Cost of Living Comparison Between Atenas and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Atenas and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,307 per month in Atenas vs $1,662 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,274 per month in Atenas vs $2,597 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,240 per month in Atenas vs $3,532 in Nosara, rent included.

Atenas is about 21% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Atenas sits 3% below the global median, while Nosara is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.97 ₡4,100

$11.04 ₡5,042

-18.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.4 ₡23.9K

$60.6 ₡27.7K

-13.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.01 ₡4,571

$6.84 ₡3,123

46.35%

Cappuccino

$3.75 ₡1,714

$3.79 ₡1,729

-1.06%

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

$1.98 ₡904

$1.57 ₡718

26.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₡718

$1.17 ₡533

34.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 ₡1,398

$2.91 ₡1,328

5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 ₡2,111

$4.63 ₡2,113

-0.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡939

$1.40 ₡640

47.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,307

$2.85 ₡1,304

0.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ₡888

$2.13 ₡975

-8.92%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,374

$3.02 ₡1,379

-0.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.73 ₡4,445

$6.70 ₡3,062

45.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 ₡3,994

$8.86 ₡4,050

-1.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.21 ₡4,205

$13.51 ₡6,172

-31.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 ₡1,774

$2.14 ₡977

81.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡661

$1.42 ₡648

2.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 ₡1,121

$4.36 ₡1,991

-43.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ₡982

$1.50 ₡686

43.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 ₡1,525

$3.55 ₡1,620

-5.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,106

$3.21 ₡1,467

-24.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡463

$1.01 ₡462

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,293

$2.32 ₡1,062

21.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 ₡2,434

$4.47 ₡2,041

19.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.06 ₡8,250

$20.37 ₡9,308

-11.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 ₡1,129

$2.50 ₡1,140

-1.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₡1,085

$2.88 ₡1,318

-17.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 ₡928

$1.02 ₡465

99.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.8 ₡31.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡817

$1.82 ₡831

-1.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡814

$1.79 ₡817

-0.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 ₡3,665

$8.09 ₡3,696

-0.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡635

$1.34 ₡613

3.73%

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

$38.2K ₡17.5M

$32.1K ₡14.7M

19.12%

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

$32.5K ₡14.9M

$32.1K ₡14.7M

1.28%

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

$92.7 ₡42.3K

$95.2 ₡43.5K

-2.62%

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

$26.18 ₡12.0K

$26.17 ₡12.0K

0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.67 ₡21.8K

$48.04 ₡21.9K

-0.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.90 ₡18.7K

$57.7 ₡26.3K

-29.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.86 ₡4,506

$23.79 ₡10.9K

-58.55%

Cinema Ticket

$8.30 ₡3,792

$9.67 ₡4,417

-14.17%

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

$562 ₡256.6K

$450 ₡205.6K

24.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,050 ₡2.8M

$10.7K ₡4.9M

-43.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 ₡28.3K

$49.98 ₡22.8K

24.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.74 ₡22.3K

$52.3 ₡23.9K

-6.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡54.2K

$70.7 ₡32.3K

67.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.5K

$72.5 ₡33.1K

49.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$548 ₡250.3K

$758 ₡346.2K

-27.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 ₡179.6K

$751 ₡343.0K

-47.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 ₡622.8K

$1,517 ₡692.8K

-10.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,165 ₡532.2K

$1,326 ₡605.6K

-12.11%

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)

$1,288 ₡588.6K

$881 ₡402.4K

46.27%

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 Atenas: April 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $548 in Atenas versus $758 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 46% higher in Atenas, 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 $52 in Atenas versus $61 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $324 in Atenas vs $320 in Nosara – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Atenas vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,960 per month in Atenas and $2,492 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Atenas and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Atenas, where all-in costs run around $1,307, than in Nosara at $1,662. In Atenas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Atenas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Atenas. 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.