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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,587 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,738 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,382 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,664 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,178 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,591 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

Santa Cruz is about 9% cheaper than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santa Cruz and Playa del Coco sit above the global median – Santa Cruz by 19%, Playa del Coco by 31%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.73 ₡4,812

$16.13 ₡7,234

-33.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.4 ₡26.6K

$80.2 ₡36.0K

-25.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.66 ₡4,331

$10.10 ₡4,528

-4.36%

Cappuccino

$3.87 ₡1,734

$7.05 ₡3,160

-45.11%

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

$2.06 ₡925

$2.37 ₡1,064

-13.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₡710

$1.90 ₡854

-16.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 ₡1,367

$3.28 ₡1,471

-7.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 ₡2,140

$6.12 ₡2,742

-22.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡889

$2.52 ₡1,132

-21.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,236

$2.78 ₡1,245

-0.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₡1,008

$2.14 ₡962

5.14%

Eggs

$3.03 ₡1,360

$2.93 ₡1,313

3.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.11 ₡4,531

$8.64 ₡3,875

17.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 ₡3,971

$12.95 ₡5,808

-31.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.80 ₡6,187

$13.54 ₡6,072

1.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 ₡2,040

$4.56 ₡2,045

-0.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ₡463

$1.52 ₡682

-32.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 ₡1,895

$4.17 ₡1,868

1.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,590

$1.65 ₡741

115.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,592

$3.30 ₡1,480

7.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 ₡1,441

$2.94 ₡1,317

9.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡429

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,321

$2.96 ₡1,326

-0.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 ₡2,308

$4.95 ₡2,218

4.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.66 ₡9,713

$18.51 ₡8,301

17.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₡1,129

$2.09 ₡937

20.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,265

$2.68 ₡1,200

5.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡430

$1.17 ₡524

-17.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡801

$2.93 ₡1,314

-38.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡829

$1.81 ₡810

2.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₡3,485

$7.68 ₡3,445

1.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡628

$1.84 ₡824

-23.91%

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

$38.5K ₡17.3M

$38.5K ₡17.2M

0.16%

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

$32.8K ₡14.7M

$32.3K ₡14.5M

1.61%

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

$93.3 ₡41.8K

$175 ₡78.2K

-46.55%

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

$26.08 ₡11.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 ₡24.4K

$58.9 ₡26.4K

-7.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 ₡25.6K

$56.4 ₡25.3K

1.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.12 ₡10.8K

$23.53 ₡10.5K

2.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ₡2,737

$10.08 ₡4,522

-39.48%

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

$576 ₡258.4K

$517 ₡231.9K

11.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡5.7M

$12.8K ₡5.7M

-0.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 ₡28.2K

$63.7 ₡28.6K

-1.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 ₡23.5K

$51.3 ₡23.0K

1.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡56.6K

$125 ₡56.2K

0.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡47.9K

$107 ₡48.1K

-0.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₡346.8K

$767 ₡343.7K

0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 ₡272.2K

$597 ₡267.7K

1.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 ₡693.6K

$1,521 ₡681.9K

1.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$982 ₡440.2K

$981 ₡440.0K

0.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₡146.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$775 ₡347.7K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $773 in Santa Cruz versus $767 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 Santa Cruz versus $80.0 in Playa del Coco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $369 – making Santa Cruz 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

Santa Cruz vs Playa del Coco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Coco costs about 10% more than Santa Cruz, 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 $2,380 per month in Santa Cruz and $2,607 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 Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz 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 1% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, where all-in costs run around $1,587, than in Playa del Coco at $1,738. In Santa Cruz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Cruz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Santa Cruz. 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.