Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Caracas: $1,312 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Nosara outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Caracas
🇻🇪 Venezuela
$1,312
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,312 per month in Caracas vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Caracas $1,312
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $2,236 per month in Caracas vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Caracas $2,236
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $3,160 per month in Caracas vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Caracas $3,160
  • Nosara $3,712

Caracas is about 29% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Caracas sits 2% below the global median, while Nosara is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caracas
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.63 VES 9,271
$12.22 ₡5,509
-13.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.2 VES 59.5K
$60.2 ₡27.1K
13.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.99 VES 9,589
$7.54 ₡3,399
45.76%
Cappuccino
$3.73 VES 3,258
$4.31 ₡1,941
-13.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 VES 1,346
$1.72 ₡773
-10.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 VES 1,119
$1.35 ₡608
-5.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 VES 1,792
$3.24 ₡1,459
-36.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 VES 2,540
$4.48 ₡2,018
-35.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caracas
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.76 VES 2,407
$1.57 ₡707
75.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 VES 2,025
$3.17 ₡1,429
-26.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 VES 1,651
$2.42 ₡1,091
-21.90%
Eggs
$4.82 VES 4,210
$3.57 ₡1,609
35.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 VES 8,879
$7.43 ₡3,349
37.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.44 VES 8,241
$10.42 ₡4,697
-9.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.51 VES 10.0K
$13.66 ₡6,156
-15.74%
Apples (1kg)
$7.23 VES 6,307
$2.32 ₡1,044
211.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 VES 1,709
$1.61 ₡728
21.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 VES 1,860
$4.74 ₡2,138
-55.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.37 VES 2,065
$1.66 ₡747
42.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.24 VES 1,951
$3.72 ₡1,679
-39.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 VES 1,952
$3.57 ₡1,611
-37.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 VES 1,408
$1.10 ₡497
46.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 VES 2,099
$2.55 ₡1,149
-5.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 VES 3,985
$4.95 ₡2,232
-7.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.02 VES 10.5K
$20.01 ₡9,020
-39.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 VES 1,193
$2.79 ₡1,256
-50.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 VES 1,891
$3.53 ₡1,589
-38.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Caracas
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 VES 448
$1.19 ₡537
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.63 VES 25.8K
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-58.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.88 VES 4,261
$2.24 ₡1,011
117.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.68 VES 2,340
$1.55 ₡701
72.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.17 VES 13.2K
$8.86 ₡3,993
71.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 VES 752
$1.57 ₡708
-45.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K VES 21.9M
$21.8K ₡9.8M
15.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K VES 33.7M
$34.6K ₡15.6M
11.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caracas
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$22.07 VES 19.3K
$93.5 ₡42.1K
-76.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.81 VES 10.3K
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-66.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.64 VES 33.7K
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-24.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caracas
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.8 VES 58.3K
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-6.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.23 VES 15.0K
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-51.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.48 VES 5,652
$7.84 ₡3,535
-17.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caracas
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 VES 139.1K
$490 ₡220.7K
-67.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,138 VES 5.4M
$11.9K ₡5.4M
-48.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caracas
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.8 VES 67.9K
$53.5 ₡24.1K
45.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 VES 44.1K
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-9.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 VES 118.9K
$79.3 ₡35.7K
71.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 VES 118.9K
$78.9 ₡35.6K
72.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caracas
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 VES 539.7K
$786 ₡354.3K
-21.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$418 VES 364.4K
$780 ₡351.6K
-46.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 VES 964.6K
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-71.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$887 VES 773.6K
$1,407 ₡634.4K
-36.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,458 VES 1.3M
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-79.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$690 VES 602.3K
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-42.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caracas
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 VES 265.0K
$876 ₡395.0K
-65.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22
8.62
155.22%

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

Last update for Caracas: October 3, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Caracas
$418
Nosara
$780 86.7% $362
Groceries & Markets
Caracas
$340
Nosara
$350 2.8% $9.6
Eating Out
Caracas
$190
Nosara
$209 10.1% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Caracas
$180
Nosara
$120 33.3% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Caracas
$80
Nosara
$87 9.1% $7.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caracas
$73
Nosara
$180 148% $108
Getting Around
Caracas
$50
Nosara
$87 73.8% $37

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Caracas versus $786 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 189% 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 $68.0 in Caracas versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $340 in Caracas vs $350 in Nosara – so Caracas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇻🇪 Caracas
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
21:58 9:58 PM
19:58 7:58 PM
2 h behind Caracas
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,274,000 Capital
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to VES – Venezuelan Bolívar Converter

Venezuelan Bolívar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 873 VES (1,000 VES = 1.15 USD). 1 EUR = 979 VES (1,000 VES = 1.02 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Caracas Nosara 2,050 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Caracas
  • 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
Caracas vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Caracas?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 40%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,968 per month in Caracas and $2,756 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 Caracas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 143% less in Caracas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $159 per month in Caracas and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Caracas or in Nosara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Caracas, where all-in costs run around $1,312, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Caracas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Caracas or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Caracas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Caracas 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 Caracas. 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.

Caracas vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?