Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Camden, NJ and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,569 in Camden, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Camden, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,569
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,569 in Camden, NJ versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Camden, NJ $2,569
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,856 in Camden, NJ versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Camden, NJ $3,856
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,143 in Camden, NJ versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Camden, NJ $5,143
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Camden, NJ is roughly 40% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Camden, NJ 90% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Camden, NJ
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.17 $20.17
$12.34 ₡5,535
63.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9 $78.9
$61.3 ₡27.5K
28.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 $11.88
$7.76 ₡3,481
53.09%
Cappuccino
$5.34 $5.34
$4.44 ₡1,992
20.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.79 ₡803
44.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.29 ₡580
78.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$3.24 ₡1,451
86.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.79 $7.79
$4.43 ₡1,985
75.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Camden, NJ
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.55 ₡696
-5.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.08 ₡1,380
12.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.19 $7.19
$2.53 ₡1,133
184.19%
Eggs
$5.05 $5.05
$3.45 ₡1,546
46.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.33 $12.33
$7.32 ₡3,284
68.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.85 $12.85
$10.24 ₡4,594
25.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.01 $18.01
$14.10 ₡6,326
27.73%
Apples (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$2.29 ₡1,027
138.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.64 ₡737
-5.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$4.79 ₡2,149
7.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.28 $5.28
$1.64 ₡735
221.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$3.85 ₡1,727
-25.45%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.75 ₡1,681
-18.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.09 ₡488
130.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.59 ₡1,160
-4.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$5.12 ₡2,295
127.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 $14.82
$19.92 ₡8,931
-25.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 $2.40
$2.80 ₡1,255
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.52 ₡1,580
-7.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Camden, NJ
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.22 ₡549
69.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.17 ₡973
25.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$1.56 ₡698
2.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.18 $24.18
$8.67 ₡3,886
178.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.55 ₡697
-25.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-9.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-32.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Camden, NJ
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$94.8 ₡42.5K
131.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.7 $61.7
$36.15 ₡16.2K
70.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.7 $61.7
$53.1 ₡23.8K
16.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Camden, NJ
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.94 $38.94
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-47.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.52 $15.52
$7.91 ₡3,548
96.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Camden, NJ
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,186 $2,186
$490 ₡219.9K
345.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.4K $34.4K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
189.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Camden, NJ
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.59 $48.59
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-11.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.56 $47.56
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-14.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$80.4 ₡36.0K
26.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$77.9 ₡34.9K
54.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Camden, NJ
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,382 $1,382
$801 ₡359.1K
72.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 $1,228
$790 ₡354.1K
55.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-29.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 $2,180
$1,409 ₡632.0K
54.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,470 $2,470
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-65.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,498 $2,498
$1,236 ₡554.3K
102.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Camden, NJ
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,216 $3,216
$887 ₡397.6K
262.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
8.62
-23.20%

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

Last update for Camden, NJ: 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
Camden, NJ
$1.2K
Nosara
$790 35.7% $438
Groceries & Markets
Camden, NJ
$440
Nosara
$350 20.5% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Camden, NJ
$343
Nosara
$184 46.3% $159
Eating Out
Camden, NJ
$326
Nosara
$213 34.8% $114
Clothing & Footwear
Camden, NJ
$143
Nosara
$121 15.5% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Camden, NJ
$70
Nosara
$90 28.1% $20
Getting Around
Camden, NJ
$19 *
Nosara
$89 367% $70

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 $1,382 in Camden, NJ and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camden, NJ pays 263% 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: $79.0 in Camden, NJ vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $440 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Camden, NJ
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
22:59 10:59 PM
20:59 8:59 PM
2 h behind Camden, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
77,344
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
  • Camden, NJ Nosara 3,490 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Camden, NJ
  • 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
Camden, NJ vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Camden, NJ and in Nosara?
Camden, NJ and Nosara differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($2,569 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: Camden, NJ or Nosara?
Average pay runs 263% higher in Camden, NJ, 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 Camden, NJ and in Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,382 in Camden, NJ 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 26% higher in Camden, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Camden, NJ or Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,569 per month in Camden, NJ versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 40% 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 $2,569 in Camden, NJ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Camden, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Camden, NJ 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 Camden, NJ or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Camden, NJ 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: Camden, NJ or Nosara?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Camden, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Camden, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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