Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Berwyn, IL and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,449 in Berwyn, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Berwyn, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,449
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,449 in Berwyn, IL versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Berwyn, IL $2,449
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,655 in Berwyn, IL versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Berwyn, IL $3,655
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,860 in Berwyn, IL versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Berwyn, IL $4,860
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Berwyn, IL is roughly 33% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Berwyn, IL 81% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berwyn, IL
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.67 $19.67
$12.34 ₡5,535
59.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$61.3 ₡27.5K
21.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 $9.83
$7.76 ₡3,481
26.68%
Cappuccino
$5.04 $5.04
$4.44 ₡1,992
13.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.79 ₡803
44.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.29 ₡580
52.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$3.24 ₡1,451
87.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09 $7.09
$4.43 ₡1,985
60.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berwyn, IL
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.55 ₡696
-46.45%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.08 ₡1,380
16.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$2.53 ₡1,133
109.49%
Eggs
$4.69 $4.69
$3.45 ₡1,546
35.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.01 $10.01
$7.32 ₡3,284
36.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.92 $13.92
$10.24 ₡4,594
35.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.75 $16.75
$14.10 ₡6,326
18.79%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$2.29 ₡1,027
120.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.64 ₡737
-8.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$4.79 ₡2,149
-18.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$1.64 ₡735
204.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$3.85 ₡1,727
-32.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.75 ₡1,681
-31.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.09 ₡488
96.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.59 ₡1,160
-7.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.95 $10.95
$5.12 ₡2,295
113.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$19.92 ₡8,931
-23.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.80 ₡1,255
-30.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.52 ₡1,580
-0.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Berwyn, IL
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.22 ₡549
44.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.17 ₡973
31.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.56 ₡698
-12.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.24 $21.24
$8.67 ₡3,886
144.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.55 ₡697
-20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K $33.9K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-1.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-33.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berwyn, IL
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 $195
$94.8 ₡42.5K
105.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.7 $68.7
$36.15 ₡16.2K
89.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2 $61.2
$53.1 ₡23.8K
15.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berwyn, IL
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.38 $43.38
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-41.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.97 $13.97
$7.91 ₡3,548
76.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berwyn, IL
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,693 $1,693
$490 ₡219.9K
245.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K $24.3K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
104.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berwyn, IL
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 $54.4
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-0.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 $40.43
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-27.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.9 $94.9
$80.4 ₡36.0K
18.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$77.9 ₡34.9K
48.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berwyn, IL
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 $1,401
$801 ₡359.1K
74.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,183 $1,183
$790 ₡354.1K
49.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,623 $2,623
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-34.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,052 $2,052
$1,409 ₡632.0K
45.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,341 $2,341
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-66.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,156 $2,156
$1,236 ₡554.3K
74.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berwyn, IL
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
8.62
-22.85%

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

Last update for Berwyn, IL: 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
Berwyn, IL
$1.2K
Nosara
$790 33.2% $393
Groceries & Markets
Berwyn, IL
$406
Nosara
$350 13.9% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berwyn, IL
$325
Nosara
$184 43.4% $141
Eating Out
Berwyn, IL
$310
Nosara
$213 31.4% $97
Clothing & Footwear
Berwyn, IL
$137
Nosara
$121 11.8% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Berwyn, IL
$71
Nosara
$90 25.6% $18
Getting Around
Berwyn, IL
$17 *
Nosara
$89 430% $72

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,401 in Berwyn, IL and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Berwyn, IL vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Berwyn, IL
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
23:32 11:32 PM
22:32 10:32 PM
1 h behind Berwyn, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
57,250
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Berwyn, IL Nosara 3,550 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Berwyn, IL
  • 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
Berwyn, IL vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Berwyn, IL?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,674 in Berwyn, IL and $2,753 in Nosara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Berwyn, IL and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,401 in Berwyn, IL versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,693 in Berwyn, IL versus $490 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Berwyn, IL or in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $75.0 in Berwyn, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Berwyn, IL or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,449 in Berwyn, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Berwyn, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Berwyn, IL or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Berwyn, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Berwyn, IL or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Berwyn, IL 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 Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Berwyn, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Berwyn, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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