Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazzaville and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $1,931 in Brazzaville, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Brazzaville outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Brazzaville
🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo
$1,931
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,931 per month in Brazzaville vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Brazzaville $1,931
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $2,959 per month in Brazzaville vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Brazzaville $2,959
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $3,986 per month in Brazzaville vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Brazzaville $3,986
  • Nosara $3,712

Brazzaville costs about 5% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Brazzaville and Nosara sit above the global median – Brazzaville by 44%, Nosara by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brazzaville
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.22 FCFA 4,812
$12.22 ₡5,509
-32.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.75 FCFA 29.1K
$60.2 ₡27.1K
-17.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.85 FCFA 2,839
$7.54 ₡3,399
-35.68%
Cappuccino
$4.05 FCFA 2,370
$4.31 ₡1,941
-6.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 FCFA 929
$1.72 ₡773
-7.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 FCFA 766
$1.35 ₡608
-2.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.58 FCFA 3,264
$3.24 ₡1,459
72.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 FCFA 2,157
$4.48 ₡2,018
-17.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazzaville
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.75 FCFA 1,608
$1.57 ₡707
75.16%
White Bread (500g)
$4.81 FCFA 2,813
$3.17 ₡1,429
51.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.00 FCFA 1,754
$2.42 ₡1,091
23.97%
Eggs
$2.87 FCFA 1,678
$3.57 ₡1,609
-19.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.06 FCFA 9,399
$7.43 ₡3,349
116.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.45 FCFA 5,527
$10.42 ₡4,697
-9.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.39 FCFA 8,422
$13.66 ₡6,156
5.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 FCFA 1,413
$2.32 ₡1,044
4.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 FCFA 1,022
$1.61 ₡728
8.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 FCFA 2,089
$4.74 ₡2,138
-24.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.91 FCFA 1,701
$1.66 ₡747
75.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 FCFA 1,509
$3.72 ₡1,679
-30.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 FCFA 1,376
$3.57 ₡1,611
-34.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 FCFA 796
$1.10 ₡497
23.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 FCFA 487
$2.55 ₡1,149
-67.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.73 FCFA 2,181
$4.95 ₡2,232
-24.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.38 FCFA 6,075
$20.01 ₡9,020
-48.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.79 ₡1,256
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.53 ₡1,589
-
🚌 Getting Around
Brazzaville
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 FCFA 145
$1.19 ₡537
-78.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.00 FCFA 13.5K
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-68.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 FCFA 1,011
$2.24 ₡1,011
-22.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 FCFA 768
$1.55 ₡701
-15.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.75 FCFA 3,946
$8.86 ₡3,993
-23.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 FCFA 798
$1.57 ₡708
-13.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K FCFA 17.2M
$21.8K ₡9.8M
35.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K FCFA 15.7M
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-22.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazzaville
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$839 FCFA 491.1K
$93.5 ₡42.1K
798.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.27 FCFA 10.1K
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-50.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.17 FCFA 24.7K
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-18.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazzaville
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.27 FCFA 15.4K
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-63.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.90 FCFA 8,133
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-60.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.60 FCFA 3,279
$7.84 ₡3,535
-28.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazzaville
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$52.2 FCFA 30.5K
$490 ₡220.7K
-89.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.9K ₡5.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazzaville
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$79.3 ₡35.7K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.9 ₡35.6K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazzaville
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,175 FCFA 687.2K
$786 ₡354.3K
49.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 FCFA 264.1K
$780 ₡351.6K
-42.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,203 FCFA 1.9M
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-17.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,449 FCFA 848.0K
$1,407 ₡634.4K
3.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,458 FCFA 2.0M
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-50.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,979 FCFA 1.7M
$1,201 ₡541.3K
148.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazzaville
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$451 FCFA 264.1K
$876 ₡395.0K
-48.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
8.62
-24.13%

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

Last update for Brazzaville: October 6, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazzaville
$899
Nosara
$180 80% $719
Accommodation & Living
Brazzaville
$451
Nosara
$780 72.7% $328
Groceries & Markets
Brazzaville
$338 *
Nosara
$350 3.5% $12
Eating Out
Brazzaville
$176
Nosara
$209 19.1% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Brazzaville
$37
Nosara
$87 132% $50
Getting Around
Brazzaville
$32
Nosara
$87 169% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Brazzaville
- *
Nosara
$120

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,175 in Brazzaville versus $786 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 94% higher in Nosara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Brazzaville versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $350 – making Brazzaville the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇬 Brazzaville
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
11:19 11:19 AM
04:19 4:19 AM
7 h behind Brazzaville
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,932,610 Capital
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to XAF – Central African CFA Franc Converter

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brazzaville Nosara 11,280 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brazzaville
  • 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
Brazzaville vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brazzaville or Nosara?
Brazzaville costs about 5% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Brazzaville and in Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,897 per month in Brazzaville and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brazzaville or 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 dining costs compare in Brazzaville and in Nosara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Brazzaville and $60.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Brazzaville compared to Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,931 in Brazzaville and $1,837 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 5%.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Brazzaville or in Nosara?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Brazzaville at $1,931. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brazzaville it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brazzaville or Nosara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nosara costs $1,837 versus $1,931 in Brazzaville. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Brazzaville compared to 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.
Should I move to Brazzaville or to Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brazzaville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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