Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Tamarindo Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Tamarindo

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Coco is 12.7% more expensive than Tamarindo without rent, and 3.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 13.4% cheaper than Tamarindo without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.93 ₡7,975
$11.06 ₡5,535
44.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 ₡40.4K
$60.2 ₡30.1K
34.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.05 ₡5,032
$9.7 ₡4,853
3.61%
Cappuccino
$7.13 ₡3,571
$3.87 ₡1,939
84.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₡1,193
$2.04 ₡1,023
16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ₡961
$1.65 ₡827
16.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.34 ₡1,670
$3 ₡1,504
11.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.9 ₡2,955
$4.54 ₡2,271
29.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 ₡1,285
$2.06 ₡1,030
24.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 ₡1,383
$2.8 ₡1,400
-1.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 ₡1,074
$2.14 ₡1,072
0.47%
Eggs
$2.88 ₡1,441
$3.01 ₡1,507
-4.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.42 ₡4,217
$9.75 ₡4,880
-13.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 ₡6,562
$8.86 ₡4,435
47.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.73 ₡6,873
$13.81 ₡6,911
-0.58%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 ₡2,231
$4.56 ₡2,281
-2.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 ₡753
$1.44 ₡720
4.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 ₡2,096
$3.2 ₡1,601
30.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡804
$3.47 ₡1,737
-53.60%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 ₡1,722
$2.41 ₡1,204
42.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 ₡1,486
$3.02 ₡1,510
-1.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ₡489
$1.04 ₡519
-5.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₡1,436
$2.87 ₡1,437
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.1 ₡2,551
$4.81 ₡2,408
6.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.13 ₡7,071
$11.98 ₡5,999
17.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₡1,085
$2.49 ₡1,245
-12.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 ₡1,264
$2.79 ₡1,396
-9.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡609
$1.92 ₡962
-36.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.3 ₡27.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ₡1,458
$1.86 ₡931
56.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.8 ₡900
$1.87 ₡936
-3.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.7 ₡3,854
$5.78 ₡2,895
33.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 ₡958
$1.45 ₡727
31.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K ₡19.2M
$35.5K ₡17.8M
8.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K ₡16.6M
$33K ₡16.5M
0.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 ₡87.8K
$94.4 ₡47.2K
85.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.39 ₡13.2K
$22.16 ₡11.1K
19.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.3 ₡29.7K
$51.7 ₡25.9K
14.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.3 ₡28.7K
$97.3 ₡48.7K
-41.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.26 ₡12.1K
$23.79 ₡11.9K
1.98%
Cinema Ticket
$10.08 ₡5,048
$7.16 ₡3,583
40.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$529 ₡265K
$516 ₡258.3K
2.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K ₡6.2M
$8,801 ₡4.4M
41.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 ₡31.5K
$62.1 ₡31.1K
1.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 ₡26.1K
$23.76 ₡11.9K
119.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡64.3K
$108 ₡53.9K
19.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ₡52.7K
$108 ₡54K
-2.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 ₡380.9K
$1,799 ₡900.8K
-57.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 ₡301.5K
$794 ₡397.6K
-24.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,502 ₡751.7K
$2,974 ₡1.5M
-49.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 ₡474.4K
$906 ₡453.7K
4.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,354 ₡2.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$297 ₡148.9K
$3,265 ₡1.6M
-90.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$709 ₡354.8K
$875 ₡437.9K
-18.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
9
13.00%

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

Last update for Playa del Coco: October 27, 2025

Last update for Tamarindo: October 28, 2025

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