Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Baghdadi: $640 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Baghdadi
🇮🇶 Iraq
$640
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $640 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Baghdadi $640
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $986 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Baghdadi $986
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,331 per month in Baghdadi vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Baghdadi $1,331
  • Nosara $3,818

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

Baghdadi sits 53% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baghdadi
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.97 IQD 5,997
$12.35 ₡5,539
-67.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.10 IQD 21.3K
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-76.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.80 IQD 10.3K
$7.52 ₡3,373
-9.57%
Cappuccino
$1.93 IQD 2,916
$4.41 ₡1,978
-56.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 IQD 623
$1.74 ₡780
-76.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 IQD 325
$1.31 ₡587
-83.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 IQD 3,856
$3.28 ₡1,471
-22.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 IQD 3,533
$4.47 ₡2,004
-47.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baghdadi
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 IQD 1,487
$1.56 ₡701
-37.18%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 IQD 736
$3.02 ₡1,355
-83.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.65 IQD 3,998
$2.51 ₡1,125
5.58%
Eggs
$1.83 IQD 2,763
$3.57 ₡1,603
-48.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.85 IQD 5,812
$7.43 ₡3,333
-48.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 IQD 4,714
$10.52 ₡4,717
-70.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.38 IQD 12.7K
$13.97 ₡6,265
-40.01%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 IQD 1,459
$2.35 ₡1,052
-58.72%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 IQD 1,465
$1.61 ₡720
-39.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 IQD 1,361
$4.80 ₡2,152
-81.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 IQD 925
$1.61 ₡724
-62.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.52 IQD 783
$3.80 ₡1,703
-86.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 1,015
$3.69 ₡1,657
-81.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 IQD 777
$1.13 ₡507
-54.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 IQD 861
$2.66 ₡1,191
-78.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.70 IQD 2,575
$5.18 ₡2,321
-67.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.70 IQD 16.2K
$19.88 ₡8,916
-46.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 IQD 2,471
$2.90 ₡1,300
-43.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 IQD 2,658
$3.63 ₡1,626
-51.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Baghdadi
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 IQD 598
$1.12 ₡504
-64.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.63 IQD 34.2K
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-68.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 IQD 2,777
$2.14 ₡958
-14.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 IQD 2,276
$1.57 ₡703
-3.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.49 IQD 8,292
$8.52 ₡3,823
-35.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 IQD 871
$1.52 ₡682
-61.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.2K IQD 24.5M
$21.6K ₡9.7M
-24.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.7K IQD 22.3M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-57.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdadi
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.1 IQD 128.6K
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-11.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.61 IQD 20.6K
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-62.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.83 IQD 36.0K
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-55.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baghdadi
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.16 IQD 56.2K
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-48.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.23 IQD 14.0K
$7.89 ₡3,539
16.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baghdadi
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$148 IQD 224.3K
$494 ₡221.6K
-69.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,792 IQD 4.2M
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-76.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baghdadi
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.82 IQD 31.5K
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-61.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.68 IQD 35.8K
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-57.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.50 IQD 71.8K
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-39.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.69 IQD 47.9K
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-60.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baghdadi
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$173 IQD 261.7K
$788 ₡353.4K
-78.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$131 IQD 197.2K
$794 ₡356.2K
-83.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$378 IQD 571.6K
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-90.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$311 IQD 470.0K
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-78.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$722 IQD 1.1M
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-89.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$571 IQD 862.4K
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-53.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baghdadi
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 IQD 757.4K
$864 ₡387.3K
-41.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.33
8.62
-61.37%

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

Last update for Baghdadi: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Baghdadi
$147
Nosara
$352 140% $205
Accommodation & Living
Baghdadi
$131
Nosara
$794 509% $664
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdadi
$123
Nosara
$186 51.6% $63
Eating Out
Baghdadi
$95
Nosara
$212 122% $117
Sport & Entertainment
Baghdadi
$56
Nosara
$87 57.1% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Baghdadi
$56
Nosara
$120 116% $64
Getting Around
Baghdadi
$34
Nosara
$87 159% $54

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $173 in Baghdadi 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.

Salaries run about 72% higher in Nosara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Baghdadi versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $147 vs $352 – making Baghdadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇶 Baghdadi
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
19:36 7:36 PM
10:36 10:36 AM
9 h behind Baghdadi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
💱 Currency
Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to IQD – Iraqi Dinar Converter

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,699 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.89 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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Baghdadi Nosara 12,690 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Baghdadi
  • 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
Baghdadi vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Baghdadi?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 187%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $960 per month in Baghdadi and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Baghdadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Baghdadi and in Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $640 in Baghdadi and $1,839 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 187%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 221% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Baghdadi or in Nosara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $640, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Baghdadi or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Baghdadi or Nosara?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Baghdadi. 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.

Baghdadi vs other spots: cost of living compared

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