Cost of Living Comparison Between Turrialba and Playa del Coco Cost of Living Comparison Between Turrialba and Playa del Coco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,726 per month in Turrialba vs $1,746 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,752 per month in Turrialba vs $2,752 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,778 per month in Turrialba vs $3,758 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

Turrialba is about 1% cheaper than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Turrialba and Playa del Coco sit above the global median – Turrialba by 25%, Playa del Coco by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.29 ₡5,488

$18.33 ₡8,184

-32.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.4 ₡26.1K

$58.7 ₡26.2K

-0.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.56 ₡5,163

$11.81 ₡5,272

-2.12%

Cappuccino

$4.29 ₡1,917

$4.22 ₡1,884

1.66%

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

$2.59 ₡1,156

$2.59 ₡1,158

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡867

$1.64 ₡732

18.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,449

$3.59 ₡1,602

-9.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,001

$5.88 ₡2,627

-23.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 ₡1,080

$2.45 ₡1,093

-1.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 ₡1,424

$2.85 ₡1,273

11.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 ₡1,138

$2.52 ₡1,127

1.19%

Eggs

$3.52 ₡1,573

$3.53 ₡1,574

-0.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 ₡4,857

$10.75 ₡4,800

1.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,697

$10.38 ₡4,633

1.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 ₡6,394

$14.00 ₡6,253

2.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,344

$5.05 ₡2,255

3.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ₡744

$1.65 ₡738

1.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 ₡2,126

$3.43 ₡1,531

38.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 ₡1,793

$3.48 ₡1,556

15.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 ₡1,686

$3.04 ₡1,356

24.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 ₡1,643

$3.23 ₡1,441

13.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₡488

$1.13 ₡506

-3.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 ₡1,424

$2.77 ₡1,238

15.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.84 ₡2,605

$5.87 ₡2,620

-0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.45 ₡9,129

$16.84 ₡7,521

21.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,321

$2.67 ₡1,191

10.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ₡1,623

$2.72 ₡1,214

33.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 ₡604

$1.36 ₡608

-0.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₡1,112

$3.33 ₡1,485

-25.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 ₡737

$1.63 ₡727

1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.69 ₡3,880

$8.90 ₡3,972

-2.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ₡665

$2.05 ₡915

-27.32%

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

$22.1K ₡9.9M

$22.2K ₡9.9M

-0.67%

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

$34.4K ₡15.3M

$35.5K ₡15.9M

-3.27%

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

$96.8 ₡43.2K

$97.3 ₡43.5K

-0.54%

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

$37.37 ₡16.7K

$29.69 ₡13.3K

25.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 ₡27.5K

$61.2 ₡27.3K

0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.6 ₡32.9K

$74.2 ₡33.1K

-0.85%

Cinema Ticket

$8.30 ₡3,705

$8.31 ₡3,709

-0.12%

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

$1,003 ₡447.9K

$864 ₡386.0K

16.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K ₡7.8M

$17.1K ₡7.6M

1.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.0 ₡32.2K

$71.2 ₡31.8K

1.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 ₡25.6K

$57.0 ₡25.4K

0.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡57.4K

$131 ₡58.7K

-2.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₡59.1K

$134 ₡59.9K

-1.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ₡357.9K

$794 ₡354.6K

0.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 ₡278.3K

$631 ₡281.8K

-1.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 ₡837.5K

$1,847 ₡824.8K

1.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,287 ₡574.7K

$1,283 ₡572.9K

0.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$332 ₡148.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 ₡342.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Turrialba: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $802 in Turrialba versus $794 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 $58.0 in Turrialba versus $59.0 in Playa del Coco. Groceries tell a different story – $408 in Turrialba vs $376 in Playa del Coco – so Playa del Coco wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Playa del Coco costs about 1% more than Turrialba, 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 $2,589 per month in Turrialba and $2,619 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 Turrialba, 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 $58.0 in Turrialba and $59.0 in Playa del Coco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Playa del Coco – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Turrialba, where all-in costs run around $1,726, than in Playa del Coco at $1,746. In Turrialba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Turrialba – 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 Turrialba. 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.