Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Davenport, IA and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,001 in Davenport, IA, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Davenport, IA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,001
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,001 per month in Davenport, IA vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Davenport, IA $2,001
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $3,136 per month in Davenport, IA vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Davenport, IA $3,136
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $4,270 per month in Davenport, IA vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Davenport, IA $4,270
  • Nosara $3,818

Davenport, IA costs about 9% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Davenport, IA and Nosara sit above the global median – Davenport, IA by 48%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Davenport, IA
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.95 $19.95
$12.35 ₡5,539
61.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 $74.5
$61.2 ₡27.4K
21.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 $8.55
$7.52 ₡3,373
13.70%
Cappuccino
$5.16 $5.16
$4.41 ₡1,978
17.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.74 ₡780
63.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.31 ₡587
51.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.07 $6.07
$3.28 ₡1,471
85.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.38 $7.38
$4.47 ₡2,004
65.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Davenport, IA
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.56 ₡701
-50.64%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 $3.17
$3.02 ₡1,355
4.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.10 $5.10
$2.51 ₡1,125
103.19%
Eggs
$2.77 $2.77
$3.57 ₡1,603
-22.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.50 $6.50
$7.43 ₡3,333
-12.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.48 $12.48
$10.52 ₡4,717
18.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.51 $15.51
$13.97 ₡6,265
11.02%
Apples (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$2.35 ₡1,052
122.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.61 ₡720
-11.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$4.80 ₡2,152
-6.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.02 $5.02
$1.61 ₡724
211.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$3.80 ₡1,703
-32.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 $2.60
$3.69 ₡1,657
-29.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.13 ₡507
100.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.66 ₡1,191
-18.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.86 $7.86
$5.18 ₡2,321
51.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.58 $15.58
$19.88 ₡8,916
-21.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.90 ₡1,300
-32.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.63 ₡1,626
-2.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Davenport, IA
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.12 ₡504
-11.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.08 $22.08
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-69.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.14 ₡958
28.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 $0.57
$1.57 ₡703
-63.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.06 $12.06
$8.52 ₡3,823
41.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.52 ₡682
-42.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
32.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-25.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davenport, IA
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$96.3 ₡43.2K
107.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.7 $68.7
$35.89 ₡16.1K
91.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$53.6 ₡24.0K
35.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Davenport, IA
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.23 $32.23
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-54.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.17 $14.17
$7.89 ₡3,539
79.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Davenport, IA
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$329 $329
$494 ₡221.6K
-33.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
101.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Davenport, IA
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-1.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.73 $35.73
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-35.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.0 $59.0
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-24.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.6 $75.6
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-5.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Davenport, IA
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,447 $1,447
$788 ₡353.4K
83.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$782 $782
$794 ₡356.2K
-1.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,255 $2,255
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-42.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 $1,598
$1,419 ₡636.5K
12.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,555 $1,555
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-77.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,416 $1,416
$1,224 ₡549.0K
15.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Davenport, IA
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,773 $3,773
$864 ₡387.3K
336.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.26
8.62
-27.38%

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

Last update for Davenport, IA: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Davenport, IA
$782
Nosara
$794 1.6% $13
Groceries & Markets
Davenport, IA
$373
Nosara
$352 5.6% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davenport, IA
$342
Nosara
$186 45.6% $156
Eating Out
Davenport, IA
$312
Nosara
$212 32% $100
Clothing & Footwear
Davenport, IA
$101
Nosara
$120 19.4% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Davenport, IA
$61
Nosara
$87 44.2% $27
Getting Around
Davenport, IA
$32
Nosara
$87 175% $55

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,447 in Davenport, IA versus $788 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 337% higher in Davenport, IA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Davenport, IA versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $352 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Davenport, IA
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
06:15 6:15 AM
05:15 5:15 AM
1 h behind Davenport, IA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
101,724
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Davenport, IA Nosara 3,540 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Davenport, IA
  • 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
Davenport, IA vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Davenport, IA and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,001 in Davenport, IA, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 9% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Davenport, IA compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,002 per month in Davenport, IA and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Davenport, IA and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Davenport, IA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Davenport, IA and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,839, than in Davenport, IA at $2,001. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Davenport, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Davenport, IA and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,839 in Nosara to $2,001 in Davenport, IA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Davenport, IA or Nosara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Davenport, IA and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Davenport, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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