Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and San Ramon

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Coco: $1,676 a month against $1,729 in San Ramon, rent and utilities included – about $640 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in San Ramon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Playa del Coco, Costa Rica
San Ramon, Costa Rica
Playa del Coco
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,676
/mo nomad
San Ramon
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,729
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Coco and in San Ramon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Coco and in San Ramon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,676 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,729 in San Ramon, rent included.

  • Playa del Coco $1,676
  • San Ramon $1,729

A couple spends around $2,700 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,722 in San Ramon, rent included.

  • Playa del Coco $2,700
  • San Ramon $2,722

A family of three spends $3,724 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,715 in San Ramon, rent included.

  • Playa del Coco $3,724
  • San Ramon $3,715

Playa del Coco is about 3% cheaper than San Ramon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Playa del Coco and San Ramon sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 23%, San Ramon by 27%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
San Ramon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.46 ₡8,332
$12.18 ₡5,500
51.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 ₡26.2K
$61.9 ₡27.9K
-6.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.36 ₡6,032
$11.69 ₡5,276
14.29%
Cappuccino
$4.35 ₡1,966
$3.82 ₡1,726
13.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ₡1,197
$2.21 ₡996
19.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₡724
$1.96 ₡884
-18.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.58 ₡1,614
$3.01 ₡1,357
18.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 ₡2,776
$4.71 ₡2,126
30.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
San Ramon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.30 ₡1,040
$2.39 ₡1,077
-3.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.79 ₡1,260
$3.04 ₡1,371
-8.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.44 ₡1,103
$2.53 ₡1,141
-3.56%
Eggs
$3.56 ₡1,606
$5.07 ₡2,288
-29.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 ₡4,766
$10.78 ₡4,869
-2.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.58 ₡4,778
$10.31 ₡4,654
2.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.10 ₡7,267
$14.28 ₡6,446
12.75%
Apples (1kg)
$5.57 ₡2,517
$4.99 ₡2,253
11.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ₡798
$1.55 ₡700
14.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,732
$3.26 ₡1,471
17.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.58 ₡1,615
$3.42 ₡1,546
4.68%
Potato (1kg)
$3.43 ₡1,549
$3.19 ₡1,442
7.52%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 ₡1,387
$3.22 ₡1,452
-4.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 ₡543
$1.21 ₡547
-0.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 ₡1,207
$2.74 ₡1,236
-2.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.81 ₡2,624
$5.56 ₡2,511
4.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.66 ₡7,521
$16.31 ₡7,362
2.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 ₡1,132
$2.56 ₡1,154
-1.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ₡1,195
$2.73 ₡1,234
-2.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
San Ramon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.33 ₡600
$1.30 ₡587
2.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 ₡1,110
$2.45 ₡1,108
0.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$1.57 ₡708
-1.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.30 ₡4,200
$8.87 ₡4,005
4.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 ₡714
$1.55 ₡700
1.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K ₡15.5M
$34.5K ₡15.6M
-0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K ₡18.5M
$41.3K ₡18.7M
-0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
San Ramon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.6 ₡42.3K
$144 ₡65.2K
-35.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.79 ₡13.4K
$44.11 ₡19.9K
-32.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 ₡26.3K
$53.9 ₡24.3K
8.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
San Ramon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.1 ₡32.1K
$59.0 ₡26.6K
20.40%
Cinema Ticket
$7.18 ₡3,241
$7.81 ₡3,526
-8.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
San Ramon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$756 ₡341.1K
$843 ₡380.8K
-10.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K ₡7.7M
$17.0K ₡7.7M
-0.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
San Ramon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.1 ₡37.1K
$70.5 ₡31.8K
16.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.6 ₡25.1K
$55.3 ₡24.9K
0.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 ₡49.6K
$129 ₡58.1K
-14.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 ₡52.5K
$125 ₡56.5K
-7.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
San Ramon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$882 ₡398.0K
$816 ₡368.5K
7.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$559 ₡252.2K
$626 ₡282.5K
-10.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,979 ₡893.5K
$1,903 ₡859.0K
4.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 ₡538.4K
$1,249 ₡563.9K
-4.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,145 ₡516.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$334 ₡150.8K
$1,156 ₡521.7K
-71.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
San Ramon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$772 ₡348.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
8.62
-

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

Last update for Playa del Coco: October 25, 2026

Last update for San Ramon: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
$559
San Ramon
$626 12% $67
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
$384
San Ramon
$380 0.9% $3.6
Eating Out
Playa del Coco
$287
San Ramon
$220 23.6% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
$182
San Ramon
$242 33.5% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
$164
San Ramon
$171 4.3% $7
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
$85
San Ramon
$75 12.6% $11
Getting Around
Playa del Coco
$16 *
San Ramon
$16 * 0.3% $0

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $882 in Playa del Coco versus $816 in San Ramon. 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 $58 in Playa del Coco versus $62 in San Ramon. Groceries tell a different story – $384 in Playa del Coco vs $380 in San Ramon – so San Ramon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Playa del Coco
🇨🇷 San Ramon
🕒 Local time
22:02 10:02 PM
22:02 10:02 PM
Same time as Playa del Coco
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
10,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Coco San Ramon 140 km
From you
  • Playa del Coco
  • San Ramon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ramon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Coco or San Ramon?
San Ramon costs about 3% more than Playa del Coco, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. 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 and in San Ramon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,514 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,593 in San Ramon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Coco compared to San Ramon?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $882 in Playa del Coco and $816 in San Ramon. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Coco compared to San Ramon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,676 in Playa del Coco and $1,729 in San Ramon. That makes Playa del Coco about 3% cheaper.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Coco and in San Ramon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58 in Playa del Coco and $62 in San Ramon. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Playa del Coco or in San Ramon?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,676 in Playa del Coco and $1,729 in San Ramon, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Coco or San Ramon?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Coco has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,676 in Playa del Coco to $1,729 in San Ramon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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