Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chalcis and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Chalcis: $1,390 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chalcis
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,390
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,390 in Chalcis versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Chalcis $1,390
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,132 in Chalcis versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Chalcis $2,132
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,874 in Chalcis versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Chalcis $2,874
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Chalcis costs roughly 24% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chalcis 3% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chalcis
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.22 €9.98
$12.35 ₡5,539
-9.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.16 €41.06
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-24.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.95 €7.96
$7.52 ₡3,373
19.02%
Cappuccino
$3.64 €3.24
$4.41 ₡1,978
-17.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.74 ₡780
25.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 €0.54
$1.31 ₡587
-54.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.30 €2.93
$3.28 ₡1,471
0.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 €3.98
$4.47 ₡2,004
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chalcis
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 €1.41
$1.56 ₡701
1.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 €1.22
$3.02 ₡1,355
-54.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 €1.97
$2.51 ₡1,125
-11.55%
Eggs
$4.13 €3.67
$3.57 ₡1,603
15.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.24 €10.00
$7.43 ₡3,333
51.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 €8.78
$10.52 ₡4,717
-6.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.31 €12.73
$13.97 ₡6,265
2.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 €1.74
$2.35 ₡1,052
-16.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 €1.79
$1.61 ₡720
24.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 €1.49
$4.80 ₡2,152
-65.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 €1.77
$1.61 ₡724
23.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 €1.02
$3.80 ₡1,703
-69.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 €1.12
$3.69 ₡1,657
-65.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 €0.80
$1.13 ₡507
-20.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 €0.77
$2.66 ₡1,191
-67.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.92 €4.37
$5.18 ₡2,321
-5.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.52 €5.80
$19.88 ₡8,916
-67.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 €1.47
$2.90 ₡1,300
-42.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 €2.96
$3.63 ₡1,626
-8.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Chalcis
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 €1.22
$1.12 ₡504
23.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.44 €3.95
$2.14 ₡958
107.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 €0.99
$1.57 ₡703
-29.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.81 €12.29
$8.52 ₡3,823
62.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 €1.93
$1.52 ₡682
42.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K €25.0K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
29.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K €20.8K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-32.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chalcis
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$96.3 ₡43.2K
70.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.28 €21.59
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-32.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.16 €25.05
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-47.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chalcis
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.1 €58.8
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-7.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 €8.13
$7.89 ₡3,539
15.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chalcis
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$277 €246
$494 ₡221.6K
-44.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,437 €3,947
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-62.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chalcis
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 €60.9
$53.9 ₡24.2K
26.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.14 €31.26
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-36.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 €66.7
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-3.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 €93.7
$79.6 ₡35.7K
32.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chalcis
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 €533
$788 ₡353.4K
-24.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 €429
$794 ₡356.2K
-39.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,059 €942
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-73.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$891 €793
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-37.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,474 €2,201
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-64.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,006 €1,784
$1,224 ₡549.0K
63.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chalcis
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,038 €923
$864 ₡387.3K
20.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.36
8.62
-49.42%

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

Last update for Chalcis: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chalcis
$482
Nosara
$794 64.8% $312
Groceries & Markets
Chalcis
$267
Nosara
$352 31.7% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chalcis
$216
Nosara
$186 14.1% $31
Eating Out
Chalcis
$197
Nosara
$212 7.6% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Chalcis
$128
Nosara
$120 6% $7.7
Sport & Entertainment
Chalcis
$84
Nosara
$87 3.5% $3
Getting Around
Chalcis
$15 *
Nosara
$87 462% $72

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $599 in Chalcis and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chalcis pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Chalcis vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $352 per month, with Chalcis cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Chalcis
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
05:00 5:00 AM
20:00 8:00 PM
9 h behind Chalcis
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
59,125
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
  • Chalcis Nosara 10,940 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chalcis
  • 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
Chalcis vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Chalcis?
Chalcis is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chalcis or Nosara?
Average pay runs 20% higher in Chalcis, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Chalcis and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $599 in Chalcis versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Chalcis and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Chalcis and in Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $1,390 per month in Chalcis versus $1,839 in Nosara – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chalcis or in Nosara?
At $1,390 in Chalcis versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chalcis but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Chalcis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chalcis or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Chalcis is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nosara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chalcis or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Chalcis and Nosara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chalcis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Chalcis vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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