Cost of Living Comparison Between Vazquez de Coronado and Playa del Coco Cost of Living Comparison Between Vazquez de Coronado and Playa del Coco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,785 per month in Vazquez de Coronado vs $1,746 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Vazquez de Coronado vs $2,752 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,864 per month in Vazquez de Coronado vs $3,758 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

Vazquez de Coronado costs about 2% more than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Vazquez de Coronado and Playa del Coco sit above the global median – Vazquez de Coronado by 29%, Playa del Coco by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.21 ₡5,463

$18.33 ₡8,203

-33.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.0 ₡26.0K

$58.7 ₡26.2K

-1.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.57 ₡5,179

$11.81 ₡5,284

-2.03%

Cappuccino

$4.46 ₡1,994

$4.22 ₡1,889

5.69%

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

$2.63 ₡1,176

$2.59 ₡1,160

1.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₡838

$1.64 ₡734

14.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 ₡1,488

$3.59 ₡1,606

-7.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 ₡1,958

$5.88 ₡2,633

-25.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 ₡1,060

$2.45 ₡1,096

-3.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.16 ₡1,415

$2.85 ₡1,276

10.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 ₡1,094

$2.52 ₡1,129

-3.17%

Eggs

$3.47 ₡1,551

$3.53 ₡1,578

-1.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.77 ₡4,820

$10.75 ₡4,812

0.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.38 ₡4,647

$10.38 ₡4,644

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.39 ₡6,439

$14.00 ₡6,268

2.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.05 ₡2,261

$5.05 ₡2,260

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ₡747

$1.65 ₡740

1.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 ₡2,138

$3.43 ₡1,535

39.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₡1,769

$3.48 ₡1,559

13.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.90 ₡1,744

$3.04 ₡1,359

28.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.61 ₡1,618

$3.23 ₡1,444

11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₡510

$1.13 ₡507

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.26 ₡1,461

$2.77 ₡1,241

17.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.90 ₡2,643

$5.87 ₡2,626

0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.61 ₡9,225

$16.84 ₡7,539

22.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₡1,270

$2.67 ₡1,194

6.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 ₡1,597

$2.72 ₡1,217

31.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡607

$1.36 ₡609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₡1,112

$3.33 ₡1,488

-25.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 ₡710

$1.63 ₡729

-2.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 ₡3,976

$8.90 ₡3,982

-0.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₡675

$2.05 ₡917

-26.34%

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

$22.3K ₡10.0M

$22.2K ₡10.0M

0.37%

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

$35.5K ₡15.9M

0.02%

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

$95.2 ₡42.6K

$97.3 ₡43.6K

-2.17%

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

$36.57 ₡16.4K

$29.69 ₡13.3K

23.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 ₡28.0K

$61.2 ₡27.4K

2.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 ₡32.5K

$74.2 ₡33.2K

-2.05%

Cinema Ticket

$8.59 ₡3,844

$8.31 ₡3,718

3.37%

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

$980 ₡438.6K

$864 ₡386.9K

13.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K ₡7.8M

$17.1K ₡7.7M

1.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.5 ₡32.9K

$71.2 ₡31.8K

3.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.9 ₡25.4K

$57.0 ₡25.5K

-0.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ₡58.9K

$131 ₡58.8K

0.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₡59.2K

$134 ₡60.0K

-1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ₡362.9K

$794 ₡355.4K

2.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₡281.8K

$631 ₡282.5K

-0.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,832 ₡819.7K

$1,847 ₡826.8K

-0.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,259 ₡563.4K

$1,283 ₡574.2K

-1.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$332 ₡148.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 ₡343.4K

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 Vazquez de Coronado: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $811 in Vazquez de Coronado 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 Vazquez de Coronado versus $59.0 in Playa del Coco. Groceries tell a different story – $406 in Vazquez de Coronado 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

Vazquez de Coronado vs Playa del Coco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vazquez de Coronado costs about 2% more than Playa del Coco, 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 $2,678 per month in Vazquez de Coronado 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 Playa del Coco, 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 Vazquez de Coronado and $59.0 in Playa del Coco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Vazquez de Coronado, 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 Playa del Coco, where all-in costs run around $1,746, than in Vazquez de Coronado at $1,785. In Playa del Coco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vazquez de Coronado it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Coco – 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 Playa del Coco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vazquez de Coronado makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.