Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Derry and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Derry: $1,739 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Derry
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$1,739
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,739 per month in Derry vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Derry $1,739
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $2,589 per month in Derry vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Derry $2,589
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $3,439 per month in Derry vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Derry $3,439
  • Nosara $3,818

Derry is about 5% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Derry and Nosara sit above the global median – Derry by 29%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Derry
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.87 £14.16
$12.35 ₡5,539
52.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9 £55.5
$61.2 ₡27.4K
20.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 £7.79
$7.52 ₡3,373
38.03%
Cappuccino
$3.88 £2.91
$4.41 ₡1,978
-12.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 £1.60
$1.74 ₡780
22.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 £1.25
$1.31 ₡587
27.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.41 £4.06
$3.28 ₡1,471
64.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 £4.41
$4.47 ₡2,004
31.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Derry
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 £1.28
$1.56 ₡701
9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 £1.00
$3.02 ₡1,355
-55.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 £1.51
$2.51 ₡1,125
-19.92%
Eggs
$3.30 £2.47
$3.57 ₡1,603
-7.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.44 £5.58
$7.43 ₡3,333
0.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.85 £6.64
$10.52 ₡4,717
-15.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.69 £12.52
$13.97 ₡6,265
19.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 £2.02
$2.35 ₡1,052
14.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 £0.96
$1.61 ₡720
-20.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.78 £2.08
$4.80 ₡2,152
-42.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.31 £2.48
$1.61 ₡724
105.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 £0.96
$3.80 ₡1,703
-66.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 £1.01
$3.69 ₡1,657
-63.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 £0.70
$1.13 ₡507
-17.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 £1.14
$2.66 ₡1,191
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.22 £15.92
$5.18 ₡2,321
309.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.54 £7.91
$19.88 ₡8,916
-46.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 £1.83
$2.90 ₡1,300
-15.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 £2.56
$3.63 ₡1,626
-6.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Derry
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.67 £2.75
$1.12 ₡504
227.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.8 £71.1
$72.6 ₡32.6K
30.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 £4.04
$2.14 ₡958
151.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 £0.85
$1.57 ₡703
-27.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.36 £25.77
$8.52 ₡3,823
303.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 £1.37
$1.52 ₡682
20.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K £28.7K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
76.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K £30.0K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
16.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derry
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 £98.9
$96.3 ₡43.2K
36.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.52 £11.64
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-56.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.42 £31.82
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-20.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Derry
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.68 £26.02
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-51.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.42 £10.07
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-61.56%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 £7.82
$7.89 ₡3,539
32.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Derry
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$932 £699
$494 ₡221.6K
88.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.1K £16.6K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
86.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Derry
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.0 £72.8
$53.9 ₡24.2K
79.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.08 £29.32
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-29.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 £77.2
$77.9 ₡34.9K
32.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.8 £47.83
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-19.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Derry
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 £616
$788 ₡353.4K
4.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$669 £502
$794 ₡356.2K
-15.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 £958
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-67.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$956 £717
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-32.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,964 £3,724
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-28.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,785 £2,839
$1,224 ₡549.0K
209.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Derry
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.76
8.62
-44.78%

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

Last update for Derry: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Derry
$669
Nosara
$794 18.7% $125
Groceries & Markets
Derry
$286
Nosara
$352 23.4% $67
Eating Out
Derry
$283
Nosara
$212 25.1% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derry
$190
Nosara
$186 2.1% $4
Clothing & Footwear
Derry
$136
Nosara
$120 11.8% $16
Getting Around
Derry
$121
Nosara
$87 27.7% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Derry
$56
Nosara
$87 57.4% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $821 in Derry 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Derry versus $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Derry vs $352 in Nosara – so Derry wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Derry
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
17:33 5:33 PM
10:33 10:33 AM
7 h behind Derry
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
85,016
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Derry Nosara 8,360 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Derry
  • 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
Derry vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Derry and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,739 in Derry, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 6% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Derry compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,609 per month in Derry 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 Derry and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Derry, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Derry and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $932 per month in Derry and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Derry, where all-in costs run around $1,739, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Derry it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Derry and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,739 in Derry to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Derry 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 Derry and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Derry. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Derry vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?