Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacong and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Bacong: $647 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $14,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

31

Cost of Living Index in Bacong
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Bacong Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Bacong

🇵🇭 Philippines

$647

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $647 per month in Bacong vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

Bacong $647
Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $981 per month in Bacong vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

Bacong $981
Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,314 per month in Bacong vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

Bacong $1,314
Nosara $3,818

Bacong is about 65% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Bacong sits 52% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 ₱172

$12.35 ₡5,539

-77.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.84 ₱1,186

$61.2 ₡27.4K

-69.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 ₱198

$7.52 ₡3,373

-58.24%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ₱127

$4.41 ₡1,978

-54.20%

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

$0.68 ₱42.84

$1.74 ₡780

-60.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.79

$1.31 ₡587

-74.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 ₱57.9

$3.28 ₡1,471

-71.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₱108

$4.47 ₡2,004

-61.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ₱101

$1.56 ₡701

2.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.5

$3.02 ₡1,355

-61.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 ₱55.4

$2.51 ₡1,125

-64.94%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱130

$3.57 ₡1,603

-42.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 ₱374

$7.43 ₡3,333

-19.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 ₱251

$10.52 ₡4,717

-62.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.30 ₱397

$13.97 ₡6,265

-54.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ₱206

$2.35 ₡1,052

39.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.8

$1.61 ₡720

-32.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.93 ₱184

$4.80 ₡2,152

-38.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 ₱90.3

$1.61 ₡724

-11.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 ₱150

$3.80 ₡1,703

-37.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 ₱172

$3.69 ₡1,657

-26.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₱87.6

$1.13 ₡507

23.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₱51.3

$2.66 ₡1,191

-69.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱188

$5.18 ₡2,321

-42.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 ₱407

$19.88 ₡8,916

-67.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱67.8

$2.90 ₡1,300

-62.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱82.3

$3.63 ₡1,626

-63.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱14.13

$1.12 ₡504

-80.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.96 ₱627

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-86.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₱49.61

$2.14 ₡958

-63.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 ₱22.84

$1.57 ₡703

-77.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₱155

$8.52 ₡3,823

-71.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 ₱62.6

$1.52 ₡682

-34.87%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₡9.7M

-2.62%

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

$19.0K ₱1.2M

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-45.05%

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

$51.4 ₱3,233

$96.3 ₡43.2K

-46.66%

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

$9.28 ₱584

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-74.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.26 ₱1,716

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-49.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.11 ₱2,022

$71.6 ₡32.1K

-55.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.98 ₱251

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-88.60%

Cinema Ticket

$4.66 ₱294

$7.89 ₡3,539

-40.94%

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

$32.30 ₱2,034

$494 ₡221.6K

-93.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,576 ₱539.9K

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-27.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.62 ₱2,117

$53.9 ₡24.2K

-37.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.41 ₱1,222

$55.4 ₡24.8K

-64.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.3 ₱3,543

$77.9 ₡34.9K

-27.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.62 ₱1,487

$79.6 ₡35.7K

-70.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 ₱9,270

$788 ₡353.4K

-81.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 ₱12.0K

$794 ₡356.2K

-75.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₱36.9K

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-85.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ₱19.2K

$1,419 ₡636.5K

-78.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,384 ₱150.1K

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-65.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,056 ₱66.5K

$1,224 ₡549.0K

-13.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.33

8.62

-14.97%

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

Last update for Bacong: October 10, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Bacong

$191 29.5%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 317% $604

Groceries & Markets

Bacong

$187 28.8%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 88.8% $166

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bacong

$88 13.6%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 111% $98

Eating Out

Bacong

$68 10.4%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 214% $144

Clothing & Footwear

Bacong

$60 9.2%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 101% $60

Sport & Entertainment

Bacong

$41 6.4%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 111% $46

Getting Around

Bacong

$13 2.1%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 548% $74

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $147 in Bacong versus $788 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Bacong versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $352 – making Bacong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Bacong

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

06:30 6:30 AM

16:30 4:30 PM

14 h behind Bacong

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

41,207

4,912

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Bacong Nosara 16,160 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Bacong
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

Bacong vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 184%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $971 per month in Bacong and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacong, 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 $19.00 in Bacong and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $647 in Bacong and $1,839 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 184%.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacong, where all-in costs run around $647, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Bacong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bacong – 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 Bacong. 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.