4,891

$11.80 ₡5,246

-6.78%

Cappuccino

$4.24 ₡1,885

$4.47 ₡1,985

-5.15%

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

$2.64 ₡1,175

$2.71 ₡1,202

-2.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₡764

$1.90 ₡844

-9.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 ₡1,578

$3.30 ₡1,468

7.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.22 ₡2,764

$4.51 ₡2,005

37.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₡1,035

$2.42 ₡1,074

-3.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 ₡1,123

$3.16 ₡1,403

-19.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,114

$2.45 ₡1,091

2.45%

Eggs

$3.45 ₡1,535

$3.60 ₡1,601

-4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 ₡4,716

$10.72 ₡4,765

-1.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,677

$10.74 ₡4,771

-2.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.25 ₡7,221

$14.24 ₡6,330

14.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 ₡2,062

$5.14 ₡2,285

-9.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₡804

$1.59 ₡709

13.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.17 ₡1,407

$4.71 ₡2,093

-32.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,588

$3.87 ₡1,721

-7.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₡1,451

$3.77 ₡1,677

-13.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,372

$3.76 ₡1,670

-17.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡425

$1.08 ₡481

-11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₡1,039

$3.24 ₡1,442

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.74 ₡2,549

$5.94 ₡2,641

-3.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.43 ₡7,301

$20.32 ₡9,031

-19.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₡1,190

$2.86 ₡1,271

-6.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,180

$3.60 ₡1,598

-26.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡605

$1.16 ₡514

17.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 ₡1,516

$2.54 ₡1,130

34.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡723

$1.65 ₡732

-1.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.68 ₡4,304

$8.87 ₡3,943

9.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡879

$1.49 ₡662

32.89%

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

$21.1K ₡9.4M

$21.7K ₡9.6M

-2.66%

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

$32.6K ₡14.5M

$35.3K ₡15.7M

-7.55%

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

$95.2 ₡42.3K

$96.2 ₡42.8K

-1.06%

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

$30.38 ₡13.5K

$36.89 ₡16.4K

-17.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 ₡26.5K

$61.8 ₡27.5K

-3.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.4 ₡33.0K

$65.7 ₡29.2K

13.18%

Cinema Ticket

$8.53 ₡3,792

$8.42 ₡3,743

1.31%

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

$813 ₡361.3K

$983 ₡437.0K

-17.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.6M

$17.0K ₡7.6M

0.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.8 ₡35.0K

$73.8 ₡32.8K

6.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.3 ₡25.5K

$56.1 ₡24.9K

2.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡52.9K

$129 ₡57.3K

-7.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 ₡62.3K

$135 ₡59.8K

4.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ₡318.1K

$822 ₡365.3K

-12.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 ₡275.1K

$657 ₡292.1K

-5.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 ₡949.3K

$2,103 ₡934.7K

1.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 ₡519.1K

$1,424 ₡633.0K

-17.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$330 ₡146.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$779 ₡346.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Playa del Coco: September 15, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Playa del Coco versus $822 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 $57.0 in Playa del Coco versus $59.0 in San Rafael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $406 – making Playa del Coco 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

San Rafael costs about 1% more than Playa del Coco, 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 $2,621 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,646 in San Rafael. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Coco, 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 $57.0 in Playa del Coco and $59.0 in San Rafael. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in San Rafael, 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 Playa del Coco, where all-in costs run around $1,747, than in San Rafael at $1,764. In Playa del Coco it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Rafael it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Coco – 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 Playa del Coco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Rafael makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.