Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashland, OH and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,365 in Ashland, OH, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ashland, OH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,365
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,365 in Ashland, OH versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Ashland, OH $2,365
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,244 in Ashland, OH versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Ashland, OH $3,244
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,124 in Ashland, OH versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Ashland, OH $4,124
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Ashland, OH is roughly 29% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashland, OH 75% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashland, OH
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.76 $8.76
$12.34 ₡5,535
-29.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.20 $35.20
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-42.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.26 $8.26
$7.76 ₡3,481
6.44%
Cappuccino
$3.45 $3.45
$4.44 ₡1,992
-22.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.79 ₡803
21.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.29 ₡580
-4.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.24 ₡1,451
-15.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 $8.02
$4.43 ₡1,985
81.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashland, OH
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.55 ₡696
-46.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 $1.84
$3.08 ₡1,380
-40.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.53 ₡1,133
40.71%
Eggs
$3.65 $3.65
$3.45 ₡1,546
5.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.93 $9.93
$7.32 ₡3,284
35.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 $9.23
$10.24 ₡4,594
-9.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.49 $14.49
$14.10 ₡6,326
2.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.29 ₡1,027
50.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.64 ₡737
-28.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$4.79 ₡2,149
-32.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$1.64 ₡735
169.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.85 ₡1,727
-48.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$3.75 ₡1,681
-22.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.09 ₡488
89.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.59 ₡1,160
-23.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33 $10.33
$5.12 ₡2,295
101.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.38 $9.38
$19.92 ₡8,931
-52.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.80 ₡1,255
-23.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$3.52 ₡1,580
-26.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashland, OH
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.92 $4.92
$1.22 ₡549
303.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$200 $200
$73.9 ₡33.1K
170.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.17 ₡973
37.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.56 ₡698
-40.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.04 $18.04
$8.67 ₡3,886
108.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.55 ₡697
-32.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-14.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-32.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashland, OH
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 $198
$94.8 ₡42.5K
108.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.76 $33.76
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-6.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.7 $58.7
$53.1 ₡23.8K
10.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashland, OH
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.79 $45.79
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-37.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.08 $8.08
$7.91 ₡3,548
2.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashland, OH
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$890 $890
$490 ₡219.9K
81.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.3K $20.3K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
70.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashland, OH
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 $54.1
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-1.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.89 $43.89
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-21.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.3 $99.3
$80.4 ₡36.0K
23.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$77.9 ₡34.9K
34.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashland, OH
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 $885
$801 ₡359.1K
10.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,157 $1,157
$790 ₡354.1K
46.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,325 $1,325
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-66.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,659 $1,659
$1,409 ₡632.0K
17.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,838 $1,838
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-73.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,968 $1,968
$1,236 ₡554.3K
59.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashland, OH
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,580 $3,580
$887 ₡397.6K
303.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
8.62
-23.43%

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

Last update for Ashland, OH: October 18, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ashland, OH
$1.2K
Nosara
$790 31.8% $368
Groceries & Markets
Ashland, OH
$313
Nosara
$350 11.8% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashland, OH
$290
Nosara
$184 36.6% $106
Getting Around
Ashland, OH
$227
Nosara
$89 60.9% $138
Eating Out
Ashland, OH
$180
Nosara
$213 18.4% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Ashland, OH
$136
Nosara
$121 11% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Ashland, OH
$62
Nosara
$90 44.6% $28

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $885 in Ashland, OH and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashland, OH pays 304% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ashland, OH vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $313 vs $350 per month, with Ashland, OH cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Ashland, OH
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
09:14 9:14 AM
07:14 7:14 AM
2 h behind Ashland, OH
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,684
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ashland, OH Nosara 3,450 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ashland, OH
  • 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
Ashland, OH vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ashland, OH or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Ashland, OH. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ashland, OH or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 304% higher in Ashland, OH, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ashland, OH compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $885 in Ashland, OH versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ashland, OH and in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $35.00 in Ashland, OH. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ashland, OH compared to Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,365 per month in Ashland, OH versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Ashland, OH or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,365 in Ashland, OH, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Ashland, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ashland, OH or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,835 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Ashland, OH compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Ashland, OH and Nosara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Ashland, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ashland, OH vs other spots: cost of living compared

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