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

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Coco is 28.7% more expensive than Santa Teresa without rent, and 16.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 25.5% more expensive than Santa Teresa without rent, and 17.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
Santa Teresa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98 ₡7,557
$9.71 ₡4,593
64.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 ₡37.8K
$42.22 ₡20.0K
89.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 ₡4,643
$9.74 ₡4,607
0.82%
Cappuccino
$7.13 ₡3,370
$3.72 ₡1,759
91.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 ₡1,129
$2.07 ₡977
15.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₡920
$1.67 ₡787
16.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 ₡1,525
$2.95 ₡1,394
9.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89 ₡2,783
$4.76 ₡2,252
23.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
Santa Teresa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 ₡1,216
$1.97 ₡933
30.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 ₡1,366
$2.90 ₡1,373
-0.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 ₡1,011
$2.24 ₡1,061
-4.46%
Eggs
$2.88 ₡1,359
$2.95 ₡1,393
-2.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.63 ₡4,081
$10.00 ₡4,727
-13.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.08 ₡6,186
$9.11 ₡4,305
43.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.94 ₡6,589
$13.71 ₡6,483
1.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 ₡2,153
$4.55 ₡2,150
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ₡695
$1.50 ₡710
-2.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 ₡2,060
$4.14 ₡1,955
5.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 ₡791
$3.21 ₡1,516
-47.98%
Potato (1kg)
$3.36 ₡1,591
$3.35 ₡1,582
0.30%
Onion (1kg)
$3.05 ₡1,444
$2.64 ₡1,246
15.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡459
$0.95 ₡447
2.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 ₡1,345
$2.85 ₡1,345
-0.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.98 ₡2,356
$5.00 ₡2,363
-0.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 ₡6,954
$13.82 ₡6,535
6.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 ₡1,040
$2.36 ₡1,115
-6.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,205
$2.59 ₡1,223
-1.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
Santa Teresa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 ₡557
$0.96 ₡455
22.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ₡1,430
$1.81 ₡858
66.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 ₡851
$1.81 ₡854
-0.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 ₡3,821
$8.06 ₡3,810
0.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 ₡901
$1.41 ₡666
34.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K ₡18.0M
$37.6K ₡17.8M
1.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K ₡15.3M
$32.4K ₡15.3M
0.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
Santa Teresa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 ₡83.2K
$82.7 ₡39.1K
112.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.89 ₡12.2K
$25.89 ₡12.2K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡28.6K
$50.7 ₡24.0K
19.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
Santa Teresa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 ₡27.2K
$50.0 ₡23.6K
15.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.16 ₡11.4K
$23.42 ₡11.1K
3.16%
Cinema Ticket
$9.83 ₡4,646
$8.69 ₡4,109
13.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
Santa Teresa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$522 ₡246.8K
$563 ₡266.2K
-7.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡6.0M
$12.7K ₡6.0M
0.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
Santa Teresa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6 ₡29.6K
$63.6 ₡30.1K
-1.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 ₡24.7K
$51.8 ₡24.5K
0.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₡59.5K
$124 ₡58.5K
1.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₡51.6K
$108 ₡51.0K
1.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
Santa Teresa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ₡357.3K
$703 ₡332.6K
7.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 ₡287.1K
$593 ₡280.5K
2.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 ₡707.5K
$1,426 ₡674.3K
4.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$968 ₡457.8K
$967 ₡457.0K
0.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$317 ₡149.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
Santa Teresa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$740 ₡350.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-

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 Teresa: March 2, 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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