Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Can Tho and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Can Tho: $720 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Can Tho
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$720
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $720 per month in Can Tho vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Can Tho $720
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Can Tho vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Can Tho $1,214
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $1,708 per month in Can Tho vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Can Tho $1,708
  • Nosara $3,814

Can Tho is about 61% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Can Tho sits 47% below the global median, while Nosara is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Can Tho
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39 ₫35.9K
$12.34 ₡5,535
-88.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.12 ₫598.6K
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-62.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₫101.4K
$7.76 ₡3,481
-49.48%
Cappuccino
$1.52 ₫39.3K
$4.44 ₡1,992
-65.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₫13.3K
$1.79 ₡803
-70.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₫8,363
$1.29 ₡580
-75.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.04 ₫26.9K
$3.24 ₡1,451
-67.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 ₫29.4K
$4.43 ₡1,985
-74.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Can Tho
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 ₫35.9K
$1.55 ₡696
-10.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 ₫28.7K
$3.08 ₡1,380
-63.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 ₫20.3K
$2.53 ₡1,133
-69.17%
Eggs
$1.40 ₫36.3K
$3.45 ₡1,546
-59.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.95 ₫309.5K
$7.32 ₡3,284
63.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 ₫95.3K
$10.24 ₡4,594
-64.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.30 ₫266.6K
$14.10 ₡6,326
-26.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ₫76.1K
$2.29 ₡1,027
28.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 ₫33.4K
$1.64 ₡737
-21.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 ₫34.6K
$4.79 ₡2,149
-72.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 ₫20.9K
$1.64 ₡735
-50.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 ₫20.8K
$3.85 ₡1,727
-79.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 ₫26.2K
$3.75 ₡1,681
-73.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 ₫19.4K
$1.09 ₡488
-31.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₫13.6K
$2.59 ₡1,160
-79.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.25 ₫32.4K
$5.12 ₡2,295
-75.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.51 ₫194.5K
$19.92 ₡8,931
-62.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₫24.7K
$2.80 ₡1,255
-66.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ₫38.4K
$3.52 ₡1,580
-57.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Can Tho
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₫8,922
$1.22 ₡549
-72.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.32 ₫163.7K
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-91.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 ₫12.4K
$2.17 ₡973
-77.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ₫14.6K
$1.56 ₡698
-64.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 ₫79.2K
$8.67 ₡3,886
-64.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 ₫23.7K
$1.55 ₡697
-41.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K ₫795.8M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-11.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K ₫754.7M
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-24.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Can Tho
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.05 ₫1.2M
$94.8 ₡42.5K
-49.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.77 ₫97.6K
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-89.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.77 ₫252.8K
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-81.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Can Tho
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.50 ₫608.3K
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-68.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.92 ₫205.1K
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-77.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.23 ₫83.6K
$7.91 ₡3,548
-59.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Can Tho
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$193 ₫5.0M
$490 ₡219.9K
-60.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,831 ₫176.8M
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-42.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Can Tho
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.58 ₫506.9K
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-64.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.02 ₫492.3K
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-65.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 ₫2.3M
$80.4 ₡36.0K
12.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.7 ₫2.5M
$77.9 ₡34.9K
22.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Can Tho
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$417 ₫10.8M
$801 ₡359.1K
-47.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 ₫7.2M
$790 ₡354.1K
-64.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 ₫21.4M
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-79.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 ₫17.5M
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-52.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,217 ₫57.4M
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-68.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,101 ₫28.5M
$1,236 ₡554.3K
-10.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Can Tho
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$162 ₫4.2M
$887 ₡397.6K
-81.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.64
8.62
0.23%

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

Last update for Can Tho: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Can Tho
$278
Nosara
$790 184% $512
Groceries & Markets
Can Tho
$187
Nosara
$350 86.8% $163
Clothing & Footwear
Can Tho
$101
Nosara
$121 19.7% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Can Tho
$62
Nosara
$184 199% $122
Eating Out
Can Tho
$52
Nosara
$213 310% $161
Sport & Entertainment
Can Tho
$30
Nosara
$90 199% $60
Getting Around
Can Tho
$11
Nosara
$89 707% $78

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $417 in Can Tho 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 449% higher in Nosara, 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 $23.00 in Can Tho versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $350 – making Can Tho the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Can Tho
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
00:42 12:42 AM
11:42 11:42 AM
13 h behind Can Tho
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,258,900
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Can Tho Nosara 17,450 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Can Tho
  • 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
Can Tho vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Can Tho?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 155%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,080 per month in Can Tho 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 Can Tho, 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 Can Tho and in Nosara?
Groceries cost about 87% more in Nosara, 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 Can Tho or in Nosara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Can Tho and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Can Tho or in Nosara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Can Tho, where all-in costs run around $720, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Can Tho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Can Tho or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Can Tho – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Can Tho 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 Can Tho. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Can Tho vs other spots: cost of living compared

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