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

🙂 Solo nomad: Cartago is 20.1% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 8.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Cartago is 17.1% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 22.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 ₡3,712

$11.04 ₡5,062

-26.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.71 ₡14.5K

$60.6 ₡27.8K

-47.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 ₡4,066

$6.84 ₡3,136

29.68%

Cappuccino

$3.79 ₡1,738

$3.79 ₡1,736

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

$1.98 ₡908

$1.57 ₡721

26.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡591

$1.17 ₡536

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 ₡918

$2.91 ₡1,334

-31.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 ₡2,079

$4.63 ₡2,122

-2.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ₡935

$1.40 ₡643

45.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.14 ₡979

$2.85 ₡1,309

-24.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₡997

$2.13 ₡979

1.88%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,345

$3.02 ₡1,385

-2.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 ₡3,670

$6.70 ₡3,075

19.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.22 ₡4,231

$8.86 ₡4,066

4.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.92 ₡6,387

$13.51 ₡6,197

3.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 ₡2,126

$2.14 ₡981

116.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ₡557

$1.42 ₡650

-14.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 ₡1,855

$4.36 ₡2,000

-7.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 ₡1,215

$1.50 ₡689

76.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 ₡905

$3.55 ₡1,627

-44.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 ₡888

$3.21 ₡1,473

-39.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡471

$1.01 ₡464

1.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 ₡895

$2.32 ₡1,066

-15.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 ₡2,489

$4.47 ₡2,049

21.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 ₡6,842

$20.37 ₡9,346

-26.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,146

$2.50 ₡1,145

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₡835

$2.88 ₡1,323

-36.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ₡467

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.0 ₡32.1K

$67.8 ₡31.1K

3.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.40 ₡643

$1.82 ₡834

-23.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡814

$1.79 ₡820

-1.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ₡3,685

$8.09 ₡3,711

-0.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡639

$1.34 ₡615

3.73%

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

$38.0K ₡17.4M

$32.1K ₡14.7M

18.46%

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

$32.8K ₡15.0M

$32.1K ₡14.7M

1.98%

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

$47.57 ₡21.8K

$95.2 ₡43.7K

-50.02%

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

$25.60 ₡11.7K

$26.17 ₡12.0K

-2.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 ₡26.4K

$48.04 ₡22.0K

19.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₡25.8K

$57.7 ₡26.5K

-2.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.98 ₡11.0K

$23.79 ₡10.9K

0.80%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 ₡3,002

$9.67 ₡4,436

-32.37%

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

$494 ₡226.6K

$450 ₡206.4K

9.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,231 ₡3.3M

$10.7K ₡4.9M

-32.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ₡28.6K

$49.98 ₡22.9K

24.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡23.5K

$52.3 ₡24.0K

-2.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 ₡49.7K

$70.7 ₡32.4K

53.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.8 ₡36.6K

$72.5 ₡33.3K

10.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₡348.2K

$758 ₡347.6K

0.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₡271.3K

$751 ₡344.4K

-21.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$735 ₡337.4K

$1,517 ₡695.7K

-51.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$778 ₡357.0K

$1,326 ₡608.1K

-41.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,907 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,213 ₡556.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,295 ₡594.0K

$881 ₡404.1K

47.01%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Nosara: April 12, 2026

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

Cartago vs other spots: cost of living compared

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