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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Rafael is 5.9% cheaper than Playa del Coco without rent, and 8.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Rafael is 4.2% more expensive than Playa del Coco without rent, and 8.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Rafael
Playa del Coco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.77 ₡5,393
$15.93 ₡7,975
-32.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.9 ₡30K
$80.8 ₡40.4K
-25.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.78 ₡4,894
$10.05 ₡5,032
-2.69%
Cappuccino
$3.86 ₡1,930
$7.13 ₡3,571
-45.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₡1,019
$2.38 ₡1,193
-14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡826
$1.92 ₡961
-14.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 ₡1,527
$3.34 ₡1,670
-8.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 ₡2,288
$5.9 ₡2,955
-22.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Rafael
Playa del Coco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ₡984
$2.57 ₡1,285
-23.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 ₡1,375
$2.76 ₡1,383
-0.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 ₡1,111
$2.15 ₡1,074
3.26%
Eggs
$2.9 ₡1,450
$2.88 ₡1,441
0.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 ₡5,100
$8.42 ₡4,217
21.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 ₡4,618
$13.11 ₡6,562
-29.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.7 ₡6,859
$13.73 ₡6,873
-0.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.46 ₡2,231
0.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 ₡750
$1.5 ₡753
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 ₡2,170
$4.19 ₡2,096
3.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.4 ₡1,700
$1.61 ₡804
111.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.5 ₡1,754
$3.44 ₡1,722
1.74%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 ₡1,546
$2.97 ₡1,486
4.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1 ₡503
$0.98 ₡489
2.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 ₡1,421
$2.87 ₡1,436
-1.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34 ₡2,673
$5.1 ₡2,551
4.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.75 ₡9,385
$14.13 ₡7,071
32.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 ₡1,214
$2.17 ₡1,085
11.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 ₡1,468
$2.53 ₡1,264
15.81%
🚌 Getting Around
San Rafael
Playa del Coco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡474
$1.22 ₡609
-22.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₡896
$2.91 ₡1,458
-38.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡929
$1.8 ₡900
3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ₡3,925
$7.7 ₡3,854
1.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ₡732
$1.91 ₡958
-23.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₡19.1M
$38.4K ₡19.2M
-0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32K ₡16M
$33.1K ₡16.6M
-3.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Rafael
Playa del Coco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.1 ₡47.1K
$175 ₡87.8K
-46.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.12 ₡13.1K
$26.39 ₡13.2K
-1.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.1 ₡30.1K
$59.3 ₡29.7K
1.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Rafael
Playa del Coco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56 ₡28K
$57.3 ₡28.7K
-2.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.48 ₡11.8K
$24.26 ₡12.1K
-3.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.99 ₡5,003
$10.08 ₡5,048
-0.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Rafael
Playa del Coco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$559 ₡279.9K
$529 ₡265K
5.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡6.4M
$12.4K ₡6.2M
2.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Rafael
Playa del Coco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.1 ₡31.1K
$62.8 ₡31.5K
-1.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51 ₡25.5K
$52.2 ₡26.1K
-2.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡61.8K
$128 ₡64.3K
-3.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₡53.2K
$105 ₡52.7K
0.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Rafael
Playa del Coco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$772 ₡386.7K
$761 ₡380.9K
1.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 ₡304K
$602 ₡301.5K
0.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,504 ₡753K
$1,502 ₡751.7K
0.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 ₡489.1K
$948 ₡474.4K
3.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$297 ₡148.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Rafael
Playa del Coco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$709 ₡354.8K
-
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 Rafael: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Coco: October 27, 2025

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