Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Nosara

😐 Solo nomad: Cartago is 2.8% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 8.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Cartago is 19.5% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 22.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8 ₡4,006

$10.9 ₡5,457

-26.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.92 ₡16K

$60.5 ₡30.3K

-47.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.07 ₡4,540

$6.9 ₡3,453

31.45%

Cappuccino

$3.85 ₡1,929

$3.89 ₡1,949

-1.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₡1,020

$1.54 ₡773

32.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₡613

$1.17 ₡587

4.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 ₡1,021

$3.06 ₡1,530

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 ₡2,345

$4.75 ₡2,379

-1.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡989

$1.43 ₡715

38.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.2 ₡1,103

$2.89 ₡1,447

-23.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.2 ₡1,103

$2.23 ₡1,117

-1.35%

Eggs

$2.87 ₡1,439

$3.01 ₡1,508

-4.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 ₡4,037

$6.48 ₡3,242

24.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.9 ₡4,456

$9.36 ₡4,687

-4.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.87 ₡6,946

$13.41 ₡6,715

3.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.4 ₡2,205

$2.1 ₡1,053

109.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ₡585

$1.43 ₡716

-18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 ₡1,970

$4.19 ₡2,096

-6.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.7 ₡1,352

$1.47 ₡736

83.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 ₡989

$3.51 ₡1,759

-43.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 ₡968

$3.23 ₡1,616

-40.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡486

$0.96 ₡482

1.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₡1,017

$2.31 ₡1,158

-12.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 ₡2,688

$4.49 ₡2,248

19.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.79 ₡6,901

$18.93 ₡9,475

-27.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.4 ₡1,203

$2.44 ₡1,223

-1.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₡878

$2.8 ₡1,399

-37.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₡531

$1.04 ₡518

1.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69 ₡34.5K

$66.5 ₡33.3K

3.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ₡677

$1.85 ₡925

-27.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡886

$1.77 ₡884

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.7 ₡3,855

$7.85 ₡3,931

-1.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡695

$1.36 ₡679

2.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.2K ₡18.6M

$32.3K ₡16.2M

15.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.1K ₡16.6M

$32.7K ₡16.3M

1.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$48.99 ₡24.5K

$95 ₡47.6K

-48.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.87 ₡12.9K

$26.15 ₡13.1K

-1.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 ₡28.2K

$48.48 ₡24.3K

16.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₡28.9K

$55.8 ₡27.9K

3.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.16 ₡12.1K

$23.73 ₡11.9K

1.81%

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 ₡3,192

$10 ₡5,008

-36.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$490 ₡245.4K

$448 ₡224.4K

9.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,079 ₡3.5M

$10.5K ₡5.2M

-32.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ₡30.9K

$49.72 ₡24.9K

24.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡26.1K

$50.5 ₡25.3K

3.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 ₡54K

$70.6 ₡35.3K

52.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 ₡39.8K

$71.1 ₡35.6K

11.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₡388.3K

$751 ₡376K

3.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ₡303.4K

$757 ₡378.9K

-19.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₡367.6K

$1,505 ₡753.2K

-51.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$753 ₡377.1K

$1,303 ₡652.3K

-42.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,322 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,079 ₡540.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,613 ₡807.4K

$805 ₡402.9K

100.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

-1.67%

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

Last update for Cartago: October 27, 2025

Last update for Nosara: October 27, 2025

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