Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Acre and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,960 in Acre, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Acre
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,960
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,960 in Acre versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Acre $2,960
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,244 in Acre versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Acre $4,244
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,528 in Acre versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Acre $5,528
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Acre is roughly 61% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Acre 119% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acre
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.98 ₪80.8
$12.35 ₡5,539
110.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108 ₪337
$61.2 ₡27.4K
76.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.14 ₪59.6
$7.52 ₡3,373
154.52%
Cappuccino
$4.68 ₪14.57
$4.41 ₡1,978
6.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ₪11.24
$1.74 ₡780
107.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 ₪9.53
$1.31 ₡587
133.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.64 ₪33.11
$3.28 ₡1,471
224.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.77 ₪33.51
$4.47 ₡2,004
140.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acre
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.53 ₪7.86
$1.56 ₡701
62.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 ₪11.10
$3.02 ₡1,355
18.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.78 ₪11.77
$2.51 ₡1,125
50.60%
Eggs
$4.83 ₪15.04
$3.57 ₡1,603
35.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.04 ₪53.0
$7.43 ₡3,333
129.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.94 ₪40.27
$10.52 ₡4,717
23.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.90 ₪74.4
$13.97 ₡6,265
71.08%
Apples (1kg)
$4.50 ₪14.02
$2.35 ₡1,052
91.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 ₪8.87
$1.61 ₡720
77.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ₪7.44
$4.80 ₡2,152
-50.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.53 ₪7.86
$1.61 ₡724
57.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 ₪5.81
$3.80 ₡1,703
-50.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 ₪5.43
$3.69 ₡1,657
-52.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 ₪7.72
$1.13 ₡507
119.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 ₪8.31
$2.66 ₡1,191
0.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.45 ₪41.85
$5.18 ₡2,321
159.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.24 ₪47.42
$19.88 ₡8,916
-23.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.11 ₪9.67
$2.90 ₡1,300
7.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87 ₪15.17
$3.63 ₡1,626
34.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Acre
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.67 ₪8.30
$1.12 ₡504
138.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 ₪316
$72.6 ₡32.6K
39.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 ₪13.60
$2.14 ₡958
104.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 ₪3.54
$1.57 ₡703
-27.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.45 ₪60.5
$8.52 ₡3,823
128.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.68 ₪8.35
$1.52 ₡682
76.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$57.0K ₪177.3K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
163.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$59.2K ₪184.3K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
71.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acre
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$265 ₪826
$96.3 ₡43.2K
175.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.95 ₪37.17
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-66.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.57 ₪114
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-31.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acre
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.4 ₪231
$71.6 ₡32.1K
3.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.92 ₪49.52
$7.89 ₡3,539
101.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acre
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,172 ₪3,647
$494 ₡221.6K
137.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ₪97.6K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
164.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acre
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112 ₪347
$53.9 ₡24.2K
106.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.8 ₪223
$55.4 ₡24.8K
29.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 ₪414
$77.9 ₡34.9K
70.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 ₪480
$79.6 ₡35.7K
93.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acre
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,436 ₪4,467
$788 ₡353.4K
82.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,332 ₪4,144
$794 ₡356.2K
67.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,076 ₪6,459
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-47.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 ₪5,752
$1,419 ₡636.5K
30.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,458 ₪29.4K
$6,912 ₡3.1M
36.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,013 ₪24.9K
$1,224 ₡549.0K
554.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acre
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.04
8.62
-41.53%

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

Last update for Acre: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Acre
$1.3K
Nosara
$794 40.4% $538
Groceries & Markets
Acre
$452
Nosara
$352 22% $99
Eating Out
Acre
$423
Nosara
$212 49.9% $211
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acre
$314
Nosara
$186 40.8% $128
Clothing & Footwear
Acre
$212
Nosara
$120 43.3% $92
Getting Around
Acre
$122
Nosara
$87 28.7% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Acre
$106
Nosara
$87 17.7% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,436 in Acre and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $108 in Acre vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $452 vs $352 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇱 Acre
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
08:50 8:50 AM
23:50 11:50 PM
9 h behind Acre
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
55,974
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to ILS – Israeli New Shekel Converter

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.11 ILS (1 ILS = 0.321 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.286 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Acre Nosara 12,140 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Acre
  • 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
Acre vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Acre or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Acre. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Acre and in Nosara?
You'd need roughly $4,441 in Acre and $2,758 in Nosara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Acre compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,436 in Acre versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Acre or in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Acre. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Acre and in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $108 in Acre. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Acre or in Nosara?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,960 in Acre, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Acre. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Acre or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,839 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Acre compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Acre 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Acre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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