Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bainbridge Island, WA and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,854 in Bainbridge Island, WA, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bainbridge Island, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,854
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,854 per month in Bainbridge Island, WA vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Bainbridge Island, WA $2,854
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $4,988 per month in Bainbridge Island, WA vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Bainbridge Island, WA $4,988
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $7,123 per month in Bainbridge Island, WA vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Bainbridge Island, WA $7,123
  • Nosara $3,814

Bainbridge Island, WA costs about 55% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bainbridge Island, WA and Nosara sit above the global median – Bainbridge Island, WA by 111%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.96 $24.96
$12.34 ₡5,535
102.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.3 $99.3
$61.3 ₡27.5K
61.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.02 $15.02
$7.76 ₡3,481
93.56%
Cappuccino
$4.53 $4.53
$4.44 ₡1,992
2.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.79 ₡803
44.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.29 ₡580
127.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.06 $7.06
$3.24 ₡1,451
117.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$4.43 ₡1,985
78.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.55 ₡696
-26.45%
White Bread (500g)
$5.21 $5.21
$3.08 ₡1,380
69.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$2.53 ₡1,133
151.38%
Eggs
$3.20 $3.20
$3.45 ₡1,546
-7.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.75 $18.75
$7.32 ₡3,284
156.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.92 $18.92
$10.24 ₡4,594
84.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.07 $21.07
$14.10 ₡6,326
49.43%
Apples (1kg)
$6.12 $6.12
$2.29 ₡1,027
167.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.64 ₡737
13.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$4.79 ₡2,149
9.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.49 $6.49
$1.64 ₡735
295.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.85 ₡1,727
-8.57%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.75 ₡1,681
-15.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.09 ₡488
145.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.59 ₡1,160
-7.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.42 $12.42
$5.12 ₡2,295
142.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.97 $14.97
$19.92 ₡8,931
-24.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.31 $4.31
$2.80 ₡1,255
53.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.52 ₡1,580
-14.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.22 ₡549
66.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.1 $53.1
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-28.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.17 ₡973
17.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.56 ₡698
-17.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.63 $29.63
$8.67 ₡3,886
241.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.55 ₡697
-11.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K $35.6K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
3.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-33.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$94.8 ₡42.5K
82.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.9 $70.9
$36.15 ₡16.2K
96.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.4 $86.4
$53.1 ₡23.8K
62.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.02 $41.02
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-44.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.22 $14.22
$7.91 ₡3,548
79.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,003 $3,003
$490 ₡219.9K
512.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.7K $30.7K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
158.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.5 $77.5
$54.8 ₡24.6K
41.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.94 $49.94
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-10.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$80.4 ₡36.0K
24.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 $163
$77.9 ₡34.9K
109.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 $1,576
$801 ₡359.1K
96.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,310 $1,310
$790 ₡354.1K
65.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,720 $3,720
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-7.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,603 $3,603
$1,409 ₡632.0K
155.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,740 $2,740
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-61.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 $2,332
$1,236 ₡554.3K
88.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,785 $4,785
$887 ₡397.6K
439.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
8.62
-30.39%

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

Last update for Bainbridge Island, WA: 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
Bainbridge Island, WA
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 39.7% $521
Groceries & Markets
Bainbridge Island, WA
$525
Nosara
$350 33.4% $175
Eating Out
Bainbridge Island, WA
$372
Nosara
$213 42.9% $160
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bainbridge Island, WA
$331
Nosara
$184 44.4% $147
Clothing & Footwear
Bainbridge Island, WA
$176
Nosara
$121 31.1% $55
Getting Around
Bainbridge Island, WA
$70
Nosara
$89 26.4% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Bainbridge Island, WA
$69
Nosara
$90 29% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,576 in Bainbridge Island, WA versus $801 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 440% higher in Bainbridge Island, WA, 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 $99.0 in Bainbridge Island, WA versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $525 vs $350 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Bainbridge Island, WA
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
14:33 2:33 PM
15:33 3:33 PM
1 h ahead of Bainbridge Island, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
24,825
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Bainbridge Island, WA Nosara 5,420 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bainbridge Island, WA
  • 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
Bainbridge Island, WA vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bainbridge Island, WA and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,854 in Bainbridge Island, WA, $1,835 in Nosara – roughly 55% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Bainbridge Island, WA compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,280 per month in Bainbridge Island, WA and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bainbridge Island, WA and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Bainbridge Island, WA and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 39% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bainbridge Island, WA and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $3,003 per month in Bainbridge Island, WA and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,835, than in Bainbridge Island, WA at $2,854. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bainbridge Island, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bainbridge Island, WA and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,835 in Nosara to $2,854 in Bainbridge Island, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bainbridge Island, WA or Nosara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Bainbridge Island, WA and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bainbridge Island, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Bainbridge Island, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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