Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cleveland, TN and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,178 in Cleveland, TN, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Cleveland, TN outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Cleveland, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,178
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,178 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Cleveland, TN $2,178
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,239 in Cleveland, TN versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Cleveland, TN $3,239
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,300 in Cleveland, TN versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Cleveland, TN $4,300
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Cleveland, TN is roughly 19% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cleveland, TN 61% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, TN
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.38 $11.38
$12.34 ₡5,535
-7.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.91 $37.91
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-38.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 $9.94
$7.76 ₡3,481
28.09%
Cappuccino
$4.89 $4.89
$4.44 ₡1,992
10.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.79 ₡803
31.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.29 ₡580
23.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.99 $5.99
$3.24 ₡1,451
84.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.62 $7.62
$4.43 ₡1,985
72.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, TN
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.55 ₡696
-45.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 $2.30
$3.08 ₡1,380
-25.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.53 ₡1,133
6.32%
Eggs
$2.49 $2.49
$3.45 ₡1,546
-27.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.87 $8.87
$7.32 ₡3,284
21.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$10.24 ₡4,594
-45.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.43 $10.43
$14.10 ₡6,326
-26.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.29 ₡1,027
65.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.64 ₡737
-17.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 $3.30
$4.79 ₡2,149
-31.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.64 ₡735
79.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$3.85 ₡1,727
-61.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 $2.28
$3.75 ₡1,681
-39.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.09 ₡488
96.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.59 ₡1,160
-27.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.05 $8.05
$5.12 ₡2,295
57.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.95 $13.95
$19.92 ₡8,931
-29.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.80 ₡1,255
-40.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$3.52 ₡1,580
-10.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, TN
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.22 ₡549
59.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.5 $96.5
$73.9 ₡33.1K
30.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.17 ₡973
-4.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.56 ₡698
20.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.95 $31.95
$8.67 ₡3,886
268.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.55 ₡697
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-25.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-34.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, TN
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 $169
$94.8 ₡42.5K
77.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.5 $67.5
$36.15 ₡16.2K
86.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.29 $47.29
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-10.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, TN
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.73 $24.73
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-66.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.96 $9.96
$7.91 ₡3,548
25.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, TN
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,520 $1,520
$490 ₡219.9K
209.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,445 $8,445
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-28.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, TN
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.03 $33.03
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-39.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9 $52.9
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-5.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 $87.4
$80.4 ₡36.0K
8.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.0 $91.0
$77.9 ₡34.9K
16.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, TN
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 $1,576
$801 ₡359.1K
96.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 $1,100
$790 ₡354.1K
39.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,388 $2,388
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-40.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,077 $2,077
$1,409 ₡632.0K
47.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,168 $2,168
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-69.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,246 $2,246
$1,236 ₡554.3K
81.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, TN
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,628 $3,628
$887 ₡397.6K
309.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.82
8.62
-32.48%

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

Last update for Cleveland, TN: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, TN
$1.1K
Nosara
$790 28.2% $310
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, TN
$283
Nosara
$184 35% $99
Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, TN
$276
Nosara
$350 26.9% $74
Eating Out
Cleveland, TN
$240
Nosara
$213 11.6% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, TN
$119
Nosara
$121 1.7% $2
Getting Around
Cleveland, TN
$116
Nosara
$89 23.3% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, TN
$45
Nosara
$90 101% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,576 in Cleveland, TN and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cleveland, TN pays 309% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Cleveland, TN vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $350 per month, with Cleveland, TN cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cleveland, TN
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
20:17 8:17 PM
18:17 6:17 PM
2 h behind Cleveland, TN
🌤 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 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 21, 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, TN Nosara 2,800 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cleveland, TN
  • 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, TN vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cleveland, TN or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Cleveland, TN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cleveland, TN or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 309% higher in Cleveland, TN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cleveland, TN compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,576 in Cleveland, TN versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Cleveland, TN and in Nosara?
Childcare runs $1,520 in Cleveland, TN versus $490 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Cleveland, TN or in Nosara?
Shoppers in Cleveland, TN pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Cleveland, TN or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,178 in Cleveland, TN, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Cleveland, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cleveland, TN or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,835 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Cleveland, TN compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Cleveland, TN 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 19% less than in Cleveland, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cleveland, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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