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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,610 per month in San Pedro vs $1,796 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,440 per month in San Pedro vs $2,728 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,269 per month in San Pedro vs $3,660 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

San Pedro is about 10% cheaper than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Pedro and Playa del Coco sit above the global median – San Pedro by 20%, Playa del Coco by 34%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.96 ₡4,904

$15.81 ₡7,074

-30.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 ₡26.2K

$80.1 ₡35.8K

-26.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 ₡4,434

$9.71 ₡4,345

2.06%

Cappuccino

$3.73 ₡1,667

$7.01 ₡3,138

-46.79%

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

$2.05 ₡918

$2.37 ₡1,060

-13.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₡731

$1.91 ₡855

-14.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 ₡1,357

$3.29 ₡1,472

-7.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₡2,129

$5.92 ₡2,650

-19.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 ₡880

$2.58 ₡1,153

-23.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 ₡1,271

$2.88 ₡1,289

-1.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ₡975

$2.14 ₡956

1.87%

Eggs

$2.95 ₡1,319

$3.04 ₡1,362

-2.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 ₡4,487

$8.20 ₡3,667

22.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.95 ₡4,004

$12.79 ₡5,721

-30.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ₡6,066

$13.83 ₡6,187

-1.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 ₡1,992

$4.54 ₡2,032

-1.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡676

$1.47 ₡656

2.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡1,958

$4.29 ₡1,919

2.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.43 ₡1,533

$1.61 ₡720

113.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 ₡1,581

$3.33 ₡1,488

6.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ₡1,455

$2.97 ₡1,330

9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡451

$1.00 ₡448

1.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,302

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.29 ₡2,368

$4.84 ₡2,164

9.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.20 ₡9,931

$18.57 ₡8,307

19.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₡1,134

$2.16 ₡965

17.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₡1,310

$2.54 ₡1,138

15.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡423

$1.22 ₡545

-22.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡843

$2.90 ₡1,298

-35.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡824

$1.84 ₡821

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.05 ₡3,603

$8.06 ₡3,607

-0.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 ₡634

$1.91 ₡855

-25.65%

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

$37.7K ₡16.9M

$38.0K ₡17.0M

-0.70%

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

$33.1K ₡14.8M

$32.9K ₡14.7M

0.46%

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

$92.3 ₡41.3K

$173 ₡77.4K

-46.64%

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

$26.24 ₡11.7K

$26.40 ₡11.8K

-0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 ₡26.5K

$59.8 ₡26.8K

-0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 ₡25.9K

$56.6 ₡25.3K

2.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.34 ₡10.9K

$23.92 ₡10.7K

1.76%

Cinema Ticket

$9.81 ₡4,391

$10.24 ₡4,580

-4.20%

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

$576 ₡257.8K

$515 ₡230.5K

11.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡5.6M

$12.8K ₡5.7M

-2.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ₡28.5K

$63.5 ₡28.4K

0.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 ₡23.0K

$51.7 ₡23.1K

-0.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡57.3K

$127 ₡56.7K

1.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₡47.1K

$106 ₡47.2K

-0.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₡339.8K

$779 ₡348.3K

-2.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₡270.3K

$602 ₡269.3K

0.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,504 ₡672.8K

$1,539 ₡688.6K

-2.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$945 ₡422.9K

$980 ₡438.6K

-3.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$326 ₡145.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$783 ₡350.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for San Pedro: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $760 in San Pedro versus $779 in Playa del Coco. 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 $59.0 in San Pedro versus $80.0 in Playa del Coco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $370 – making San Pedro 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

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

Playa del Coco costs about 12% more than San Pedro, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,415 per month in San Pedro and $2,694 in Playa del Coco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Pedro, 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 $59.0 in San Pedro and $80.0 in Playa del Coco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Pedro, where all-in costs run around $1,610, than in Playa del Coco at $1,796. In San Pedro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Pedro – 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 San Pedro. 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.