Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brockton, MA and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,727 in Brockton, MA, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brockton, MA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,727
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,727 in Brockton, MA versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Brockton, MA $2,727
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,037 in Brockton, MA versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Brockton, MA $4,037
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,347 in Brockton, MA versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Brockton, MA $5,347
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Brockton, MA is roughly 48% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brockton, MA 102% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brockton, MA
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.24 $15.24
$12.35 ₡5,539
23.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.7 $96.7
$61.2 ₡27.4K
58.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.58 $7.58
$7.52 ₡3,373
0.80%
Cappuccino
$5.51 $5.51
$4.41 ₡1,978
24.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.74 ₡780
44.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.31 ₡587
11.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.01 $5.01
$3.28 ₡1,471
52.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$4.47 ₡2,004
77.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brockton, MA
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.56 ₡701
-31.41%
White Bread (500g)
$4.08 $4.08
$3.02 ₡1,355
35.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$2.51 ₡1,125
115.54%
Eggs
$4.68 $4.68
$3.57 ₡1,603
31.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.40 $11.40
$7.43 ₡3,333
53.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.11 $14.11
$10.52 ₡4,717
34.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.92 $17.92
$13.97 ₡6,265
28.27%
Apples (1kg)
$6.54 $6.54
$2.35 ₡1,052
178.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.61 ₡720
12.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.50 $6.50
$4.80 ₡2,152
35.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$1.61 ₡724
239.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.80 ₡1,703
-26.84%
Onion (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$3.69 ₡1,657
21.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.13 ₡507
170.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.66 ₡1,191
-26.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.64 $13.64
$5.18 ₡2,321
163.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.72 $13.72
$19.88 ₡8,916
-30.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.90 ₡1,300
-25.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 $4.26
$3.63 ₡1,626
17.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Brockton, MA
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.12 ₡504
75.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.3 $54.3
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-25.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.14 ₡958
51.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.57 ₡703
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.81 $31.81
$8.52 ₡3,823
273.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.52 ₡682
-30.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K $36.4K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
68.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-24.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brockton, MA
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$318 $318
$96.3 ₡43.2K
230.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$35.89 ₡16.1K
77.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.8 $84.8
$53.6 ₡24.0K
58.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brockton, MA
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.26 $41.26
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-42.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.66 $14.66
$7.89 ₡3,539
85.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brockton, MA
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,849 $1,849
$494 ₡221.6K
274.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,892 $7,892
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-33.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brockton, MA
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 $56.8
$53.9 ₡24.2K
5.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.22 $38.22
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-31.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 $80.4
$77.9 ₡34.9K
3.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$79.6 ₡35.7K
26.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brockton, MA
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,601 $1,601
$788 ₡353.4K
103.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 $1,277
$794 ₡356.2K
60.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,459 $2,459
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-37.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,190 $2,190
$1,419 ₡636.5K
54.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,807 $2,807
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-59.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,134 $2,134
$1,224 ₡549.0K
74.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brockton, MA
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,266 $4,266
$864 ₡387.3K
393.98%
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 Brockton, MA: 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
Brockton, MA
$1.3K
Nosara
$794 37.8% $483
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brockton, MA
$467
Nosara
$186 60.2% $281
Groceries & Markets
Brockton, MA
$447
Nosara
$352 21.2% $95
Eating Out
Brockton, MA
$268
Nosara
$212 20.8% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Brockton, MA
$124
Nosara
$120 3.4% $4.3
Getting Around
Brockton, MA
$73
Nosara
$87 18.8% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Brockton, MA
$71
Nosara
$87 23.8% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,601 in Brockton, MA and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brockton, MA pays 394% 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: $97.0 in Brockton, MA vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $352 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Brockton, MA
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
15:33 3:33 PM
13:33 1:33 PM
2 h behind Brockton, MA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
94,191
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

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
  • Brockton, MA Nosara 3,840 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brockton, MA
  • 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
Brockton, MA vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brockton, MA or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Brockton, MA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Brockton, MA or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 394% higher in Brockton, MA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Brockton, MA compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,601 in Brockton, MA versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Brockton, MA compared to Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,727 per month in Brockton, MA versus $1,839 in Nosara – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Brockton, MA compared to Nosara?
A monthly transit pass in Nosara runs roughly 34% less than in Brockton, MA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Brockton, MA or in Nosara?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,727 in Brockton, MA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Brockton, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brockton, MA or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,839 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Brockton, MA compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Brockton, MA 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Brockton, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Brockton, MA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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