Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Castello de la Plana and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Castello de la Plana: $1,479 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Castello de la Plana
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,479
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,479 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Castello de la Plana $1,479
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $2,142 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Castello de la Plana $2,142
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $2,805 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Castello de la Plana $2,805
  • Nosara $3,818

Castello de la Plana is about 20% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Castello de la Plana and Nosara sit above the global median – Castello de la Plana by 10%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Castello de la Plana
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.65 €13.03
$12.35 ₡5,539
18.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.2 €49.96
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-8.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.85 €6.98
$7.52 ₡3,373
4.39%
Cappuccino
$2.21 €1.97
$4.41 ₡1,978
-49.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 €1.82
$1.74 ₡780
17.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.20
$1.31 ₡587
3.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.41 €3.03
$3.28 ₡1,471
3.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 €3.04
$4.47 ₡2,004
-23.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Castello de la Plana
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.56 ₡701
-30.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 €1.49
$3.02 ₡1,355
-44.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 €1.44
$2.51 ₡1,125
-35.86%
Eggs
$2.99 €2.66
$3.57 ₡1,603
-16.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.28 €12.70
$7.43 ₡3,333
92.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.98 €7.10
$10.52 ₡4,717
-24.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.00 €13.34
$13.97 ₡6,265
7.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 €2.21
$2.35 ₡1,052
5.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 €1.73
$1.61 ₡720
21.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 €1.42
$4.80 ₡2,152
-66.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 €2.14
$1.61 ₡724
49.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.62
$3.80 ₡1,703
-52.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 €1.71
$3.69 ₡1,657
-47.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 €1.09
$1.13 ₡507
7.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 €0.52
$2.66 ₡1,191
-77.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.67 €5.93
$5.18 ₡2,321
28.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.48 €4.87
$19.88 ₡8,916
-72.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 €0.93
$2.90 ₡1,300
-63.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 €1.92
$3.63 ₡1,626
-40.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Castello de la Plana
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.32 €1.18
$1.12 ₡504
17.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.12 €16.12
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-75.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 €2.79
$2.14 ₡958
46.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.57 ₡703
-12.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.71 €13.08
$8.52 ₡3,823
72.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 €1.56
$1.52 ₡682
15.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K €31.5K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
64.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K €25.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-16.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castello de la Plana
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 €104
$96.3 ₡43.2K
21.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.20 €11.74
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-63.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.84 €22.09
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-53.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Castello de la Plana
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.87 €39.91
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-37.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.44 €7.51
$7.89 ₡3,539
6.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castello de la Plana
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$552 €491
$494 ₡221.6K
11.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,468 €8,422
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-20.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Castello de la Plana
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 €56.6
$53.9 ₡24.2K
17.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.56 €19.18
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-61.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 €83.8
$77.9 ₡34.9K
20.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 €92.3
$79.6 ₡35.7K
30.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castello de la Plana
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$725 €645
$788 ₡353.4K
-8.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$639 €568
$794 ₡356.2K
-19.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$988 €878
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-74.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$848 €754
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-40.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,817 €1,616
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-73.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 €1,251
$1,224 ₡549.0K
14.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Castello de la Plana
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,733 €1,542
$864 ₡387.3K
100.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.99
8.62
-65.31%

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

Last update for Castello de la Plana: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Castello de la Plana
$639
Nosara
$794 24.3% $155
Groceries & Markets
Castello de la Plana
$258
Nosara
$352 36.6% $94
Eating Out
Castello de la Plana
$205
Nosara
$212 3.5% $7.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castello de la Plana
$155
Nosara
$186 19.9% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Castello de la Plana
$127
Nosara
$120 5.7% $7.3
Sport & Entertainment
Castello de la Plana
$62
Nosara
$87 41.5% $26
Getting Around
Castello de la Plana
$33
Nosara
$87 161% $54

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $725 in Castello de la Plana versus $788 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 101% higher in Castello de la Plana, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Castello de la Plana versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $352 – making Castello de la Plana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Castello de la Plana
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
10:36 10:36 AM
02:36 2:36 AM
8 h behind Castello de la Plana
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
176,238
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Castello de la Plana Nosara 8,930 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Castello de la Plana
  • 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
Castello de la Plana vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Castello de la Plana and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,479 in Castello de la Plana, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 24% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Castello de la Plana compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,219 per month in Castello de la Plana and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Castello de la Plana and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Castello de la Plana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Castello de la Plana and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 301% less in Castello de la Plana. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Castello de la Plana and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $552 per month in Castello de la Plana and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Castello de la Plana, where all-in costs run around $1,479, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Castello de la Plana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Castello de la Plana and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,479 in Castello de la Plana to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Castello de la Plana or Nosara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Castello de la Plana and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Castello de la Plana. 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.

Castello de la Plana vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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