Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cox's Bazar and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Cox's Bazar: $347 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cox's Bazar
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$347
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $347 in Cox's Bazar versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Cox's Bazar $347
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $557 in Cox's Bazar versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Cox's Bazar $557
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $767 in Cox's Bazar versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Cox's Bazar $767
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Cox's Bazar costs roughly 81% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cox's Bazar is 74% below, Nosara is 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cox's Bazar
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.65 ৳203
$12.34 ₡5,535
-86.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.00 ৳1,483
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-80.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.09 ৳382
$7.76 ₡3,481
-60.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 ৳329
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 ৳297
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.90 ৳235
$4.44 ₡1,992
-57.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ৳44.03
$1.79 ₡803
-79.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12 ৳14.26
$1.29 ₡580
-90.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.24 ₡1,451
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.43 ₡1,985
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cox's Bazar
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 ৳99.9
$1.55 ₡696
-47.74%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 ৳57.9
$3.08 ₡1,380
-84.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.66 ৳82.0
$2.53 ₡1,133
-73.91%
Eggs
$0.99 ৳123
$3.45 ₡1,546
-71.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.20 ৳890
$7.32 ₡3,284
-1.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.06 ৳254
$10.24 ₡4,594
-79.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.17 ৳886
$14.10 ₡6,326
-49.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 ৳278
$2.29 ₡1,027
-1.75%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 ৳106
$1.64 ₡737
-48.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 ৳207
$4.79 ₡2,149
-64.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 ৳63.6
$1.64 ₡735
-68.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 ৳57.2
$3.85 ₡1,727
-88.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 ৳66.5
$3.75 ₡1,681
-85.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 ৳55.5
$1.09 ₡488
-58.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 ৳36.42
$2.59 ₡1,160
-88.80%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$7.94 ৳981
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 ৳310
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72 ৳584
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.85 ৳229
$5.12 ₡2,295
-63.87%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$19.92 ₡8,931
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.80 ₡1,255
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.52 ₡1,580
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cox's Bazar
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.22 ₡549
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.27 ৳33.02
$2.17 ₡973
-87.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ৳46.16
$1.56 ₡698
-76.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 ৳513
$8.67 ₡3,886
-52.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ৳135
$1.55 ₡697
-29.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K ৳4.0M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-6.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ৳4.3M
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-11.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cox's Bazar
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$12.18 ৳1,505
$94.8 ₡42.5K
-87.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.64 ৳326
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-92.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.44 ৳1,414
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-78.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cox's Bazar
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.28 ৳2,011
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-77.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.00 ৳494
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-88.77%
Cinema Ticket
$2.38 ৳294
$7.91 ₡3,548
-69.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cox's Bazar
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$24.48 ৳3,024
$490 ₡219.9K
-95.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,443 ৳178.3K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-87.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cox's Bazar
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.55 ৳2,786
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-58.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.08 ৳2,233
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-67.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$32.46 ৳4,010
$80.4 ₡36.0K
-59.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.09 ৳4,336
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-54.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cox's Bazar
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$161 ৳19.8K
$801 ₡359.1K
-79.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.2 ৳11.8K
$790 ₡354.1K
-87.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 ৳37.3K
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-92.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$164 ৳20.2K
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-88.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$348 ৳43.0K
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-95.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$266 ৳32.9K
$1,236 ₡554.3K
-78.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cox's Bazar
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$278 ৳34.3K
$887 ₡397.6K
-68.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
8.62
33.41%

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

Last update for Cox's Bazar: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Cox's Bazar
$106
Nosara
$350 229% $243
Accommodation & Living
Cox's Bazar
$95
Nosara
$790 729% $694
Clothing & Footwear
Cox's Bazar
$49
Nosara
$121 149% $72
Eating Out
Cox's Bazar
$47
Nosara
$213 351% $166
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cox's Bazar
$26
Nosara
$184 601% $158
Sport & Entertainment
Cox's Bazar
$21
Nosara
$90 326% $69
Getting Around
Cox's Bazar
$2.1 *
Nosara
$89 4047% $87

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 $161 in Cox's Bazar and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 219% 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: $12.00 in Cox's Bazar vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $106 vs $350 per month, with Cox's Bazar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Cox's Bazar
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
17:34 5:34 PM
05:34 5:34 AM
12 h behind Cox's Bazar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
223,522
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

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
  • Cox's Bazar Nosara 16,510 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cox's Bazar
  • 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
Cox's Bazar vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cox's Bazar and in Nosara?
Cox's Bazar and Nosara differ by about 429% in total monthly costs ($347 vs $1,835 including rent). Cox's Bazar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 219% lower in Nosara. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Cox's Bazar and in Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $161 in Cox's Bazar versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 229% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cox's Bazar or Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $347 per month in Cox's Bazar versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 429% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $347 in Cox's Bazar versus $1,835 in Nosara, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cox's Bazar but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Cox's Bazar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cox's Bazar and Nosara?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Cox's Bazar or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cox's Bazar 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.
Where should expats move: Cox's Bazar or Nosara?
Expats usually find Cox's Bazar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 429% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cox's Bazar vs other spots: cost of living compared

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