Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Astana: $1,102 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

54

Cost of Living Index in Astana
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Astana Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Astana

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

$1,102

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,102 per month in Astana vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

Astana $1,102
Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $1,788 per month in Astana vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

Astana $1,788
Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $2,474 per month in Astana vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

Astana $2,474
Nosara $3,712

Astana is about 40% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Astana sits 18% below the global median, while Nosara is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.89 ₸4,901

$12.22 ₡5,509

-10.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.77 ₸17.0K

$60.2 ₡27.1K

-37.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 ₸3,470

$7.54 ₡3,399

2.25%

Cappuccino

$2.50 ₸1,125

$4.31 ₡1,941

-42.00%

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

$1.11 ₸500

$1.72 ₡773

-35.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₸300

$1.35 ₡608

-50.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₸582

$3.24 ₡1,459

-60.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₸1,005

$4.48 ₡2,018

-50.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ₸563

$1.57 ₡707

-20.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 ₸266

$3.17 ₡1,429

-81.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₸729

$2.42 ₡1,091

-33.06%

Eggs

$2.22 ₸1,000

$3.57 ₡1,609

-37.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.83 ₸5,325

$7.43 ₡3,349

59.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 ₸2,552

$10.42 ₡4,697

-45.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 ₸4,615

$13.66 ₡6,156

-24.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 ₸810

$2.32 ₡1,044

-22.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.33 ₸1,049

$1.61 ₡728

44.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 ₸1,028

$4.74 ₡2,138

-51.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 ₸996

$1.66 ₡747

33.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ₸296

$3.72 ₡1,679

-82.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸191

$3.57 ₡1,611

-88.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 ₸657

$1.10 ₡497

32.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₸415

$2.55 ₡1,149

-63.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 ₸1,013

$4.95 ₡2,232

-54.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 ₸4,833

$20.01 ₡9,020

-46.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₸596

$2.79 ₡1,256

-52.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₸1,068

$3.53 ₡1,589

-32.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸103

$1.19 ₡537

-80.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.27 ₸7,324

$72.1 ₡32.5K

-77.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 ₸966

$2.24 ₡1,011

-4.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 ₸498

$1.55 ₡701

-28.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.41 ₸2,883

$8.86 ₡3,993

-27.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 ₸278

$1.57 ₡708

-60.51%

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

$24.1K ₸10.9M

$21.8K ₡9.8M

10.67%

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

$30.2K ₸13.6M

$34.6K ₡15.6M

-12.95%

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

$65.7 ₸29.6K

$93.5 ₡42.1K

-29.70%

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

$9.81 ₸4,416

$35.11 ₡15.8K

-72.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.72 ₸7,978

$51.5 ₡23.2K

-65.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₸25.5K

$71.4 ₡32.2K

-20.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.12 ₸9,059

$35.44 ₡16.0K

-43.23%

Cinema Ticket

$6.46 ₸2,906

$7.84 ₡3,535

-17.60%

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

$365 ₸164.1K

$490 ₡220.7K

-25.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.2M

$11.9K ₡5.4M

-2.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ₸28.6K

$53.5 ₡24.1K

18.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.04 ₸20.7K

$55.8 ₡25.1K

-17.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₸52.7K

$79.3 ₡35.7K

47.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₸56.3K

$78.9 ₡35.6K

58.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$561 ₸252.4K

$786 ₡354.3K

-28.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 ₸170.6K

$780 ₡351.6K

-51.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 ₸496.7K

$3,860 ₡1.7M

-71.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₸345.4K

$1,407 ₡634.4K

-45.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,553 ₸699.3K

$6,972 ₡3.1M

-77.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,117 ₸503.0K

$1,201 ₡541.3K

-6.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$876 ₸394.6K

$876 ₡395.0K

0.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.5

8.62

79.81%

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

Last update for Astana: 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

Astana

$379 34.2%

Nosara

$780 43% 106% $401

Groceries & Markets

Astana

$224 20.2%

Nosara

$350 19.3% 56% $125

Eating Out

Astana

$158 14.3%

Nosara

$209 11.6% 32.4% $51

Clothing & Footwear

Astana

$158 14.3%

Nosara

$120 6.6% 24% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Astana

$93 8.4%

Nosara

$180 9.9% 93.1% $87

Sport & Entertainment

Astana

$70 6.3%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 25.3% $18

Getting Around

Astana

$25 2.3%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 249% $62

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $561 in Astana 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 0% higher in Astana, 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 $38.00 in Astana versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $224 vs $350 – making Astana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇰🇿 Astana

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

13:14 1:14 PM

01:14 1:14 AM

12 h behind Astana

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

814,400 Capital

4,912

💱 Currency

Kazakhstani Tenge KZT ₸

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 KZT = 2.22 USD

1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇿 Kazakhstani Tenge (₸)

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 450 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.98 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).

USD to KZT in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Astana Nosara 12,870 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Astana
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

Astana vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,102 in Astana, $1,837 in Nosara – roughly 67% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,653 per month in Astana and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Astana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Astana and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $1,102, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Astana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,102 in Astana to $1,837 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Astana. 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.