Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cleveland, MS and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,680 in Cleveland, MS, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cleveland, MS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,680
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,680 in Cleveland, MS versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Cleveland, MS $2,680
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,896 in Cleveland, MS versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Cleveland, MS $3,896
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,113 in Cleveland, MS versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Cleveland, MS $5,113
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Cleveland, MS is roughly 46% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cleveland, MS 98% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, MS
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 $16.81
$12.34 ₡5,535
36.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.5 $73.5
$61.3 ₡27.5K
19.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 $11.08
$7.76 ₡3,481
42.78%
Cappuccino
$5.26 $5.26
$4.44 ₡1,992
18.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.79 ₡803
63.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.29 ₡580
82.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.49 $5.49
$3.24 ₡1,451
69.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.69 $6.69
$4.43 ₡1,985
51.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, MS
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.55 ₡696
-29.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.08 ₡1,380
-13.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.53 ₡1,133
8.30%
Eggs
$3.39 $3.39
$3.45 ₡1,546
-1.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.34 $10.34
$7.32 ₡3,284
41.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.76 $11.76
$10.24 ₡4,594
14.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.00 $23.00
$14.10 ₡6,326
63.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.29 ₡1,027
124.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.64 ₡737
-14.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$4.79 ₡2,149
-10.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.64 ₡735
128.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$3.85 ₡1,727
-25.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.75 ₡1,681
-34.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.09 ₡488
84.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.59 ₡1,160
-25.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.58 $9.58
$5.12 ₡2,295
87.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.54 $13.54
$19.92 ₡8,931
-32.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$2.80 ₡1,255
-35.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$3.52 ₡1,580
-52.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, MS
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.22 ₡549
75.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.17 ₡973
17.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.56 ₡698
-2.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.58 $23.58
$8.67 ₡3,886
171.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.55 ₡697
-40.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-19.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-31.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, MS
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$94.8 ₡42.5K
133.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.6 $60.6
$36.15 ₡16.2K
67.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$53.1 ₡23.8K
28.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, MS
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.22 $46.22
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-37.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.08 $13.08
$7.91 ₡3,548
65.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, MS
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,032 $1,032
$490 ₡219.9K
110.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.3K $19.3K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
62.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, MS
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 $50.4
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-8.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.07 $38.07
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-31.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 $83.8
$80.4 ₡36.0K
4.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 $152
$77.9 ₡34.9K
95.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, MS
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,510 $1,510
$801 ₡359.1K
88.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,424 $1,424
$790 ₡354.1K
80.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,218 $2,218
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-44.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,364 $2,364
$1,409 ₡632.0K
67.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,571 $2,571
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-63.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,707 $2,707
$1,236 ₡554.3K
119.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, MS
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
8.62
-21.69%

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

Last update for Cleveland, MS: October 20, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, MS
$1.4K
Nosara
$790 44.6% $635
Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, MS
$375
Nosara
$350 6.8% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, MS
$351
Nosara
$184 47.5% $166
Eating Out
Cleveland, MS
$293
Nosara
$213 27.4% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, MS
$146
Nosara
$121 17.1% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, MS
$72
Nosara
$90 23.8% $17
Getting Around
Cleveland, MS
$19 *
Nosara
$89 374% $70

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 $1,510 in Cleveland, MS and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Cleveland, MS vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cleveland, MS
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
04:29 4:29 AM
03:29 3:29 AM
1 h behind Cleveland, MS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
367,991
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Cleveland, MS Nosara 2,690 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cleveland, MS
  • 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
Cleveland, MS vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Cleveland, MS?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,019 in Cleveland, MS and $2,753 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.
What is the rent difference between Cleveland, MS and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,510 in Cleveland, MS versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cleveland, MS and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Cleveland, MS. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cleveland, MS and in Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,680 per month in Cleveland, MS versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Cleveland, MS or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,680 in Cleveland, MS, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Cleveland, MS. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cleveland, MS or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cleveland, MS, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cleveland, MS or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Cleveland, MS 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 Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Cleveland, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cleveland, MS vs other spots: cost of living compared

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