Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Santa Barbara Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Santa Barbara

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Coco is 16.8% more expensive than Santa Barbara without rent, and 13.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 14.5% more expensive than Santa Barbara without rent, and 15.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.98 ₡7,557

$10.77 ₡5,091

48.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 ₡37.8K

$59.0 ₡27.9K

35.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 ₡4,643

$9.79 ₡4,630

0.31%

Cappuccino

$7.13 ₡3,370

$3.79 ₡1,794

88.13%

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

$2.39 ₡1,129

$2.08 ₡982

14.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ₡920

$1.65 ₡782

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 ₡1,525

$3.04 ₡1,440

6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 ₡2,783

$4.59 ₡2,169

28.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 ₡1,216

$1.98 ₡936

29.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,366

$2.85 ₡1,349

1.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡1,011

$2.23 ₡1,054

-4.04%

Eggs

$2.88 ₡1,359

$3.01 ₡1,423

-4.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.63 ₡4,081

$8.78 ₡4,149

-1.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.08 ₡6,186

$9.24 ₡4,368

41.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 ₡6,589

$13.88 ₡6,562

0.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 ₡2,153

$4.41 ₡2,083

3.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡695

$1.28 ₡605

14.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 ₡2,060

$2.42 ₡1,144

80.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 ₡791

$3.46 ₡1,637

-51.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.36 ₡1,591

$2.94 ₡1,392

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₡1,444

$3.01 ₡1,424

1.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡459

$0.69 ₡325

40.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₡1,345

$2.97 ₡1,402

-4.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.98 ₡2,356

$5.34 ₡2,526

-6.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 ₡6,954

$12.60 ₡5,958

16.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 ₡1,040

$2.52 ₡1,193

-12.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,205

$2.85 ₡1,345

-10.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 ₡557

$1.00 ₡475

18.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₡1,430

$1.84 ₡871

64.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 ₡851

$0.95 ₡448

89.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.08 ₡3,821

$7.72 ₡3,650

4.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 ₡901

$1.47 ₡693

29.25%

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

$38.1K ₡18.0M

-0.06%

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

$32.4K ₡15.3M

$32.7K ₡15.4M

-0.69%

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

$176 ₡83.2K

$67.0 ₡31.7K

162.60%

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

$25.89 ₡12.2K

$25.57 ₡12.1K

1.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 ₡28.6K

$60.2 ₡28.4K

0.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.6 ₡27.2K

$57.7 ₡27.3K

-0.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.16 ₡11.4K

$23.75 ₡11.2K

1.73%

Cinema Ticket

$9.83 ₡4,646

$8.93 ₡4,223

10.08%

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

$522 ₡246.8K

$566 ₡267.7K

-7.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.0M

$12.9K ₡6.1M

-1.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 ₡29.6K

$63.3 ₡29.9K

-1.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡24.7K

$51.2 ₡24.2K

1.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡59.5K

$127 ₡59.9K

-0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡51.6K

$108 ₡51.0K

1.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ₡357.3K

$752 ₡355.4K

0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 ₡287.1K

$589 ₡278.6K

3.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,497 ₡707.5K

$1,536 ₡726.1K

-2.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$968 ₡457.8K

$955 ₡451.5K

1.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,796 ₡849.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$317 ₡149.6K

$1,795 ₡848.4K

-82.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$740 ₡350.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

13.00%

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 Santa Barbara: February 28, 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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