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

😐 Solo nomad: Arenal is 8.3% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 5.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Arenal is 9.7% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 8.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.81 ₡4,938

$11.04 ₡5,042

-2.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 ₡26.8K

$60.6 ₡27.7K

-3.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 ₡4,516

$6.84 ₡3,123

44.59%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,801

$3.79 ₡1,729

3.96%

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

$1.96 ₡896

$1.57 ₡718

24.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡727

$1.17 ₡533

35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 ₡1,375

$2.91 ₡1,328

3.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₡2,174

$4.63 ₡2,113

2.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 ₡908

$1.40 ₡640

42.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.79 ₡1,276

$2.85 ₡1,304

-2.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₡1,030

$2.13 ₡975

5.63%

Eggs

$2.89 ₡1,320

$3.02 ₡1,379

-4.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 ₡4,638

$6.70 ₡3,062

51.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.09 ₡4,153

$8.86 ₡4,050

2.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 ₡6,187

$13.51 ₡6,172

0.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 ₡2,018

$2.14 ₡977

106.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡681

$1.42 ₡648

4.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ₡1,957

$4.36 ₡1,991

-1.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 ₡1,590

$1.50 ₡686

132.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,621

$3.55 ₡1,620

Onion (1kg)

$3.23 ₡1,475

$3.21 ₡1,467

0.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡470

$1.01 ₡462

1.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,335

$2.32 ₡1,062

25.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 ₡2,352

$4.47 ₡2,041

15.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.75 ₡9,937

$20.37 ₡9,308

6.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,160

$2.50 ₡1,140

1.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,334

$2.88 ₡1,318

1.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ₡457

$1.02 ₡465

-1.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.8 ₡31.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 ₡841

$1.82 ₡831

1.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡812

$1.79 ₡817

-0.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.99 ₡3,650

$8.09 ₡3,696

-1.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡673

$1.34 ₡613

9.70%

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

$38.0K ₡17.4M

$32.1K ₡14.7M

18.63%

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

$32.9K ₡15.0M

$32.1K ₡14.7M

2.41%

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

$92.0 ₡42.0K

$95.2 ₡43.5K

-3.35%

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

$26.41 ₡12.1K

$26.17 ₡12.0K

0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 ₡27.1K

$48.04 ₡21.9K

23.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 ₡26.1K

$57.7 ₡26.3K

-1.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.00 ₡11.0K

$23.79 ₡10.9K

0.88%

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 ₡4,612

$9.67 ₡4,417

4.45%

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

$572 ₡261.1K

$450 ₡205.6K

27.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡5.7M

$10.7K ₡4.9M

16.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 ₡28.5K

$49.98 ₡22.8K

25.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 ₡23.9K

$52.3 ₡23.9K

0.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.5K

$70.7 ₡32.3K

78.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡49.6K

$72.5 ₡33.1K

49.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₡351.6K

$758 ₡346.2K

1.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ₡276.4K

$751 ₡343.0K

-19.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,510 ₡689.7K

$1,517 ₡692.8K

-0.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$957 ₡437.2K

$1,326 ₡605.6K

-27.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,907 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,213 ₡554.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$881 ₡402.4K

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: April 12, 2026

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

Arenal vs other spots: cost of living compared

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