Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brentwood, TN and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,756 in Brentwood, TN, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brentwood, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,756
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,756 in Brentwood, TN versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Brentwood, TN $2,756
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,945 in Brentwood, TN versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Brentwood, TN $3,945
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,135 in Brentwood, TN versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Brentwood, TN $5,135
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Brentwood, TN is roughly 50% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brentwood, TN 103% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brentwood, TN
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.74 $17.74
$12.34 ₡5,535
43.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.3 $75.3
$61.3 ₡27.5K
22.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.74 $11.74
$7.76 ₡3,481
51.29%
Cappuccino
$5.42 $5.42
$4.44 ₡1,992
22.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.79 ₡803
59.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.29 ₡580
94.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.68 $6.68
$3.24 ₡1,451
106.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81 $6.81
$4.43 ₡1,985
53.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brentwood, TN
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.55 ₡696
-29.03%
White Bread (500g)
$3.98 $3.98
$3.08 ₡1,380
29.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$2.53 ₡1,133
59.29%
Eggs
$4.29 $4.29
$3.45 ₡1,546
24.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.05 $13.05
$7.32 ₡3,284
78.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.57 $14.57
$10.24 ₡4,594
42.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.20 $18.20
$14.10 ₡6,326
29.08%
Apples (1kg)
$5.72 $5.72
$2.29 ₡1,027
149.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.64 ₡737
-6.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$4.79 ₡2,149
-42.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$1.64 ₡735
199.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 $2.19
$3.85 ₡1,727
-43.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$3.75 ₡1,681
-18.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.09 ₡488
116.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.59 ₡1,160
-12.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.10 $9.10
$5.12 ₡2,295
77.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.68 $15.68
$19.92 ₡8,931
-21.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.80 ₡1,255
-29.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$3.52 ₡1,580
-9.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Brentwood, TN
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.22 ₡549
52.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 $4.91
$2.17 ₡973
126.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$1.56 ₡698
2.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.69 $20.69
$8.67 ₡3,886
138.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.55 ₡697
-32.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-17.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-29.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brentwood, TN
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 $224
$94.8 ₡42.5K
136.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.4 $72.4
$36.15 ₡16.2K
100.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$53.1 ₡23.8K
20.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brentwood, TN
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.70 $41.70
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-43.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.11 $15.11
$7.91 ₡3,548
91.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brentwood, TN
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,205 $1,205
$490 ₡219.9K
145.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K $24.1K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
103.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brentwood, TN
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 $55.0
$54.8 ₡24.6K
0.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.33 $42.33
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-24.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$80.4 ₡36.0K
36.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 $137
$77.9 ₡34.9K
76.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brentwood, TN
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,424 $1,424
$801 ₡359.1K
77.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 $1,416
$790 ₡354.1K
79.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,706 $2,706
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-32.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,206 $2,206
$1,409 ₡632.0K
56.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,678 $2,678
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-62.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,349 $2,349
$1,236 ₡554.3K
90.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brentwood, TN
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,027 $6,027
$887 ₡397.6K
579.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
8.62
-22.97%

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

Last update for Brentwood, TN: 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
Brentwood, TN
$1.4K
Nosara
$790 44.2% $627
Groceries & Markets
Brentwood, TN
$421
Nosara
$350 16.9% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brentwood, TN
$361
Nosara
$184 49% $177
Eating Out
Brentwood, TN
$311
Nosara
$213 31.5% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Brentwood, TN
$155
Nosara
$121 22% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Brentwood, TN
$72
Nosara
$90 24.6% $18
Getting Around
Brentwood, TN
$20 *
Nosara
$89 337% $68

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 $1,424 in Brentwood, TN and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brentwood, TN pays 580% 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: $75.0 in Brentwood, TN vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $421 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Brentwood, TN
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
05:20 5:20 AM
04:20 4:20 AM
1 h behind Brentwood, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
64,474
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
  • Brentwood, TN Nosara 2,900 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brentwood, TN
  • 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
Brentwood, TN vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brentwood, TN and in Nosara?
Brentwood, TN and Nosara differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($2,756 vs $1,835 including rent). Nosara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Brentwood, TN or Nosara?
Average pay runs 580% higher in Brentwood, TN, 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 Brentwood, TN and in Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,424 in Brentwood, TN versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Brentwood, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brentwood, TN or Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,756 per month in Brentwood, TN versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 50% 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 $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,756 in Brentwood, TN, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Brentwood, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brentwood, TN 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 Brentwood, TN or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Brentwood, TN 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: Brentwood, TN or Nosara?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Brentwood, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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