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

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Coco is 68.5% more expensive than Upala without rent, and 38.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Coco is 33.5% more expensive than Upala without rent, and 35.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Coco
Upala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98 ₡7,557
$11.02 ₡5,208
45.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 ₡37.8K
$49.84 ₡23.6K
60.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 ₡4,643
$10.21 ₡4,828
-3.82%
Cappuccino
$7.13 ₡3,370
$3.33 ₡1,573
114.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 ₡1,129
$1.62 ₡768
47.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₡920
$1.54 ₡730
26.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 ₡1,525
$3.04 ₡1,436
6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89 ₡2,783
$4.71 ₡2,225
25.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Coco
Upala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 ₡1,216
$1.94 ₡917
32.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 ₡1,366
$1.48 ₡699
95.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 ₡1,011
$2.14 ₡1,011
-
Eggs
$2.88 ₡1,359
$2.45 ₡1,159
17.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.63 ₡4,081
$3.06 ₡1,447
182.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.08 ₡6,186
$5.82 ₡2,751
124.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.94 ₡6,589
$8.12 ₡3,840
71.67%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 ₡2,153
$1.56 ₡737
191.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ₡695
$0.63 ₡296
133.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 ₡2,060
$2.58 ₡1,219
68.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 ₡791
$2.41 ₡1,137
-30.71%
Potato (1kg)
$3.36 ₡1,591
$3.36 ₡1,590
-
Onion (1kg)
$3.05 ₡1,444
$2.45 ₡1,157
24.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡459
$0.97 ₡457
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 ₡1,345
$2.35 ₡1,111
20.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.98 ₡2,356
$5.31 ₡2,508
-6.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 ₡6,954
$8.49 ₡4,013
73.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 ₡1,040
$2.41 ₡1,141
-8.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,205
$2.84 ₡1,342
-10.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Coco
Upala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 ₡557
$0.97 ₡460
21.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ₡1,430
$1.88 ₡890
60.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 ₡851
$1.78 ₡839
1.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 ₡3,821
$5.81 ₡2,748
39.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 ₡901
$1.25 ₡592
52.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K ₡18.0M
$37.2K ₡17.6M
2.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K ₡15.3M
$32.0K ₡15.2M
1.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Coco
Upala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 ₡83.2K
$50.1 ₡23.7K
251.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.89 ₡12.2K
$25.47 ₡12.0K
1.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡28.6K
$19.74 ₡9,334
206.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Coco
Upala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 ₡27.2K
$56.1 ₡26.5K
2.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.16 ₡11.4K
$23.56 ₡11.1K
2.55%
Cinema Ticket
$9.83 ₡4,646
$9.79 ₡4,628
0.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Coco
Upala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$522 ₡246.8K
$575 ₡271.8K
-9.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡6.0M
$12.7K ₡6.0M
0.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Coco
Upala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6 ₡29.6K
$29.79 ₡14.1K
110.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 ₡24.7K
$19.52 ₡9,231
167.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₡59.5K
$124 ₡58.8K
1.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₡51.6K
$30.04 ₡14.2K
263.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Coco
Upala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ₡357.3K
$767 ₡362.6K
-1.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 ₡287.1K
$603 ₡285.0K
0.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 ₡707.5K
$1,533 ₡724.8K
-2.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$968 ₡457.8K
$962 ₡455.0K
0.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$317 ₡149.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Coco
Upala
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 Upala: 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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