Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bengbu and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Bengbu: $666 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bengbu
🇨🇳 China
$666
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $666 in Bengbu versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Bengbu $666
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Bengbu versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Bengbu $1,043
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,420 in Bengbu versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Bengbu $1,420
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Bengbu costs roughly 64% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bengbu is 51% below, Nosara is 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bengbu
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.31 ¥15.42
$12.35 ₡5,550
-81.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.50 ¥70.2
$61.2 ₡27.5K
-82.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 ¥31.81
$7.52 ₡3,379
-36.70%
Cappuccino
$3.15 ¥21.09
$4.41 ₡1,982
-28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.16
$1.74 ₡781
-72.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 ¥1.66
$1.31 ₡588
-80.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.45 ¥9.67
$3.28 ₡1,474
-55.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 ¥14.75
$4.47 ₡2,008
-50.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bengbu
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥14.57
$1.56 ₡702
39.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ¥6.82
$3.02 ₡1,358
-66.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.85
$2.51 ₡1,127
-71.31%
Eggs
$1.32 ¥8.83
$3.57 ₡1,606
-63.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ¥69.7
$7.43 ₡3,340
40.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.04 ¥20.30
$10.52 ₡4,727
-71.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.00 ¥60.2
$13.97 ₡6,277
-35.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.50 ¥10.03
$2.35 ₡1,054
-36.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.13
$1.61 ₡721
-33.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.16
$4.80 ₡2,156
-68.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 ¥5.22
$1.61 ₡725
-51.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 ¥4.16
$3.80 ₡1,706
-83.68%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ¥4.20
$3.69 ₡1,660
-82.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ¥5.09
$1.13 ₡508
-32.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.90
$2.66 ₡1,193
-83.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93 ¥19.57
$5.18 ₡2,326
-43.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.10 ¥40.82
$19.88 ₡8,934
-69.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥5.11
$2.90 ₡1,303
-73.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ¥9.86
$3.63 ₡1,629
-59.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Bengbu
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ¥2.09
$1.12 ₡505
-72.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.48 ¥137
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-71.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 ¥10.76
$2.14 ₡960
-24.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.57
$1.57 ₡705
-75.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.15 ¥61.2
$8.52 ₡3,830
7.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ¥8.66
$1.52 ₡683
-15.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥128.4K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
-11.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6K ¥111.3K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-51.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bengbu
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.70 ¥245
$96.3 ₡43.3K
-61.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.39 ¥36.02
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-84.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.07 ¥47.25
$53.6 ₡24.1K
-86.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bengbu
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.28 ¥276
$71.6 ₡32.2K
-42.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.25 ¥109
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-53.45%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99 ¥40.08
$7.89 ₡3,546
-24.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bengbu
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,789
$494 ₡222.0K
-15.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.1K ¥148.0K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
86.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bengbu
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.41 ¥290
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-19.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.77 ¥226
$55.4 ₡24.9K
-39.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.1 ¥442
$77.9 ₡35.0K
-15.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ¥592
$79.6 ₡35.8K
11.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bengbu
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$294 ¥1,969
$788 ₡354.1K
-62.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 ¥1,209
$794 ₡356.9K
-77.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$586 ¥3,921
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-85.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 ¥2,335
$1,419 ₡637.7K
-75.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,507 ¥23.5K
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-49.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,194 ¥14.7K
$1,224 ₡550.0K
79.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bengbu
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$668 ¥4,469
$864 ₡388.0K
-22.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.42
8.62
-60.32%

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

Last update for Bengbu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bengbu
$181
Nosara
$794 339% $613
Groceries & Markets
Bengbu
$168
Nosara
$352 110% $184
Clothing & Footwear
Bengbu
$104
Nosara
$120 15.1% $16
Eating Out
Bengbu
$85
Nosara
$212 149% $127
Sport & Entertainment
Bengbu
$53
Nosara
$87 64% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bengbu
$49
Nosara
$186 278% $137
Getting Around
Bengbu
$25
Nosara
$87 245% $62

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Bengbu and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $11.00 in Bengbu vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $352 per month, with Bengbu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Bengbu
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
10:48 10:48 AM
20:48 8:48 PM
14 h behind Bengbu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,296,408
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 449 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bengbu Nosara 14,660 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bengbu
  • 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
Bengbu vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Bengbu?
Bengbu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 176% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bengbu or Nosara?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Nosara. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Bengbu and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $294 in Bengbu versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $417 in Bengbu versus $494 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Bengbu and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 110% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bengbu or in Nosara?
At $666 in Bengbu versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bengbu but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Bengbu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bengbu or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Bengbu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nosara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bengbu or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Bengbu and Nosara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bengbu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 176% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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