Cost of Living Comparison Between Acosta and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Acosta and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,696 in Acosta versus $1,852 in Nosara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,684 in Acosta versus $2,876 in Nosara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,673 in Acosta versus $3,900 in Nosara.

Living in Acosta costs roughly 8% less than in Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Acosta 23% above, Nosara 35% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.07 ₡5,401

$12.10 ₡5,415

-0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 ₡26.0K

$58.8 ₡26.3K

-1.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.94 ₡5,342

$7.91 ₡3,539

50.95%

Cappuccino

$4.14 ₡1,851

$4.45 ₡1,993

-6.97%

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

$2.54 ₡1,136

$1.76 ₡788

44.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡869

$1.31 ₡588

48.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 ₡1,535

$3.28 ₡1,470

4.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ₡1,994

$4.56 ₡2,040

-2.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.62 ₡1,173

$1.59 ₡710

64.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 ₡1,313

$3.07 ₡1,372

-4.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.61 ₡1,166

$2.57 ₡1,149

1.56%

Eggs

$4.08 ₡1,825

$3.59 ₡1,608

13.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.90 ₡4,876

$7.29 ₡3,263

49.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 ₡4,824

$10.77 ₡4,819

0.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.71 ₡6,582

$14.15 ₡6,331

3.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 ₡2,302

$2.29 ₡1,024

124.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₡818

$1.64 ₡733

11.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.47 ₡1,554

$4.90 ₡2,193

-29.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.39 ₡1,518

$1.70 ₡761

99.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 ₡1,347

$3.89 ₡1,742

-22.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 ₡1,493

$3.74 ₡1,675

-10.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ₡436

$1.09 ₡488

-10.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,276

$2.58 ₡1,156

10.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.65 ₡2,529

$5.09 ₡2,279

11.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.94 ₡7,583

$20.39 ₡9,123

-16.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₡1,099

$2.79 ₡1,251

-11.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,260

$3.59 ₡1,605

-21.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡609

$1.45 ₡648

-6.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 ₡34.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 ₡1,270

$2.18 ₡976

30.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 ₡762

$1.60 ₡715

6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.13 ₡4,085

$9.07 ₡4,059

0.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡681

$1.54 ₡687

-1.30%

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

$19.9K ₡8.9M

$22.4K ₡10.0M

-11.05%

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

$35.7K ₡16.0M

0.10%

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

$84.8 ₡37.9K

$95.8 ₡42.9K

-11.50%

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

$28.51 ₡12.8K

$36.42 ₡16.3K

-21.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.6 ₡24.9K

$52.9 ₡23.7K

5.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.0 ₡30.9K

$74.3 ₡33.2K

-7.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.79 ₡16.0K

Cinema Ticket

$8.92 ₡3,990

$8.16 ₡3,652

9.31%

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

$755 ₡337.7K

$504 ₡225.6K

49.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ₡7.4M

$11.7K ₡5.2M

41.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.8 ₡35.3K

$55.5 ₡24.9K

41.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.7 ₡24.9K

$57.4 ₡25.7K

-2.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ₡54.1K

$79.1 ₡35.4K

53.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₡55.6K

$81.0 ₡36.2K

53.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$782 ₡349.8K

$809 ₡361.9K

-3.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 ₡284.9K

$787 ₡352.2K

-19.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 ₡755.8K

$3,953 ₡1.8M

-57.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,156 ₡517.2K

$1,403 ₡627.8K

-17.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,920 ₡859.3K

$7,131 ₡3.2M

-73.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,245 ₡556.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,516 ₡678.3K

$896 ₡400.8K

69.24%

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 Acosta: August 30, 2026

Last update for Nosara: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $782 in Acosta and $809 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Acosta pays 69% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $58.0 in Acosta vs $59.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $386 vs $355, with Nosara cheaper for home cooking.

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

Acosta vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Acosta and Nosara differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,696 vs $1,852 including rent). Acosta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 69% higher in Acosta, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $782 in Acosta versus $809 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Nosara pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,696 per month in Acosta versus $1,852 in Nosara – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,696 in Acosta versus $1,852 in Nosara, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Acosta but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Acosta 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, Acosta 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 Acosta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.