Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bregenz and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,129 in Bregenz, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bregenz
🇦🇹 Austria
$2,129
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,129 in Bregenz versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Bregenz $2,129
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,164 in Bregenz versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Bregenz $3,164
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,199 in Bregenz versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Bregenz $4,199
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Bregenz is roughly 16% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bregenz 58% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bregenz
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.83 €17.64
$12.35 ₡5,539
60.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.8 €69.2
$61.2 ₡27.4K
27.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.29 €10.94
$7.52 ₡3,373
63.43%
Cappuccino
$4.85 €4.31
$4.41 ₡1,978
9.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 €3.70
$1.74 ₡780
139.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.45
$1.31 ₡587
196.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.66 €5.03
$3.28 ₡1,471
72.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 €4.08
$4.47 ₡2,004
2.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bregenz
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.56 ₡701
11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.27 €2.91
$3.02 ₡1,355
8.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 €1.47
$2.51 ₡1,125
-34.26%
Eggs
$4.39 €3.91
$3.57 ₡1,603
22.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 €14.24
$7.43 ₡3,333
115.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.96 €12.42
$10.52 ₡4,717
32.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.89 €18.58
$13.97 ₡6,265
49.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.51 €2.23
$2.35 ₡1,052
6.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 €1.60
$1.61 ₡720
11.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 €1.93
$4.80 ₡2,152
-55.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.75 €3.33
$1.61 ₡724
132.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.63
$3.80 ₡1,703
-51.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 €1.21
$3.69 ₡1,657
-63.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 €1.66
$1.13 ₡507
65.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 €0.26
$2.66 ₡1,191
-89.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.77 €6.02
$5.18 ₡2,321
30.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.74 €6.88
$19.88 ₡8,916
-61.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 €1.31
$2.90 ₡1,300
-49.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.15
$3.63 ₡1,626
-64.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Bregenz
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.93 €2.60
$1.12 ₡504
161.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.41 €40.40
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-37.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.34 €3.86
$2.14 ₡958
102.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 €2.12
$1.57 ₡703
51.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.77 €30.04
$8.52 ₡3,823
296.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 €1.48
$1.52 ₡682
9.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K €26.5K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
38.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K €27.1K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-11.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bregenz
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$260 €231
$96.3 ₡43.2K
169.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.60 €13.87
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-56.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.10 €27.67
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-41.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bregenz
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.6 €60.1
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-5.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.09 €8.09
$7.89 ₡3,539
15.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bregenz
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$860 €765
$494 ₡221.6K
74.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K €11.4K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
8.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bregenz
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$153 €136
$53.9 ₡24.2K
183.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.07 €15.18
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-69.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.0 €49.85
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-28.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0 €49.80
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-29.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bregenz
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,049 €933
$788 ₡353.4K
33.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$862 €767
$794 ₡356.2K
8.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,627 €1,447
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-58.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,402 €1,247
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-1.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,974 €6,204
$6,912 ₡3.1M
0.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,587 €4,969
$1,224 ₡549.0K
356.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bregenz
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,804 €2,494
$864 ₡387.3K
224.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.57
8.62
-58.58%

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

Last update for Bregenz: October 10, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bregenz
$862
Nosara
$794 7.9% $68
Groceries & Markets
Bregenz
$350
Nosara
$352 0.6% $2.1
Eating Out
Bregenz
$323
Nosara
$212 34.5% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bregenz
$307
Nosara
$186 39.4% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Bregenz
$127
Nosara
$120 5.4% $6.8
Sport & Entertainment
Bregenz
$86
Nosara
$87 1.8% $1.6
Getting Around
Bregenz
$73
Nosara
$87 18.7% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,049 in Bregenz and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bregenz pays 225% 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: $78.0 in Bregenz vs $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $350 vs $352, with Bregenz cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇦🇹 Bregenz
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
04:21 4:21 AM
20:21 8:21 PM
8 h behind Bregenz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
29,620
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Bregenz Nosara 9,590 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bregenz
  • 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
Bregenz vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bregenz and in Nosara?
Bregenz and Nosara differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($2,129 vs $1,839 including rent). Nosara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bregenz or Nosara?
Average pay runs 225% higher in Bregenz, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bregenz and in Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,049 in Bregenz versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $78.0 in Bregenz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bregenz or Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,129 per month in Bregenz versus $1,839 in Nosara – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,129 in Bregenz, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Bregenz. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bregenz and Nosara?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bregenz or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bregenz 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.
Where should expats move: Bregenz or Nosara?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Bregenz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bregenz vs other spots: cost of living compared

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