Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Playa del Coco Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Playa del Coco

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz is 2.2% more expensive than Playa del Coco without rent, and 7.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 23.6% cheaper than Playa del Coco without rent, and 12.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.72 ₡5,316

$16.08 ₡7,973

-33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 ₡30.0K

$79.4 ₡39.4K

-23.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 ₡4,923

$10.10 ₡5,008

-1.68%

Cappuccino

$3.85 ₡1,910

$7.14 ₡3,539

-46.08%

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

$1.98 ₡981

$2.39 ₡1,187

-17.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₡792

$1.92 ₡950

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.00 ₡1,487

$3.33 ₡1,649

-9.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 ₡2,263

$6.10 ₡3,026

-25.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₡973

$2.59 ₡1,285

-24.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 ₡1,443

$2.90 ₡1,438

0.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡1,061

$2.15 ₡1,066

-0.47%

Eggs

$2.91 ₡1,441

$3.01 ₡1,492

-3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 ₡4,928

$8.20 ₡4,066

21.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.98 ₡4,451

$12.71 ₡6,299

-29.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.40 ₡6,642

$13.71 ₡6,798

-2.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.62 ₡2,291

$4.54 ₡2,249

1.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 ₡497

$1.49 ₡741

-32.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡2,168

$4.38 ₡2,172

-0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 ₡1,723

$1.60 ₡793

116.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₡1,743

$3.32 ₡1,646

6.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 ₡1,596

$2.96 ₡1,467

8.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡475

$1.02 ₡503

-5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,463

$2.94 ₡1,458

0.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 ₡2,605

$4.86 ₡2,412

8.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.01 ₡8,929

$14.11 ₡6,997

27.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,192

$2.20 ₡1,089

9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,442

$2.61 ₡1,296

11.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡508

$1.17 ₡582

-11.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₡921

$2.93 ₡1,453

-36.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡884

$1.85 ₡917

-3.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ₡4,010

$8.12 ₡4,028

-0.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡691

$1.89 ₡939

-26.46%

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

$37.3K ₡18.5M

$37.1K ₡18.4M

0.59%

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

$32.2K ₡16.0M

$32.4K ₡16.1M

-0.63%

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

$94.4 ₡46.8K

$174 ₡86.4K

-45.78%

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

$25.54 ₡12.7K

$25.86 ₡12.8K

-1.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.2 ₡26.9K

$59.0 ₡29.2K

-8.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.8 ₡28.2K

$56.5 ₡28.0K

0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.84 ₡11.8K

$23.91 ₡11.9K

-0.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ₡3,045

$10.14 ₡5,027

-39.45%

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

$558 ₡276.9K

$519 ₡257.3K

7.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

$12.7K ₡6.3M

1.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 ₡31.3K

$61.3 ₡30.4K

2.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 ₡25.2K

$51.4 ₡25.5K

-1.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.1K

$127 ₡62.8K

-1.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.1K

$107 ₡52.9K

0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₡380.4K

$752 ₡372.7K

2.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₡299.3K

$598 ₡296.3K

1.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,541 ₡764.1K

$1,489 ₡738.2K

3.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$970 ₡480.9K

$981 ₡486.2K

-1.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$306 ₡151.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$708 ₡350.8K

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 Santa Cruz: January 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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