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 2.1% more expensive than Tamarindo without rent, and 3.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 5.8% more expensive than Tamarindo without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.01 ₡7,344
$10.90 ₡4,999
46.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 ₡37.1K
$60.6 ₡27.8K
33.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.24 ₡4,699
$9.60 ₡4,404
6.67%
Cappuccino
$6.81 ₡3,122
$3.90 ₡1,790
74.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₡1,136
$1.99 ₡913
24.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡852
$1.64 ₡752
13.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 ₡1,465
$3.01 ₡1,383
5.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 ₡2,733
$4.75 ₡2,179
25.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.51 ₡1,153
$2.04 ₡938
23.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.80 ₡1,284
$2.78 ₡1,274
0.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ₡997
$2.17 ₡995
-
Eggs
$2.98 ₡1,366
$3.02 ₡1,384
-1.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.31 ₡3,813
$10.00 ₡4,588
-16.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.80 ₡5,870
$9.26 ₡4,245
38.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.83 ₡6,343
$13.56 ₡6,220
1.99%
Apples (1kg)
$4.59 ₡2,108
$4.38 ₡2,011
4.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 ₡685
$1.51 ₡692
-1.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 ₡1,920
$3.14 ₡1,442
33.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ₡732
$3.55 ₡1,629
-55.21%
Potato (1kg)
$3.36 ₡1,540
$2.32 ₡1,064
44.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 ₡1,402
$2.97 ₡1,360
3.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ₡474
$1.02 ₡470
0.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 ₡1,311
$2.89 ₡1,327
-1.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,228
$4.92 ₡2,258
-1.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.76 ₡7,689
$13.13 ₡6,024
27.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 ₡1,008
$2.53 ₡1,158
-13.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,167
$2.84 ₡1,304
-10.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 ₡541
$1.87 ₡858
-36.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.7 ₡25.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 ₡1,372
$1.80 ₡828
66.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 ₡820
$1.77 ₡810
1.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 ₡3,725
$5.85 ₡2,683
38.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 ₡845
$1.40 ₡644
31.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K ₡17.3M
$36.0K ₡16.5M
4.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ₡15.1M
$32.2K ₡14.8M
2.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 ₡78.8K
$92.6 ₡42.5K
85.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡11.9K
$22.15 ₡10.2K
17.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4 ₡27.3K
$52.0 ₡23.9K
14.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡26.5K
$97.4 ₡44.7K
-40.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.89 ₡11.0K
$23.46 ₡10.8K
1.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66 ₡4,431
$6.98 ₡3,201
38.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$522 ₡239.5K
$534 ₡245.1K
-2.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡5.8M
$8,702 ₡4.0M
46.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ₡28.6K
$62.7 ₡28.8K
-0.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0 ₡23.4K
$23.60 ₡10.8K
115.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡57.0K
$111 ₡50.9K
12.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡49.0K
$108 ₡49.6K
-1.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₡357.4K
$1,802 ₡826.5K
-56.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$585 ₡268.5K
$803 ₡368.5K
-27.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 ₡691.0K
$3,005 ₡1.4M
-49.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$946 ₡433.8K
$892 ₡409.4K
5.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,454 ₡2.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$323 ₡148.3K
$3,266 ₡1.5M
-90.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
Tamarindo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$764 ₡350.4K
$944 ₡432.9K
-19.05%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Tamarindo: April 13, 2026

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

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