Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Burnsville, MN and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,552 in Burnsville, MN, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Burnsville, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,552
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,552 per month in Burnsville, MN vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Burnsville, MN $2,552
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $3,598 per month in Burnsville, MN vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Burnsville, MN $3,598
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $4,644 per month in Burnsville, MN vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Burnsville, MN $4,644
  • Nosara $3,814

Burnsville, MN costs about 39% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Burnsville, MN and Nosara sit above the global median – Burnsville, MN by 88%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burnsville, MN
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.47 $15.47
$12.34 ₡5,535
25.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.6 $67.6
$61.3 ₡27.5K
10.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 $9.83
$7.76 ₡3,481
26.68%
Cappuccino
$5.01 $5.01
$4.44 ₡1,992
12.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.79 ₡803
55.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.29 ₡580
89.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.06 $6.06
$3.24 ₡1,451
87.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.53 $7.53
$4.43 ₡1,985
69.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burnsville, MN
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.55 ₡696
-38.71%
White Bread (500g)
$3.93 $3.93
$3.08 ₡1,380
27.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.53 ₡1,133
50.59%
Eggs
$3.70 $3.70
$3.45 ₡1,546
7.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.72 $9.72
$7.32 ₡3,284
32.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.39 $12.39
$10.24 ₡4,594
21.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.26 $19.26
$14.10 ₡6,326
36.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.93 $4.93
$2.29 ₡1,027
115.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.64 ₡737
-10.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$4.79 ₡2,149
-9.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$1.64 ₡735
161.59%
Potato (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$3.85 ₡1,727
1.30%
Onion (1kg)
$3.74 $3.74
$3.75 ₡1,681
-0.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.09 ₡488
137.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.59 ₡1,160
-34.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.91 $12.91
$5.12 ₡2,295
152.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.07 $8.07
$19.92 ₡8,931
-59.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.80 ₡1,255
-40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.52 ₡1,580
-1.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Burnsville, MN
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.22 ₡549
67.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.9 $83.9
$73.9 ₡33.1K
13.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.17 ₡973
15.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$1.56 ₡698
2.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.60 $23.60
$8.67 ₡3,886
172.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.55 ₡697
-36.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-20.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-32.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burnsville, MN
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 $232
$94.8 ₡42.5K
144.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.4 $50.4
$36.15 ₡16.2K
39.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$53.1 ₡23.8K
22.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burnsville, MN
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.48 $45.48
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-38.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.94 $12.94
$7.91 ₡3,548
63.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burnsville, MN
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,456 $1,456
$490 ₡219.9K
196.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.2K $28.2K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
136.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burnsville, MN
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.06 $45.06
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-17.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 $50.5
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-9.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.4 $81.4
$80.4 ₡36.0K
1.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$77.9 ₡34.9K
44.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burnsville, MN
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,444 $1,444
$801 ₡359.1K
80.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 $1,240
$790 ₡354.1K
57.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,014 $2,014
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-49.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,818 $1,818
$1,409 ₡632.0K
29.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,087 $3,087
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-56.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 $2,227
$1,236 ₡554.3K
80.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burnsville, MN
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,752 $3,752
$887 ₡397.6K
323.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
8.62
-23.32%

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

Last update for Burnsville, MN: 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
Burnsville, MN
$1.2K
Nosara
$790 36.3% $450
Groceries & Markets
Burnsville, MN
$381
Nosara
$350 8.3% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burnsville, MN
$347
Nosara
$184 47% $163
Eating Out
Burnsville, MN
$280
Nosara
$213 24% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Burnsville, MN
$130
Nosara
$121 7% $9.1
Getting Around
Burnsville, MN
$103
Nosara
$89 13.5% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Burnsville, MN
$71
Nosara
$90 25.6% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,444 in Burnsville, MN versus $801 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 323% higher in Burnsville, MN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Burnsville, MN versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $381 vs $350 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Burnsville, MN
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
08:55 8:55 AM
07:55 7:55 AM
1 h behind Burnsville, MN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
60,306
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
  • Burnsville, MN Nosara 3,940 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Burnsville, MN
  • 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
Burnsville, MN vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Burnsville, MN?
Yes – Burnsville, MN is pricier by about 39%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,828 per month in Burnsville, MN and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 food prices compare in Burnsville, MN and in Nosara?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Burnsville, MN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Burnsville, MN or in Nosara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Burnsville, MN and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Burnsville, MN or in Nosara?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,835, than in Burnsville, MN at $2,552. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burnsville, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Burnsville, MN or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nosara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Burnsville, MN or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burnsville, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Burnsville, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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