Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aberdeen and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,287 in Aberdeen, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Aberdeen
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,287
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aberdeen and in Nosara

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aberdeen and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,287 per month in Aberdeen vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Aberdeen $2,287
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $3,604 per month in Aberdeen vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Aberdeen $3,604
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $4,921 per month in Aberdeen vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Aberdeen $4,921
  • Nosara $3,712

Aberdeen costs about 24% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Aberdeen and Nosara sit above the global median – Aberdeen by 71%, Nosara by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aberdeen
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.91 £15.05
$12.22 ₡5,509
62.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.7 £73.1
$60.2 ₡27.1K
60.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.74 £8.12
$7.54 ₡3,399
42.44%
Cappuccino
$4.62 £3.49
$4.31 ₡1,941
7.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 £2.10
$1.72 ₡773
61.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 £1.59
$1.35 ₡608
56.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.08 £5.35
$3.24 ₡1,459
118.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.48 £5.65
$4.48 ₡2,018
66.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 £1.18
$1.57 ₡707
-0.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 £1.31
$3.17 ₡1,429
-45.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 £1.45
$2.42 ₡1,091
-20.66%
Eggs
$4.41 £3.33
$3.57 ₡1,609
23.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.45 £6.38
$7.43 ₡3,349
13.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.82 £8.93
$10.42 ₡4,697
13.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.02 £12.10
$13.66 ₡6,156
17.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 £2.19
$2.32 ₡1,044
25.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 £1.05
$1.61 ₡728
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.81 £2.12
$4.74 ₡2,138
-40.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.72 £2.81
$1.66 ₡747
124.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 £1.33
$3.72 ₡1,679
-52.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 £1.10
$3.57 ₡1,611
-59.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 £0.91
$1.10 ₡497
10.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 £1.21
$2.55 ₡1,149
-36.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.79 £16.47
$4.95 ₡2,232
340.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.22 £8.48
$20.01 ₡9,020
-43.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 £2.04
$2.79 ₡1,256
-3.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 £2.21
$3.53 ₡1,589
-17.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Aberdeen
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 £2.08
$1.19 ₡537
131.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$121 £91.7
$72.1 ₡32.5K
68.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 £2.94
$2.24 ₡1,011
73.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 £1.75
$1.55 ₡701
49.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.43 £17.71
$8.86 ₡3,993
164.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 £1.58
$1.57 ₡708
33.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K £29.2K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
76.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7K £30.7K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
17.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$410 £310
$93.5 ₡42.1K
338.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.17 £21.29
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-19.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.97 £31.71
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-18.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.9 £40.71
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-24.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.01 £16.64
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-37.90%
Cinema Ticket
$11.46 £8.66
$7.84 ₡3,535
46.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aberdeen
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,785 £1,349
$490 ₡220.7K
264.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K £17.6K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
95.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.5 £72.9
$53.5 ₡24.1K
80.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.34 £35.77
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-15.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 £78.0
$79.3 ₡35.7K
30.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 £87.3
$78.9 ₡35.6K
46.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$814 £615
$786 ₡354.3K
3.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$777 £588
$780 ₡351.6K
-0.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,557 £1,177
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-59.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,658 £1,253
$1,407 ₡634.4K
17.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,260 £1,708
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-67.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,444 £2,603
$1,201 ₡541.3K
186.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,606 £2,725
$876 ₡395.0K
311.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.11
8.62
-40.72%

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

Last update for Aberdeen: October 6, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen
$777
Nosara
$780 0.3% $2.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen
$480
Nosara
$180 62.5% $300
Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen
$317
Nosara
$350 10.1% $32
Eating Out
Aberdeen
$317
Nosara
$209 33.9% $107
Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen
$163
Nosara
$120 26.2% $43
Getting Around
Aberdeen
$148
Nosara
$87 41.2% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen
$77
Nosara
$87 13.4% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $814 in Aberdeen versus $786 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 311% higher in Aberdeen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $97.0 in Aberdeen versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $317 in Aberdeen vs $350 in Nosara – so Aberdeen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Aberdeen
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
07:34 7:34 AM
00:34 12:34 AM
7 h behind Aberdeen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
229,060
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.756 GBP (1 GBP = 1.32 USD). 1 EUR = 0.848 GBP (1 GBP = 1.18 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aberdeen Nosara 8,690 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aberdeen
  • Nosara

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Aberdeen vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aberdeen or Nosara?
Aberdeen costs about 24% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aberdeen and in Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,430 per month in Aberdeen and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aberdeen or Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Aberdeen compared to Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,287 in Aberdeen and $1,837 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 24%.
How expensive is transport in Aberdeen compared to Nosara?
Public transport costs about 68% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Aberdeen or in Nosara?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Aberdeen at $2,287. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aberdeen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aberdeen or Nosara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nosara costs $1,837 versus $2,287 in Aberdeen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Aberdeen compared to Nosara?
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.
Should I move to Aberdeen or to Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aberdeen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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