Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Amman and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Amman: $1,158 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Amman
🇯🇴 Jordan
$1,158
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,158 per month in Amman vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Amman $1,158
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Amman vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Amman $1,867
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $2,575 per month in Amman vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Amman $2,575
  • Nosara $3,712

Amman is about 37% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Amman sits 14% below the global median, while Nosara is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amman
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.21 JOD 5.11
$12.22 ₡5,509
-41.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.3 JOD 50.5
$60.2 ₡27.1K
18.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.92 JOD 4.90
$7.54 ₡3,399
-8.22%
Cappuccino
$4.60 JOD 3.25
$4.31 ₡1,941
6.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 JOD 0.43
$1.72 ₡773
-64.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 JOD 0.42
$1.35 ₡608
-56.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.49 JOD 6.01
$3.24 ₡1,459
162.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.96 JOD 7.76
$4.48 ₡2,018
144.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amman
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 JOD 1.16
$1.57 ₡707
5.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 JOD 0.47
$3.17 ₡1,429
-79.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 JOD 1.11
$2.42 ₡1,091
-35.54%
Eggs
$2.41 JOD 1.70
$3.57 ₡1,609
-32.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 JOD 6.67
$7.43 ₡3,349
26.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.32 JOD 4.48
$10.42 ₡4,697
-39.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 JOD 8.92
$13.66 ₡6,156
-7.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 JOD 1.89
$2.32 ₡1,044
14.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 JOD 1.45
$1.61 ₡728
27.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 JOD 1.31
$4.74 ₡2,138
-60.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.85 JOD 0.60
$1.66 ₡747
-48.80%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 JOD 0.68
$3.72 ₡1,679
-74.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.87 JOD 0.61
$3.57 ₡1,611
-75.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 JOD 0.45
$1.10 ₡497
-42.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 JOD 0.50
$2.55 ₡1,149
-72.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98 JOD 2.81
$4.95 ₡2,232
-19.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.78 JOD 14.71
$20.01 ₡9,020
3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.93 JOD 3.49
$2.79 ₡1,256
76.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12 JOD 3.62
$3.53 ₡1,589
45.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Amman
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.81 JOD 0.57
$1.19 ₡537
-31.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.72 JOD 30.24
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-40.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 JOD 0.44
$2.24 ₡1,011
-72.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 JOD 1.02
$1.55 ₡701
-7.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.93 JOD 4.90
$8.86 ₡3,993
-21.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 JOD 1.23
$1.57 ₡708
10.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K JOD 25.1K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
62.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K JOD 24.2K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-1.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amman
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 JOD 92.2
$93.5 ₡42.1K
39.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.77 JOD 11.16
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-55.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.37 JOD 22.91
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-37.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amman
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 JOD 37.39
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-26.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.03 JOD 25.50
$35.44 ₡16.0K
1.66%
Cinema Ticket
$11.13 JOD 7.88
$7.84 ₡3,535
41.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amman
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$486 JOD 344
$490 ₡220.7K
-0.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,833 JOD 6,959
$11.9K ₡5.4M
-17.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amman
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.5 JOD 44.22
$53.5 ₡24.1K
16.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$83.4 JOD 59.0
$55.8 ₡25.1K
49.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 JOD 87.3
$79.3 ₡35.7K
55.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.2 JOD 62.4
$78.9 ₡35.6K
11.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amman
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$462 JOD 327
$786 ₡354.3K
-41.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 JOD 172
$780 ₡351.6K
-68.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$773 JOD 547
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-79.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 JOD 300
$1,407 ₡634.4K
-69.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,632 JOD 1,155
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-76.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,024 JOD 725
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-14.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amman
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$768 JOD 544
$876 ₡395.0K
-12.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
8.62
-21.00%

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

Last update for Amman: October 4, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Amman
$266
Nosara
$350 31.5% $84
Accommodation & Living
Amman
$243
Nosara
$780 221% $537
Eating Out
Amman
$203
Nosara
$209 3.2% $6.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amman
$178
Nosara
$180 0.9% $1.7
Clothing & Footwear
Amman
$161
Nosara
$120 25.2% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Amman
$75
Nosara
$87 16% $12
Getting Around
Amman
$54
Nosara
$87 61.4% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $462 in Amman 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 14% higher in Nosara, 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 $71.0 in Amman versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Amman vs $350 in Nosara – so Amman wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇯🇴 Amman
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
08:25 8:25 AM
23:25 11:25 PM
9 h behind Amman
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,000,000 Capital
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to JOD – Jordanian Dinar Converter

Jordanian Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.708 JOD (1 JOD = 1.41 USD). 1 EUR = 0.794 JOD (1 JOD = 1.26 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
  • Amman Nosara 12,260 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Amman
  • 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
Amman vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Amman or Nosara?
Nosara costs about 59% more than Amman, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Amman and in Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,737 per month in Amman 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, Amman or Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Amman, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Amman compared to Nosara?
Public transport costs about 69% less in Amman. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Amman and in Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $486 per month in Amman and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Amman or in Nosara?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amman, where all-in costs run around $1,158, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Amman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Amman or Nosara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amman costs $1,158 versus $1,837 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Amman 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 Amman or to Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Amman. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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