Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between DeLand, FL and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,671 in DeLand, FL, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

DeLand, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,671
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,671 in DeLand, FL versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • DeLand, FL $2,671
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,877 in DeLand, FL versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • DeLand, FL $3,877
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,082 in DeLand, FL versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • DeLand, FL $5,082
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in DeLand, FL 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: DeLand, FL 97% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
DeLand, FL
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.67 $19.67
$12.34 ₡5,535
59.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3 $80.3
$61.3 ₡27.5K
30.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 $11.18
$7.76 ₡3,481
44.07%
Cappuccino
$5.45 $5.45
$4.44 ₡1,992
22.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.79 ₡803
51.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.29 ₡580
55.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.15 $6.15
$3.24 ₡1,451
89.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$4.43 ₡1,985
79.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
DeLand, FL
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.55 ₡696
-12.90%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.08 ₡1,380
16.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.53 ₡1,133
3.56%
Eggs
$2.90 $2.90
$3.45 ₡1,546
-15.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.61 $12.61
$7.32 ₡3,284
72.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.38 $11.38
$10.24 ₡4,594
11.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.41 $20.41
$14.10 ₡6,326
44.75%
Apples (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$2.29 ₡1,027
118.78%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.64 ₡737
-45.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$4.79 ₡2,149
-12.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$1.64 ₡735
192.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.85 ₡1,727
-28.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$3.75 ₡1,681
4.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.09 ₡488
109.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.59 ₡1,160
-26.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.77 $9.77
$5.12 ₡2,295
90.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.10 $18.10
$19.92 ₡8,931
-9.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.80 ₡1,255
-30.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.52 ₡1,580
-5.40%
🚌 Getting Around
DeLand, FL
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.22 ₡549
61.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.17 ₡973
36.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.56 ₡698
12.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.49 $29.49
$8.67 ₡3,886
240.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.55 ₡697
-32.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-26.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K $22.5K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-42.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
DeLand, FL
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$279 $279
$94.8 ₡42.5K
194.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$36.15 ₡16.2K
60.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.8 $69.8
$53.1 ₡23.8K
31.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
DeLand, FL
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.05 $30.05
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-59.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.85 $14.85
$7.91 ₡3,548
87.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
DeLand, FL
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,408 $1,408
$490 ₡219.9K
187.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.0K $26.0K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
118.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
DeLand, FL
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 $54.1
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-1.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.68 $41.68
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-25.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$80.4 ₡36.0K
25.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$77.9 ₡34.9K
47.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
DeLand, FL
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,629 $1,629
$801 ₡359.1K
103.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 $1,323
$790 ₡354.1K
67.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,496 $2,496
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-37.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,174 $2,174
$1,409 ₡632.0K
54.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,129 $3,129
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-55.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,184 $2,184
$1,236 ₡554.3K
76.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
DeLand, FL
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.35
8.62
-14.73%

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

Last update for DeLand, FL: 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
DeLand, FL
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 40.3% $533
Monthly Utilities & Internet
DeLand, FL
$407
Nosara
$184 54.8% $223
Groceries & Markets
DeLand, FL
$399
Nosara
$350 12.5% $50
Eating Out
DeLand, FL
$322
Nosara
$213 33.9% $109
Clothing & Footwear
DeLand, FL
$140
Nosara
$121 13.7% $19
Sport & Entertainment
DeLand, FL
$60
Nosara
$90 49.9% $30
Getting Around
DeLand, FL
$20 *
Nosara
$89 353% $69

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 $1,629 in DeLand, FL and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $80.0 in DeLand, FL vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $399 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 DeLand, FL
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
20:19 8:19 PM
18:19 6:19 PM
2 h behind DeLand, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
37,351
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
  • DeLand, FL Nosara 2,170 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • DeLand, FL
  • 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
DeLand, FL vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than DeLand, FL?
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 $4,006 in DeLand, FL 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 DeLand, FL and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,629 in DeLand, FL 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 DeLand, FL and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in DeLand, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in DeLand, FL and in Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,671 per month in DeLand, FL 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 DeLand, FL or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,671 in DeLand, FL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in DeLand, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is DeLand, FL or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in DeLand, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, DeLand, FL or Nosara?
Safety-wise, DeLand, FL 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 DeLand, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

DeLand, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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