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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,301 per month in Upala vs $1,738 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,959 per month in Upala vs $2,664 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,616 per month in Upala vs $3,591 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

Upala is about 25% cheaper than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Upala sits 2% below the global median, while Playa del Coco is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.83 ₡4,855

$16.13 ₡7,234

-32.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.12 ₡22.0K

$80.2 ₡36.0K

-38.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 ₡4,340

$10.10 ₡4,528

-4.16%

Cappuccino

$3.29 ₡1,474

$7.05 ₡3,160

-53.33%

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

$1.62 ₡725

$2.37 ₡1,064

-31.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₡698

$1.90 ₡854

-17.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 ₡1,349

$3.28 ₡1,471

-8.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 ₡2,126

$6.12 ₡2,742

-22.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₡876

$2.52 ₡1,132

-22.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 ₡682

$2.78 ₡1,245

-45.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ₡977

$2.14 ₡962

1.87%

Eggs

$2.38 ₡1,066

$2.93 ₡1,313

-18.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.00 ₡1,347

$8.64 ₡3,875

-65.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.89 ₡2,639

$12.95 ₡5,808

-54.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.84 ₡3,517

$13.54 ₡6,072

-42.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 ₡705

$4.56 ₡2,045

-65.57%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 ₡278

$1.52 ₡682

-59.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 ₡1,174

$4.17 ₡1,868

-37.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,081

$1.65 ₡741

46.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 ₡1,500

$3.30 ₡1,480

1.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 ₡1,101

$2.94 ₡1,317

-16.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡452

$0.96 ₡429

5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₡1,049

$2.96 ₡1,326

-20.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.31 ₡2,379

$4.95 ₡2,218

7.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 ₡3,974

$18.51 ₡8,301

-52.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₡1,091

$2.09 ₡937

16.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,259

$2.68 ₡1,200

4.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡425

$1.17 ₡524

-18.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡809

$2.93 ₡1,314

-38.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡823

$1.81 ₡810

1.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.01 ₡2,696

$7.68 ₡3,445

-21.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₡563

$1.84 ₡824

-31.52%

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

$37.4K ₡16.8M

$38.5K ₡17.2M

-2.68%

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

$32.0K ₡14.4M

$32.3K ₡14.5M

-0.81%

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

$49.91 ₡22.4K

$175 ₡78.2K

-71.40%

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

$25.62 ₡11.5K

$26.08 ₡11.7K

-1.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.71 ₡8,837

$58.9 ₡26.4K

-66.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₡25.3K

0.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.90 ₡10.7K

$23.53 ₡10.5K

1.57%

Cinema Ticket

$9.80 ₡4,394

$10.08 ₡4,522

-2.78%

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

$571 ₡256.1K

$517 ₡231.9K

10.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.7M

$12.8K ₡5.7M

-1.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.49 ₡13.2K

$63.7 ₡28.6K

-53.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.99 ₡8,964

$51.3 ₡23.0K

-61.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡56.5K

$125 ₡56.2K

0.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.27 ₡13.6K

$107 ₡48.1K

-71.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$765 ₡342.9K

$767 ₡343.7K

-0.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$603 ₡270.5K

$597 ₡267.7K

1.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,515 ₡679.2K

$1,521 ₡681.9K

-0.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$979 ₡439.1K

$981 ₡440.0K

-0.20%

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 Upala: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $765 in Upala 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 $49.00 in Upala versus $80.0 in Playa del Coco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $369 – making Upala 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

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

Playa del Coco costs about 34% more than Upala, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,951 per month in Upala 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 Upala, 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 $49.00 in Upala 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 59% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Upala, where all-in costs run around $1,301, than in Playa del Coco at $1,738. In Upala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Upala. 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.