Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Broome, WA and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,663 in Broome, WA, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Broome, WA
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,663
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Broome, WA versus $1,837 in Nosara.

  • Broome, WA $2,663
  • Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,396 in Broome, WA versus $2,775 in Nosara.

  • Broome, WA $4,396
  • Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,129 in Broome, WA versus $3,712 in Nosara.

  • Broome, WA $6,129
  • Nosara $3,712

Living in Broome, WA is roughly 45% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Broome, WA 99% above, Nosara 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Broome, WA
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.14 A$30.26
$12.22 ₡5,509
73.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.8 A$118
$60.2 ₡27.1K
37.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$21.18 A$30.30
$7.54 ₡3,399
180.90%
Cappuccino
$5.16 A$7.39
$4.31 ₡1,941
19.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 A$5.48
$1.72 ₡773
122.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 A$3.23
$1.35 ₡608
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.17 A$11.69
$3.24 ₡1,459
152.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.48 A$10.70
$4.48 ₡2,018
66.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Broome, WA
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.83 A$4.05
$1.57 ₡707
80.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 A$3.73
$3.17 ₡1,429
-17.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 A$3.08
$2.42 ₡1,091
-10.74%
Eggs
$5.10 A$7.30
$3.57 ₡1,609
42.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.35 A$13.39
$7.43 ₡3,349
25.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.95 A$14.25
$10.42 ₡4,697
-4.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.48 A$20.72
$13.66 ₡6,156
6.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.44 A$6.35
$2.32 ₡1,044
91.38%
Banana (1kg)
$3.39 A$4.84
$1.61 ₡728
110.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 A$6.13
$4.74 ₡2,138
-9.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.54 A$7.94
$1.66 ₡747
233.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.59 A$5.13
$3.72 ₡1,679
-3.49%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 A$4.39
$3.57 ₡1,611
-14.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.66 A$5.24
$1.10 ₡497
232.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 A$2.27
$2.55 ₡1,149
-37.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.14 A$46.00
$4.95 ₡2,232
549.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.33 A$24.81
$20.01 ₡9,020
-13.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.71 A$6.74
$2.79 ₡1,256
68.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25 A$7.51
$3.53 ₡1,589
48.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Broome, WA
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.00 A$4.29
$1.19 ₡537
152.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.0 A$116
$72.1 ₡32.5K
12.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 A$5.09
$2.24 ₡1,011
58.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 A$2.24
$1.55 ₡701
0.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.2 A$102
$8.86 ₡3,993
703.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 A$2.44
$1.57 ₡708
8.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K A$40.0K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
28.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K A$32.1K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-35.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Broome, WA
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 A$295
$93.5 ₡42.1K
120.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 A$39.20
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-21.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.95 A$70.1
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-4.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Broome, WA
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 A$80.7
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-20.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.70 A$22.46
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-55.70%
Cinema Ticket
$17.80 A$25.47
$7.84 ₡3,535
127.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Broome, WA
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,079 A$1,544
$490 ₡220.7K
120.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.3K A$29.1K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
71.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Broome, WA
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 A$158
$53.5 ₡24.1K
106.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.4 A$101
$55.8 ₡25.1K
26.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$159 A$228
$79.3 ₡35.7K
100.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 A$175
$78.9 ₡35.6K
55.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Broome, WA
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,504 A$2,153
$786 ₡354.3K
91.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 A$1,734
$780 ₡351.6K
55.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,003 A$4,297
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-22.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,894 A$4,142
$1,407 ₡634.4K
105.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,827 A$8,339
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-16.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,895 A$7,005
$1,201 ₡541.3K
307.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Broome, WA
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,825 A$5,474
$876 ₡395.0K
336.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
8.62
-32.25%

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

Last update for Broome, WA: October 5, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Broome, WA
$1.2K
Nosara
$780 35.6% $432
Groceries & Markets
Broome, WA
$411
Nosara
$350 15% $62
Eating Out
Broome, WA
$375
Nosara
$209 44.1% $165
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Broome, WA
$283
Nosara
$180 36.3% $102
Clothing & Footwear
Broome, WA
$208
Nosara
$120 42.2% $88
Getting Around
Broome, WA
$104
Nosara
$87 16.7% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Broome, WA
$92
Nosara
$87 5.4% $4.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,504 in Broome, WA and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Broome, WA pays 336% 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: $83.0 in Broome, WA vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Broome, WA
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
18:34 6:34 PM
04:34 4:34 AM
14 h behind Broome, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,660
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 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
  • Broome, WA Nosara 16,880 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Broome, WA
  • 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
Broome, WA vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Broome, WA and in Nosara?
Broome, WA and Nosara differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($2,663 vs $1,837 including rent). Nosara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Broome, WA or Nosara?
Average pay runs 336% higher in Broome, WA, 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 Broome, WA and in Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,504 in Broome, WA versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Broome, WA or Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Broome, WA versus $1,837 in Nosara – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Broome, WA and in Nosara?
A monthly transit pass in Nosara runs roughly 12% less than in Broome, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,663 in Broome, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Broome, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Broome, WA 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 Broome, WA or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Broome, WA 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: Broome, WA or Nosara?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Broome, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Broome, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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