Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Nosara

😐 Solo nomad: Alajuela is 21.3% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 5.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Alajuela is 15.6% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 10.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.9 ₡4,957

$10.9 ₡5,457

-9.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.44 ₡19.7K

$60.5 ₡30.3K

-34.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₡4,614

$6.9 ₡3,453

33.62%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ₡1,881

$3.89 ₡1,949

-3.34%

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

$2 ₡1,003

$1.54 ₡773

29.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡648

$1.17 ₡587

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ₡1,105

$3.06 ₡1,530

-27.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,818

$4.75 ₡2,379

-23.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₡936

$1.43 ₡715

30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₡1,210

$2.89 ₡1,447

-16.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,120

$2.23 ₡1,117

0.45%

Eggs

$2.21 ₡1,108

$3.01 ₡1,508

-26.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₡4,940

$6.48 ₡3,242

52.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.15 ₡4,582

$9.36 ₡4,687

-2.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 ₡6,749

$13.41 ₡6,715

0.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4 ₡2,003

$2.1 ₡1,053

90.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡727

$1.43 ₡716

1.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 ₡2,073

$4.19 ₡2,096

-1.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,426

$1.47 ₡736

93.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₡1,408

$3.51 ₡1,759

-19.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,258

$3.23 ₡1,616

-22.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡507

$0.96 ₡482

5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,309

$2.31 ₡1,158

12.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ₡2,461

$4.49 ₡2,248

9.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.86 ₡9,443

$18.93 ₡9,475

-0.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₡1,042

$2.44 ₡1,223

-14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,270

$2.8 ₡1,399

-9.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ₡405

$1.04 ₡518

-22.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 ₡55.3K

$66.5 ₡33.3K

65.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₡721

$1.85 ₡925

-22.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ₡648

$1.77 ₡884

-27.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 ₡4,038

$7.85 ₡3,931

2.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡697

$1.36 ₡679

2.21%

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

$38.1K ₡19.1M

$32.3K ₡16.2M

17.97%

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

$32.4K ₡16.2M

$32.7K ₡16.3M

-0.86%

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

$45.25 ₡22.7K

$95 ₡47.6K

-52.36%

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

$19.72 ₡9,873

$26.15 ₡13.1K

-24.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.46 ₡16.2K

$48.48 ₡24.3K

-33.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 ₡32.3K

$55.8 ₡27.9K

15.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.61 ₡22.3K

$23.73 ₡11.9K

87.99%

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 ₡4,444

$10 ₡5,008

-11.20%

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

$297 ₡148.5K

$448 ₡224.4K

-33.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,329 ₡1.2M

$10.5K ₡5.2M

-77.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡30.8K

$49.72 ₡24.9K

23.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$50.5 ₡25.3K

0.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡59.7K

$70.6 ₡35.3K

68.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₡50.7K

$71.1 ₡35.6K

42.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₡355K

$751 ₡376K

-5.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡301.3K

$757 ₡378.9K

-20.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 ₡502.8K

$1,505 ₡753.2K

-33.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$936 ₡468.5K

$1,303 ₡652.3K

-28.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ₡1M

$6,322 ₡3.2M

-68.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 ₡741.5K

$1,079 ₡540.1K

37.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 ₡609K

$805 ₡402.9K

51.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

Last update for Nosara: October 27, 2025

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