Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Charles Town, WV and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,093 in Charles Town, WV, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. The total is higher in Charles Town, WV despite lower rent and utilities.

Charles Town, WV
🇺🇸 United States
$2,093
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,093 in Charles Town, WV versus $1,837 in Nosara.

  • Charles Town, WV $2,093
  • Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,347 in Charles Town, WV versus $2,775 in Nosara.

  • Charles Town, WV $3,347
  • Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,601 in Charles Town, WV versus $3,712 in Nosara.

  • Charles Town, WV $4,601
  • Nosara $3,712

Living in Charles Town, WV is roughly 14% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charles Town, WV 56% above, Nosara 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Charles Town, WV
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.25 $13.25
$12.22 ₡5,509
8.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$60.2 ₡27.1K
0.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.33 $7.33
$7.54 ₡3,399
-2.79%
Cappuccino
$3.97 $3.97
$4.31 ₡1,941
-7.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.72 ₡773
56.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.35 ₡608
45.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 $4.86
$3.24 ₡1,459
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97 $7.97
$4.48 ₡2,018
77.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Charles Town, WV
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.57 ₡707
7.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.49 $4.49
$3.17 ₡1,429
41.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.17 $7.17
$2.42 ₡1,091
196.28%
Eggs
$7.88 $7.88
$3.57 ₡1,609
120.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.72 $16.72
$7.43 ₡3,349
125.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.98 $10.98
$10.42 ₡4,697
5.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.61 $15.61
$13.66 ₡6,156
14.28%
Apples (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$2.32 ₡1,044
103.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.61 ₡728
-21.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$4.74 ₡2,138
13.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.40 $5.40
$1.66 ₡747
225.30%
Potato (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.72 ₡1,679
-17.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$3.57 ₡1,611
-43.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.10 ₡497
87.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.55 ₡1,149
9.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74 $13.74
$4.95 ₡2,232
177.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.88 $14.88
$20.01 ₡9,020
-25.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.79 ₡1,256
-39.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22 $5.22
$3.53 ₡1,589
47.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Charles Town, WV
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.19 ₡537
46.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.24 ₡1,011
46.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.55 ₡701
29.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.45 $29.45
$8.86 ₡3,993
232.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.57 ₡708
-36.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
37.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K $22.1K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-36.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charles Town, WV
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 $151
$93.5 ₡42.1K
61.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.90 $49.90
$35.11 ₡15.8K
42.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.7 $71.7
$51.5 ₡23.2K
39.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Charles Town, WV
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.26 $47.26
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-33.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.97 $16.97
$7.84 ₡3,535
116.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Charles Town, WV
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,213 $2,213
$490 ₡220.7K
352.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
96.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Charles Town, WV
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.73 $47.73
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-10.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.59 $36.59
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-34.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$79.3 ₡35.7K
41.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$78.9 ₡35.6K
50.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Charles Town, WV
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,194 $1,194
$786 ₡354.3K
51.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 $892
$780 ₡351.6K
14.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 $2,075
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-46.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,931 $1,931
$1,407 ₡634.4K
37.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,708 $2,708
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-61.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,340 $2,340
$1,201 ₡541.3K
94.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Charles Town, WV
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$876 ₡395.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.62
-42.00%

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

Last update for Charles Town, WV: October 6, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Charles Town, WV
$892
Nosara
$780 12.6% $112
Groceries & Markets
Charles Town, WV
$457
Nosara
$350 23.5% $107
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charles Town, WV
$273
Nosara
$180 34% $93
Eating Out
Charles Town, WV
$234
Nosara
$209 10.7% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Charles Town, WV
$142
Nosara
$120 15.2% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Charles Town, WV
$81
Nosara
$87 7.2% $5.9
Getting Around
Charles Town, WV
$20 *
Nosara
$87 329% $67

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 $1,194 in Charles Town, WV and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Charles Town, WV vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $457 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Charles Town, WV
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
14:59 2:59 PM
12:59 12:59 PM
2 h behind Charles Town, WV
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,500
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Charles Town, WV Nosara 3,350 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Charles Town, WV
  • 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
Charles Town, WV vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Charles Town, WV or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Charles Town, WV. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Charles Town, WV and in Nosara?
You'd need roughly $3,139 in Charles Town, WV and $2,756 in Nosara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Charles Town, WV compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,194 in Charles Town, WV versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Charles Town, WV or in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Charles Town, WV. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Charles Town, WV compared to Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,093 per month in Charles Town, WV versus $1,837 in Nosara – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Charles Town, WV or in Nosara?
At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,093 in Charles Town, WV, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Charles Town, WV. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Charles Town, WV or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,837 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Charles Town, WV compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Charles Town, WV 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Charles Town, WV. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Charles Town, WV vs other spots: cost of living compared

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