Cost of Living Comparison Between Liberia and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Liberia and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,125 in Liberia versus $1,703 in Nosara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,897 in Liberia versus $2,623 in Nosara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,670 in Liberia versus $3,543 in Nosara.

Living in Liberia costs roughly 34% less than in Nosara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Liberia is 16% below, Nosara is 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Liberia
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,306
$10.85 ₡4,840
-11.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.89 ₡15.6K
$60.4 ₡27.0K
-42.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.20 ₡4,549
$7.14 ₡3,183
42.86%
Cappuccino
$3.18 ₡1,420
$3.79 ₡1,692
-16.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ₡827
$1.57 ₡698
17.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₡683
$1.22 ₡544
25.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 ₡1,117
$3.04 ₡1,358
-17.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79 ₡2,137
$4.78 ₡2,132
0.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Liberia
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 ₡881
$1.48 ₡661
33.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.79 ₡1,245
$2.89 ₡1,288
-3.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 ₡918
$2.21 ₡984
-6.79%
Eggs
$3.04 ₡1,354
$3.00 ₡1,339
1.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.31 ₡3,261
$6.73 ₡3,004
8.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.39 ₡3,295
$8.99 ₡4,012
-17.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 ₡5,055
$13.52 ₡6,031
-16.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 ₡2,031
$2.11 ₡943
115.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 ₡614
$1.42 ₡633
-2.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ₡1,012
$4.28 ₡1,909
-46.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.83 ₡1,263
$1.52 ₡677
86.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.42 ₡1,525
$3.37 ₡1,502
1.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 ₡1,016
$3.08 ₡1,372
-25.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ₡460
$1.01 ₡451
1.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₡909
$2.38 ₡1,061
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50 ₡2,008
$4.64 ₡2,068
-3.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.33 ₡6,838
$21.02 ₡9,378
-27.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 ₡961
$2.45 ₡1,092
-12.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,304
$2.89 ₡1,291
1.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Liberia
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡422
$0.98 ₡435
-3.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.1 ₡22.4K
$68.1 ₡30.4K
-26.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡809
$1.78 ₡795
1.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 ₡817
$1.80 ₡802
1.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 ₡3,610
$7.70 ₡3,436
5.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ₡647
$1.31 ₡584
10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K ₡16.5M
$32.6K ₡14.5M
13.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ₡14.7M
$32.4K ₡14.5M
1.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Liberia
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₡41.6K
$94.4 ₡42.1K
-1.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.24 ₡11.7K
$25.89 ₡11.5K
1.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.80 ₡16.4K
$47.27 ₡21.1K
-22.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Liberia
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.48 ₡19.8K
$57.3 ₡25.6K
-22.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.42 ₡14.0K
$23.50 ₡10.5K
33.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34 ₡3,720
$9.68 ₡4,320
-13.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Liberia
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$560 ₡249.8K
$446 ₡199.0K
25.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡5.7M
$10.8K ₡4.8M
17.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Liberia
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ₡26.2K
$49.75 ₡22.2K
18.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.53 ₡15.4K
$52.0 ₡23.2K
-33.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡56.9K
$70.9 ₡31.6K
79.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ₡37.2K
$70.2 ₡31.3K
18.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Liberia
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$298 ₡133.0K
$772 ₡344.6K
-61.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$236 ₡105.5K
$735 ₡328.0K
-67.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$839 ₡374.3K
$1,506 ₡671.7K
-44.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$677 ₡302.1K
$1,325 ₡591.0K
-48.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,053 ₡3.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,215 ₡542.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Liberia
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$881 ₡393.2K
$878 ₡391.5K
0.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-

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

Last update for Liberia: July 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $298 in Liberia and $772 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Liberia pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Liberia vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $306 vs $323 per month, with Liberia cheaper across the board.

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
Liberia vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Liberia or Nosara?
Liberia wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Nosara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Liberia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Liberia or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 0% higher in Liberia, 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 Liberia compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $298 in Liberia versus $772 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Liberia and in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Liberia – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $60.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Liberia compared to Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $1,125 per month in Liberia versus $1,703 in Nosara – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Liberia or in Nosara?
At $1,125 in Liberia versus $1,703 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Liberia but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Liberia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Liberia or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Liberia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,125 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Liberia hard to pass up.
How safe is Liberia compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Liberia 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 Liberia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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