Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Busto Arsizio and Nosara

For one person, living costs are similar in Busto Arsizio and in Nosara: $1,822 and $1,839 a month, rent and utilities included.

Busto Arsizio
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,822
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,822 in Busto Arsizio versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Busto Arsizio $1,822
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,823 in Busto Arsizio versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Busto Arsizio $2,823
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,824 in Busto Arsizio versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Busto Arsizio $3,824
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Busto Arsizio costs roughly 1% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busto Arsizio 35% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busto Arsizio
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.97 €19.54
$12.35 ₡5,539
77.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.0 €80.0
$61.2 ₡27.4K
47.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.35 €10.10
$7.52 ₡3,373
50.93%
Cappuccino
$2.17 €1.93
$4.41 ₡1,978
-50.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €3.01
$1.74 ₡780
94.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 €1.25
$1.31 ₡587
6.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.73 €5.99
$3.28 ₡1,471
105.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 €5.47
$4.47 ₡2,004
37.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busto Arsizio
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 €1.39
$1.56 ₡701
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 €2.18
$3.02 ₡1,355
-18.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.43 €3.05
$2.51 ₡1,125
36.65%
Eggs
$4.88 €4.34
$3.57 ₡1,603
36.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.02 €15.14
$7.43 ₡3,333
129.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.61 €12.11
$10.52 ₡4,717
29.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.98 €19.55
$13.97 ₡6,265
57.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 €2.40
$2.35 ₡1,052
14.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.61 ₡720
13.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 €2.27
$4.80 ₡2,152
-46.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.44 €3.06
$1.61 ₡724
113.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 €1.50
$3.80 ₡1,703
-55.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.87
$3.69 ₡1,657
-42.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €0.99
$1.13 ₡507
-0.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 €0.55
$2.66 ₡1,191
-77.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.73 €6.87
$5.18 ₡2,321
49.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.11 €4.54
$19.88 ₡8,916
-74.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.32
$2.90 ₡1,300
-48.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 €1.43
$3.63 ₡1,626
-55.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Busto Arsizio
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 €1.47
$1.12 ₡504
47.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.67 €37.96
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-41.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 €3.40
$2.14 ₡958
78.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.57 ₡703
45.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.60 €35.22
$8.52 ₡3,823
364.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.52 ₡682
38.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K €32.6K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
69.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K €30.9K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
0.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busto Arsizio
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 €176
$96.3 ₡43.2K
105.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.55 €10.27
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-67.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.99 €24.01
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-49.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busto Arsizio
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.11 €27.67
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-56.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.29 €10.04
$7.89 ₡3,539
43.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busto Arsizio
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$873 €777
$494 ₡221.6K
76.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,047 €6,268
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-40.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busto Arsizio
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 €78.1
$53.9 ₡24.2K
62.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.58 €24.53
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-50.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 €94.8
$77.9 ₡34.9K
36.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 €120
$79.6 ₡35.7K
69.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busto Arsizio
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,258 €1,119
$788 ₡353.4K
59.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 €581
$794 ₡356.2K
-17.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,924 €1,712
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-51.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 €956
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-24.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,554 €2,272
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-63.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,591 €1,415
$1,224 ₡549.0K
29.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busto Arsizio
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,176 €1,935
$864 ₡387.3K
151.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.65
8.62
-57.66%

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

Last update for Busto Arsizio: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Busto Arsizio
$654
Nosara
$794 21.5% $141
Groceries & Markets
Busto Arsizio
$352
Nosara
$352 0% $0.1
Eating Out
Busto Arsizio
$301
Nosara
$212 29.6% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busto Arsizio
$237
Nosara
$186 21.6% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Busto Arsizio
$160
Nosara
$120 25.2% $40
Getting Around
Busto Arsizio
$65
Nosara
$87 35% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Busto Arsizio
$54
Nosara
$87 62.7% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,258 in Busto Arsizio and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Busto Arsizio pays 152% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $90.0 in Busto Arsizio vs $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $352 vs $352, with Busto Arsizio cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇹 Busto Arsizio
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
19:29 7:29 PM
11:29 11:29 AM
8 h behind Busto Arsizio
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
83,094
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Busto Arsizio Nosara 9,560 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Busto Arsizio
  • 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
Busto Arsizio vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Busto Arsizio and in Nosara?
Busto Arsizio and Nosara differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,822 vs $1,839 including rent). Busto Arsizio is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Busto Arsizio or Nosara?
Average pay runs 152% higher in Busto Arsizio, 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 Busto Arsizio and in Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,258 in Busto Arsizio 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 Busto Arsizio – a meal for two runs $90.0 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Busto Arsizio or Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $1,822 per month in Busto Arsizio versus $1,839 in Nosara – a 1% 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 $1,822 in Busto Arsizio versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Busto Arsizio but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Busto Arsizio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Busto Arsizio 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 Busto Arsizio or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Busto Arsizio 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: Busto Arsizio or Nosara?
Expats usually find Busto Arsizio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Busto Arsizio vs other spots: cost of living compared

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