Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Ankara: $1,400 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ankara
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,400
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,400 per month in Ankara vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Ankara $1,400
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Ankara vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Ankara $2,082
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $2,763 per month in Ankara vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Ankara $2,763
  • Nosara $3,712

Ankara is about 24% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ankara and Nosara sit above the global median – Ankara by 4%, Nosara by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ankara
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.32 ₺509
$12.22 ₡5,509
-15.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.03 ₺2,070
$60.2 ₡27.1K
-30.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 ₺479
$7.54 ₡3,399
28.91%
Cappuccino
$3.99 ₺196
$4.31 ₡1,941
-7.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₺82.5
$1.72 ₡773
-2.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₺37.15
$1.35 ₡608
-44.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.03 ₺248
$3.24 ₡1,459
55.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 ₺297
$4.48 ₡2,018
34.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ankara
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 ₺57.5
$1.57 ₡707
-25.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ₺50.0
$3.17 ₡1,429
-67.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 ₺117
$2.42 ₡1,091
-2.07%
Eggs
$2.64 ₺130
$3.57 ₡1,609
-26.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.31 ₺508
$7.43 ₡3,349
38.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.54 ₺273
$10.42 ₡4,697
-46.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.01 ₺986
$13.66 ₡6,156
46.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 ₺96.1
$2.32 ₡1,044
-15.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ₺113
$1.61 ₡728
42.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 ₺65.3
$4.74 ₡2,138
-71.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 ₺86.7
$1.66 ₡747
6.02%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 ₺33.50
$3.72 ₡1,679
-81.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 ₺26.83
$3.57 ₡1,611
-84.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ₺50.4
$1.10 ₡497
-7.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₺33.14
$2.55 ₡1,149
-73.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 ₺113
$4.95 ₡2,232
-53.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.47 ₺615
$20.01 ₡9,020
-37.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₺109
$2.79 ₡1,256
-20.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ₺158
$3.53 ₡1,589
-9.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Ankara
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 ₺33.99
$1.19 ₡537
-42.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.31 ₺607
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-82.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 ₺63.7
$2.24 ₡1,011
-42.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₺41.68
$1.55 ₡701
-45.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.66 ₺328
$8.86 ₡3,993
-24.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₺68.1
$1.57 ₡708
-12.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.9K ₺2.4M
$21.8K ₡9.8M
124.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K ₺2.0M
$34.6K ₡15.6M
18.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankara
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.4 ₺4,699
$93.5 ₡42.1K
2.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.92 ₺538
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-68.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.83 ₺878
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-65.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ankara
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.4 ₺3,568
$71.4 ₡32.2K
1.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.15 ₺746
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-57.25%
Cinema Ticket
$8.05 ₺397
$7.84 ₡3,535
2.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ankara
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,035 ₺51.0K
$490 ₡220.7K
111.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.9K ₺981.9K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
67.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ankara
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ₺2,645
$53.5 ₡24.1K
0.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.68 ₺2,349
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-14.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 ₺5,107
$79.3 ₡35.7K
30.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.6 ₺4,709
$78.9 ₡35.6K
21.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ankara
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ₺37.2K
$786 ₡354.3K
-3.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$577 ₺28.4K
$780 ₡351.6K
-26.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,162 ₺57.3K
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-69.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$891 ₺43.9K
$1,407 ₡634.4K
-36.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,671 ₺82.3K
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-76.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,171 ₺57.7K
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-2.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ankara
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,101 ₺54.2K
$876 ₡395.0K
25.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
43.57
8.62
405.45%

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

Last update for Ankara: October 3, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ankara
$577
Nosara
$780 35.2% $203
Groceries & Markets
Ankara
$256
Nosara
$350 36.6% $94
Eating Out
Ankara
$207
Nosara
$209 1.4% $2.9
Clothing & Footwear
Ankara
$135
Nosara
$120 11% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankara
$124
Nosara
$180 45% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Ankara
$89
Nosara
$87 1.6% $1.5
Getting Around
Ankara
$21
Nosara
$87 322% $66

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Ankara 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 26% higher in Ankara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Ankara versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $256 vs $350 – making Ankara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Ankara
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
04:04 4:04 AM
19:04 7:04 PM
9 h behind Ankara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,864,049 Capital
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 49.26 TRY (100 TRY = 2.03 USD). 1 EUR = 55.25 TRY (100 TRY = 1.81 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
  • Ankara Nosara 11,610 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ankara
  • 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
Ankara vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ankara or Nosara?
Nosara costs about 31% more than Ankara, 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 Ankara and in Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,100 per month in Ankara 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, Ankara or Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ankara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Ankara and in Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $1,035 per month in Ankara and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ankara or in Nosara?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ankara or in Nosara?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ankara, where all-in costs run around $1,400, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Ankara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ankara or Nosara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ankara costs $1,400 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 Ankara 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 Ankara or to Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Ankara. 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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