Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Abuja: $1,005 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

49

Cost of Living Index in Abuja
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Abuja Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Abuja

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$1,005

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Abuja 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 Abuja and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,005 in Abuja versus $1,837 in Nosara.

Abuja $1,005
Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,961 in Abuja versus $2,775 in Nosara.

Abuja $1,961
Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,916 in Abuja versus $3,712 in Nosara.

Abuja $2,916
Nosara $3,712

Living in Abuja costs roughly 45% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 25% below, Nosara is 37% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ₦2,673

$12.22 ₡5,509

-83.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.45 ₦40.5K

$60.2 ₡27.1K

-49.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 ₦5,177

$7.54 ₡3,399

-48.28%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₦4,496

$4.31 ₡1,941

-21.58%

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

$0.50 ₦667

$1.72 ₡773

-70.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₦963

$1.35 ₡608

-46.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,349

$3.24 ₡1,459

-68.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₦2,791

$4.48 ₡2,018

-53.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.75 ₦4,975

$1.57 ₡707

138.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,726

$3.17 ₡1,429

-58.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 ₦3,045

$2.42 ₡1,091

-5.37%

Eggs

$1.80 ₦2,390

$3.57 ₡1,609

-49.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.86 ₦14.4K

$7.43 ₡3,349

46.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 ₦6,931

$10.42 ₡4,697

-49.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.78 ₦7,673

$13.66 ₡6,156

-57.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ₦2,631

$2.32 ₡1,044

-14.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₦1,918

$1.61 ₡728

-10.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ₦2,044

$4.74 ₡2,138

-67.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 ₦3,002

$1.66 ₡747

36.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ₦2,385

$3.72 ₡1,679

-51.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 ₦3,172

$3.57 ₡1,611

-33.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦802

$1.10 ₡497

-45.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦504

$2.55 ₡1,149

-85.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 ₦2,595

$4.95 ₡2,232

-60.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.96 ₦7,923

$20.01 ₡9,020

-70.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₦1,640

$2.79 ₡1,256

-55.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₦2,433

$3.53 ₡1,589

-48.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ₦580

$1.19 ₡537

-63.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.75 ₦43.5K

$72.1 ₡32.5K

-54.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 ₦836

$2.24 ₡1,011

-71.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₦1,062

$1.55 ₡701

-48.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₦2,478

$8.86 ₡3,993

-78.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 ₦741

$1.57 ₡708

-64.33%

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

$26.0K ₦34.5M

$21.8K ₡9.8M

19.24%

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

$18.1K ₦24.1M

$34.6K ₡15.6M

-47.68%

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

$115 ₦152.3K

$93.5 ₡42.1K

22.69%

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

$6.43 ₦8,537

$35.11 ₡15.8K

-81.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.45 ₦39.1K

$51.5 ₡23.2K

-42.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.20 ₦34.8K

$71.4 ₡32.2K

-63.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.60 ₦12.8K

$35.44 ₡16.0K

-72.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₦8,749

$7.84 ₡3,535

-15.94%

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

$45.94 ₦61.0K

$490 ₡220.7K

-90.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,119 ₦4.1M

$11.9K ₡5.4M

-73.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 ₦35.1K

$53.5 ₡24.1K

-50.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.3 ₦80.0K

$55.8 ₡25.1K

8.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₦105.3K

$79.3 ₡35.7K

0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₦142.3K

$78.9 ₡35.6K

35.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₦785.2K

$786 ₡354.3K

-24.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₦458.2K

$780 ₡351.6K

-55.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,444 ₦1.9M

$3,860 ₡1.7M

-62.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 ₦2.1M

$1,407 ₡634.4K

11.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$717 ₦952.4K

$6,972 ₡3.1M

-89.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$384 ₦510.5K

$1,201 ₡541.3K

-67.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 ₦225.5K

$876 ₡395.0K

-80.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

8.62

161.02%

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

Last update for Abuja: October 5, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Abuja

$345 34.6%

Nosara

$780 43% 126% $435

Groceries & Markets

Abuja

$218 21.8%

Nosara

$350 19.3% 60.5% $132

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Abuja

$151 15.1%

Nosara

$180 9.9% 19.6% $30

Clothing & Footwear

Abuja

$123 12.3%

Nosara

$120 6.6% 2.1% $2.5

Eating Out

Abuja

$83 8.3%

Nosara

$209 11.6% 154% $127

Sport & Entertainment

Abuja

$39 4%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 121% $48

Getting Around

Abuja

$39 3.9%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 122% $48

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $591 in Abuja and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 416% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Abuja vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $350 per month, with Abuja cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇳🇬 Abuja

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

06:45 6:45 AM

23:45 11:45 PM

7 h behind Abuja

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

776,298 Capital

4,912

💱 Currency

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 NGN = 7.53 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.71 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to NGN – Nigerian Naira Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇳🇬 Nigerian Naira (₦)

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,328 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.53 USD). 1 EUR = 1,490 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.71 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).

USD to NGN in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Abuja Nosara 10,170 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Abuja
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

Abuja vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Nosara differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($1,005 vs $1,837 including rent). Abuja is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 416% lower in Nosara. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $591 in Abuja versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,005 per month in Abuja versus $1,837 in Nosara – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Abuja runs roughly 120% less than in Nosara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,005 in Abuja versus $1,837 in Nosara, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Abuja but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Abuja the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Abuja and Nosara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Abuja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.