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 14.2% cheaper than Playa del Coco without rent, and 10.1% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 9.1% more expensive than Playa del Coco without rent, and 8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.95 ₡5,023
$16.01 ₡7,344
-31.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡26.9K
$80.8 ₡37.1K
-27.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.24 ₡4,695
$10.24 ₡4,699
-
Cappuccino
$3.94 ₡1,809
$6.81 ₡3,122
-42.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₡950
$2.48 ₡1,135
-16.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡728
$1.86 ₡852
-14.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 ₡1,349
$3.19 ₡1,465
-7.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 ₡2,156
$5.96 ₡2,733
-21.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ₡941
$2.51 ₡1,153
-18.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 ₡1,311
$2.80 ₡1,284
2.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 ₡991
$2.17 ₡996
-0.46%
Eggs
$2.98 ₡1,367
$2.98 ₡1,366
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,699
$8.31 ₡3,813
23.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.10 ₡4,173
$12.80 ₡5,870
-28.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 ₡6,333
$13.83 ₡6,342
-0.14%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 ₡2,006
$4.59 ₡2,108
-4.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ₡689
$1.49 ₡685
0.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,011
$4.19 ₡1,920
4.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 ₡1,586
$1.59 ₡732
117.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 ₡1,624
$3.36 ₡1,540
5.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.22 ₡1,477
$3.06 ₡1,402
5.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡445
$1.03 ₡474
-5.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₡1,327
$2.86 ₡1,311
1.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.15 ₡2,361
$4.86 ₡2,228
5.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.98 ₡10.1K
$16.76 ₡7,689
31.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 ₡1,143
$2.20 ₡1,008
13.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ₡1,306
$2.54 ₡1,167
12.20%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ₡474
$1.18 ₡541
-12.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.58 ₡18.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₡859
$2.99 ₡1,372
-37.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 ₡829
$1.79 ₡820
1.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 ₡3,724
$8.12 ₡3,725
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ₡663
$1.84 ₡845
-21.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₡17.5M
$37.8K ₡17.3M
1.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K ₡14.9M
$33.0K ₡15.1M
-1.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.8K
$172 ₡78.8K
-45.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.89 ₡11.9K
$25.98 ₡11.9K
-0.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 ₡27.3K
$59.4 ₡27.3K
0.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 ₡26.4K
$57.8 ₡26.5K
-0.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.80 ₡17.8K
$23.89 ₡11.0K
62.41%
Cinema Ticket
$9.78 ₡4,484
$9.66 ₡4,431
1.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$559 ₡256.5K
$522 ₡239.5K
7.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡5.9M
$12.7K ₡5.8M
0.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9 ₡28.4K
$62.4 ₡28.6K
-0.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡23.5K
$51.0 ₡23.4K
0.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡56.7K
$124 ₡57.0K
-0.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₡48.5K
$107 ₡49.0K
-1.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 ₡405.9K
$779 ₡357.3K
13.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$540 ₡247.6K
$585 ₡268.5K
-7.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 ₡659.8K
$1,506 ₡691.0K
-4.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 ₡475.9K
$946 ₡433.8K
9.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,292 ₡1.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,773 ₡813.1K
$323 ₡148.3K
448.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Playa del Coco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,007 ₡461.8K
$764 ₡350.4K
31.81%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: April 11, 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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