Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Playa del Coco Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Playa del Coco

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 10.8% cheaper than Playa del Coco without rent, and 9.4% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 2.8% more expensive than Playa del Coco without rent, and 4.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$15.93 ₡7,975
-32.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$80.8 ₡40.4K
-26.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$10.05 ₡5,032
-1.99%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$7.13 ₡3,571
-45.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$2.38 ₡1,193
-17.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.92 ₡961
-17.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$3.34 ₡1,670
-8.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$5.9 ₡2,955
-22.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$2.57 ₡1,285
-21.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.76 ₡1,383
4.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.15 ₡1,074
-0.93%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.88 ₡1,441
2.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$8.42 ₡4,217
15.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$13.11 ₡6,562
-29.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$13.73 ₡6,873
-0.66%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.46 ₡2,231
0.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.5 ₡753
-3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$4.19 ₡2,096
4.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$1.61 ₡804
120.50%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$3.44 ₡1,722
3.20%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$2.97 ₡1,486
9.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$0.98 ₡489
6.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.87 ₡1,436
-2.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$5.1 ₡2,551
6.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$14.13 ₡7,071
34.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.17 ₡1,085
11.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.53 ₡1,264
15.42%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$1.22 ₡609
-18.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$2.91 ₡1,458
-35.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.8 ₡900
3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.7 ₡3,854
1.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.91 ₡958
-26.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$38.4K ₡19.2M
-1.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$33.1K ₡16.6M
-1.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$175 ₡87.8K
-47.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$26.39 ₡13.2K
-1.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$59.3 ₡29.7K
1.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$57.3 ₡28.7K
-1.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$24.26 ₡12.1K
58.74%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$10.08 ₡5,048
-1.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$529 ₡265K
7.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$12.4K ₡6.2M
3.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$62.8 ₡31.5K
1.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$52.2 ₡26.1K
-2.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$128 ₡64.3K
-2.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$105 ₡52.7K
1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$761 ₡380.9K
13.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$602 ₡301.5K
-10.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,502 ₡751.7K
-4.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$948 ₡474.4K
9.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
$297 ₡148.9K
470.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
$709 ₡354.8K
40.47%
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 San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Coco: October 27, 2025

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