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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,747 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,418 in Upala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,752 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,305 in Upala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,758 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,192 in Upala, rent included.

Playa del Coco costs about 23% more than Upala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Coco and Upala sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 28%, Upala by 4%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.10 ₡8,044

$12.09 ₡5,375

49.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₡25.2K

$55.9 ₡24.8K

1.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.00 ₡4,891

$11.76 ₡5,225

-6.46%

Cappuccino

$4.24 ₡1,885

$3.79 ₡1,686

11.87%

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

$2.64 ₡1,175

$1.80 ₡801

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₡764

$1.83 ₡813

-6.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 ₡1,578

$3.35 ₡1,487

5.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.22 ₡2,764

$4.47 ₡1,986

39.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₡1,035

$2.25 ₡1,000

3.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 ₡1,123

$1.70 ₡756

48.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,114

$2.55 ₡1,133

-1.57%

Eggs

$3.45 ₡1,535

$2.69 ₡1,196

28.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 ₡4,716

$3.30 ₡1,467

221.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,677

$6.51 ₡2,895

61.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.25 ₡7,221

$8.83 ₡3,925

84.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 ₡2,062

$1.74 ₡773

166.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₡804

$0.69 ₡307

162.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.17 ₡1,407

$2.93 ₡1,304

8.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,588

$2.63 ₡1,169

35.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₡1,451

$3.71 ₡1,647

-12.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,372

$2.65 ₡1,177

16.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡425

$1.09 ₡487

-11.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₡1,039

$2.64 ₡1,172

-11.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.74 ₡2,549

$5.86 ₡2,603

-2.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.43 ₡7,301

$8.74 ₡3,884

87.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₡1,190

$2.70 ₡1,202

-0.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,180

$3.71 ₡1,649

-28.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡605

$1.23 ₡545

10.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 ₡1,516

$2.41 ₡1,072

41.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡723

$1.64 ₡728

-0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.68 ₡4,304

$6.76 ₡3,006

43.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡879

$1.45 ₡642

36.55%

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

$21.1K ₡9.4M

$21.9K ₡9.7M

-3.40%

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

$32.6K ₡14.5M

$35.2K ₡15.7M

-7.49%

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

$95.2 ₡42.3K

$56.1 ₡25.0K

69.52%

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

$30.38 ₡13.5K

$37.05 ₡16.5K

-18.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 ₡26.5K

$22.04 ₡9,794

170.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.4 ₡33.0K

$75.4 ₡33.5K

-1.34%

Cinema Ticket

$8.53 ₡3,792

$8.55 ₡3,799

-0.23%

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

$813 ₡361.3K

$987 ₡438.7K

-17.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.6M

$16.9K ₡7.5M

1.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.8 ₡35.0K

$33.20 ₡14.8K

137.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.3 ₡25.5K

$21.88 ₡9,725

161.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡52.9K

$132 ₡58.5K

-9.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 ₡62.3K

$33.11 ₡14.7K

323.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ₡318.1K

$859 ₡382.0K

-16.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 ₡275.1K

$656 ₡291.8K

-5.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 ₡949.3K

$1,742 ₡774.4K

22.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 ₡519.1K

$1,276 ₡567.2K

-8.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$330 ₡146.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$779 ₡346.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Playa del Coco: September 15, 2026

Last update for Upala: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Playa del Coco versus $859 in Upala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Playa del Coco versus $56.0 in Upala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $258 – making Upala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Playa del Coco vs Upala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Coco costs about 23% more than Upala, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,621 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,127 in Upala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Upala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Playa del Coco and $56.0 in Upala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Playa del Coco, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Upala, where all-in costs run around $1,418, than in Playa del Coco at $1,747. In Upala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Upala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Upala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Coco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.