Cost of Living Comparison Between Arenal and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Arenal and Nosara

😐 Solo nomad: Arenal is 28.9% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 4.9% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Arenal is 2.2% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 6.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.06 ₡5,483

$10.79 ₡5,350

2.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 ₡29.6K

$60.1 ₡29.8K

-0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 ₡4,812

$7.08 ₡3,510

37.15%

Cappuccino

$3.77 ₡1,868

$3.85 ₡1,910

-2.08%

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

$2.03 ₡1,008

$1.58 ₡783

28.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡788

$1.22 ₡604

30.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 ₡1,453

$3.02 ₡1,499

-2.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 ₡2,278

$4.73 ₡2,347

-2.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 ₡989

$1.41 ₡699

41.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 ₡1,437

$2.85 ₡1,413

1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,057

$2.14 ₡1,063

-0.47%

Eggs

$2.90 ₡1,436

$2.91 ₡1,443

-0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ₡4,967

$6.83 ₡3,384

46.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.17 ₡4,549

$9.27 ₡4,596

-1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.61 ₡6,746

$13.83 ₡6,858

-1.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 ₡2,213

$2.05 ₡1,018

117.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡713

$1.47 ₡729

-2.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 ₡2,063

$4.16 ₡2,064

Tomato (1kg)

$3.60 ₡1,785

$1.52 ₡753

136.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₡1,690

$3.51 ₡1,738

-2.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 ₡1,582

$3.08 ₡1,528

3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡511

$0.95 ₡471

8.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,414

$2.36 ₡1,172

20.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.39 ₡2,675

$4.46 ₡2,210

20.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.89 ₡8,871

$17.82 ₡8,834

0.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,188

$2.45 ₡1,215

-2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₡1,430

$2.89 ₡1,432

-0.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡476

$0.97 ₡483

-1.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.6 ₡33.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡932

$1.81 ₡896

3.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡881

$1.80 ₡894

-1.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.00 ₡3,965

$7.71 ₡3,823

3.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡698

$1.29 ₡639

9.30%

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

$38.1K ₡18.9M

$32.6K ₡16.2M

16.81%

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

$32.2K ₡16.0M

$32.5K ₡16.1M

-0.93%

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

$95.5 ₡47.3K

$95.3 ₡47.2K

0.20%

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

$26.38 ₡13.1K

$25.57 ₡12.7K

3.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 ₡29.2K

$47.54 ₡23.6K

23.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 ₡28.7K

$57.0 ₡28.3K

1.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.25 ₡12.0K

$23.56 ₡11.7K

2.93%

Cinema Ticket

$9.80 ₡4,856

$9.65 ₡4,786

1.55%

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

$568 ₡281.8K

$444 ₡220.2K

27.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.3M

$10.5K ₡5.2M

20.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 ₡31.0K

$48.96 ₡24.3K

27.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 ₡25.8K

$50.8 ₡25.2K

2.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.1K

$70.9 ₡35.2K

76.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.2K

$70.8 ₡35.1K

51.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₡377.0K

$756 ₡374.6K

0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$608 ₡301.5K

$736 ₡364.7K

-17.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,507 ₡747.0K

$1,521 ₡754.3K

-0.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$976 ₡483.8K

$1,305 ₡646.8K

-25.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,453 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,099 ₡545.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$817 ₡405.1K

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 Arenal: January 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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