Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chartres and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Chartres: $1,707 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chartres
🇫🇷 France
$1,707
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,707 per month in Chartres vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Chartres $1,707
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $2,598 per month in Chartres vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Chartres $2,598
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $3,490 per month in Chartres vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Chartres $3,490
  • Nosara $3,814

Chartres is about 7% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chartres and Nosara sit above the global median – Chartres by 26%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chartres
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.24 €12.67
$12.34 ₡5,535
15.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2 €44.65
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-18.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 €9.47
$7.76 ₡3,481
37.24%
Cappuccino
$2.63 €2.34
$4.44 ₡1,992
-40.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 €2.74
$1.79 ₡803
72.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 €1.30
$1.29 ₡580
13.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.21 €7.30
$3.24 ₡1,451
153.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 €4.94
$4.43 ₡1,985
25.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chartres
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.18
$1.55 ₡696
-14.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.55
$3.08 ₡1,380
-43.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.59 €2.30
$2.53 ₡1,133
2.37%
Eggs
$3.83 €3.41
$3.45 ₡1,546
11.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 €8.86
$7.32 ₡3,284
36.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.00 €10.67
$10.24 ₡4,594
17.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.16 €14.38
$14.10 ₡6,326
14.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 €2.79
$2.29 ₡1,027
36.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.99 €2.66
$1.64 ₡737
82.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 €1.29
$4.79 ₡2,149
-69.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.11 €3.66
$1.64 ₡735
150.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.58
$3.85 ₡1,727
-54.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.79
$3.75 ₡1,681
-46.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 €1.41
$1.09 ₡488
44.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.13 €0.12
$2.59 ₡1,160
-94.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.73 €11.32
$5.12 ₡2,295
148.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 €5.02
$19.92 ₡8,931
-71.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 €1.30
$2.80 ₡1,255
-47.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 €1.43
$3.52 ₡1,580
-54.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Chartres
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.92 €1.71
$1.22 ₡549
57.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.17 €42.85
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-34.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.32 €2.06
$2.17 ₡973
6.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €1.02
$1.56 ₡698
-26.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.69 €29.08
$8.67 ₡3,886
277.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.55 ₡697
35.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8K €15.0K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-51.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K €21.8K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-36.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chartres
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 €183
$94.8 ₡42.5K
117.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.99 €18.67
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-41.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.24 €28.68
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-39.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chartres
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.25 €32.25
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-50.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.22 €11.76
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-62.90%
Cinema Ticket
$15.47 €13.76
$7.91 ₡3,548
95.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chartres
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$894 €795
$490 ₡219.9K
82.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,960 €8,859
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-16.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chartres
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124 €111
$54.8 ₡24.6K
127.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.64 €41.49
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-16.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €90.2
$80.4 ₡36.0K
26.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.3 €85.7
$77.9 ₡34.9K
23.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chartres
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 €672
$801 ₡359.1K
-5.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$609 €542
$790 ₡354.1K
-22.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 €1,209
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-66.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,119 €995
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-20.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,929 €3,495
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-44.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,050 €1,824
$1,236 ₡554.3K
65.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chartres
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
8.62
-54.76%

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

Last update for Chartres: October 17, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chartres
$610
Nosara
$790 29.5% $180
Groceries & Markets
Chartres
$294
Nosara
$350 19% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chartres
$259
Nosara
$184 29% $75
Eating Out
Chartres
$248
Nosara
$213 14.2% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Chartres
$166
Nosara
$121 27.1% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Chartres
$67
Nosara
$90 33.3% $22
Getting Around
Chartres
$64
Nosara
$89 38.9% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Chartres versus $801 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Chartres versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $350 – making Chartres the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Chartres
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
00:17 12:17 AM
16:17 4:17 PM
8 h behind Chartres
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
38,447
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Chartres Nosara 8,970 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chartres
  • 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
Chartres vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chartres or Nosara?
Nosara costs about 7% more than Chartres, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chartres and in Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,561 per month in Chartres and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chartres or Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chartres, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chartres and in Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $894 per month in Chartres and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chartres or in Nosara?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chartres or in Nosara?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chartres, where all-in costs run around $1,707, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Chartres it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chartres or Nosara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chartres costs $1,707 versus $1,835 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chartres compared to Nosara?
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.
Should I move to Chartres or to Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Chartres. 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.

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