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 9.9% cheaper than Playa del Coco without rent, and 11.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 10.3% cheaper than Playa del Coco without rent, and 9.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.11 ₡5,562

$15.93 ₡7,975

-30.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 ₡29.4K

$80.8 ₡40.4K

-27.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 ₡4,844

$10.05 ₡5,032

-3.68%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,972

$7.13 ₡3,571

-44.74%

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

$2.07 ₡1,036

$2.38 ₡1,193

-13.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₡823

$1.92 ₡961

-14.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,510

$3.34 ₡1,670

-9.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 ₡2,292

$5.9 ₡2,955

-22.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 ₡998

$2.57 ₡1,285

-22.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,427

$2.76 ₡1,383

3.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,107

$2.15 ₡1,074

2.79%

Eggs

$2.95 ₡1,475

$2.88 ₡1,441

2.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 ₡4,850

$8.42 ₡4,217

15.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 ₡4,531

$13.11 ₡6,562

-30.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.55 ₡6,783

$13.73 ₡6,873

-1.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.6 ₡2,301

$4.46 ₡2,231

3.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ₡489

$1.5 ₡753

-34.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,194

$4.19 ₡2,096

4.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.58 ₡1,791

$1.61 ₡804

122.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,777

$3.44 ₡1,722

3.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,546

$2.97 ₡1,486

4.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1 ₡502

$0.98 ₡489

2.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.8 ₡1,403

$2.87 ₡1,436

-2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.22 ₡2,615

$5.1 ₡2,551

2.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.14 ₡9,581

$14.13 ₡7,071

35.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.5 ₡1,250

$2.17 ₡1,085

15.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,469

$2.53 ₡1,264

16.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡517

$1.22 ₡609

-15.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡909

$2.91 ₡1,458

-37.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡889

$1.8 ₡900

-1.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 ₡3,879

$7.7 ₡3,854

0.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡734

$1.91 ₡958

-23.04%

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

$38K ₡19M

$38.4K ₡19.2M

-1.05%

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

$33.2K ₡16.6M

$33.1K ₡16.6M

0.29%

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

$95.2 ₡47.7K

$175 ₡87.8K

-45.72%

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

$26.25 ₡13.1K

$26.39 ₡13.2K

-0.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡26.8K

$59.3 ₡29.7K

-9.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 ₡29K

$57.3 ₡28.7K

1.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.63 ₡11.8K

$24.26 ₡12.1K

-2.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.9 ₡2,955

$10.08 ₡5,048

-41.47%

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

$575 ₡288K

$529 ₡265K

8.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡6.3M

$12.4K ₡6.2M

1.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 ₡31.6K

$62.8 ₡31.5K

0.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 ₡26.1K

$52.2 ₡26.1K

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡63.3K

$128 ₡64.3K

-1.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡52.8K

$105 ₡52.7K

0.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 ₡381.8K

$761 ₡380.9K

0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 ₡293.3K

$602 ₡301.5K

-2.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 ₡748K

$1,502 ₡751.7K

-0.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 ₡489.7K

$948 ₡474.4K

3.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$297 ₡148.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$709 ₡354.8K

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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Coco: October 27, 2025

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