Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dodge City, KS and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,593 in Dodge City, KS, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dodge City, KS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,593
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,593 per month in Dodge City, KS vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Dodge City, KS $2,593
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $3,749 per month in Dodge City, KS vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Dodge City, KS $3,749
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $4,905 per month in Dodge City, KS vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Dodge City, KS $4,905
  • Nosara $3,814

Dodge City, KS costs about 41% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Dodge City, KS and Nosara sit above the global median – Dodge City, KS by 91%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dodge City, KS
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.84 $17.84
$12.34 ₡5,535
44.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 $60.7
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-1.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 $10.90
$7.76 ₡3,481
40.46%
Cappuccino
$5.29 $5.29
$4.44 ₡1,992
19.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.79 ₡803
40.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.29 ₡580
44.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$3.24 ₡1,451
56.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97 $5.97
$4.43 ₡1,985
34.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dodge City, KS
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.55 ₡696
-44.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 $3.82
$3.08 ₡1,380
24.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.53 ₡1,133
81.42%
Eggs
$4.12 $4.12
$3.45 ₡1,546
19.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 $11.56
$7.32 ₡3,284
57.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.27 $10.27
$10.24 ₡4,594
0.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 $18.04
$14.10 ₡6,326
27.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.29 ₡1,027
10.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.64 ₡737
0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$4.79 ₡2,149
-21.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.64 ₡735
49.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.85 ₡1,727
-34.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$3.75 ₡1,681
-42.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.09 ₡488
111.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.59 ₡1,160
-8.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.99 $9.99
$5.12 ₡2,295
95.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.80 $11.80
$19.92 ₡8,931
-40.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.80 ₡1,255
-18.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 $3.81
$3.52 ₡1,580
8.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Dodge City, KS
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.22 ₡549
60.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.17 ₡973
13.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.56 ₡698
-1.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.66 $40.66
$8.67 ₡3,886
368.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.55 ₡697
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-19.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-34.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dodge City, KS
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$94.8 ₡42.5K
185.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$81.9 $81.9
$36.15 ₡16.2K
126.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.4 $70.4
$53.1 ₡23.8K
32.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dodge City, KS
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.52 $35.52
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-51.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.71 $14.71
$7.91 ₡3,548
85.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dodge City, KS
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$919 $919
$490 ₡219.9K
87.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K $16.0K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
34.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dodge City, KS
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.14 $48.14
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-12.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.71 $31.71
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-43.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$80.4 ₡36.0K
37.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$77.9 ₡34.9K
80.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dodge City, KS
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 $1,594
$801 ₡359.1K
99.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 $1,281
$790 ₡354.1K
62.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,509 $2,509
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-37.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,176 $2,176
$1,409 ₡632.0K
54.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,750 $2,750
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-61.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,390 $2,390
$1,236 ₡554.3K
93.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dodge City, KS
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,887 $2,887
$887 ₡397.6K
225.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
8.62
-22.85%

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

Last update for Dodge City, KS: October 17, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dodge City, KS
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 38.4% $491
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dodge City, KS
$423
Nosara
$184 56.5% $239
Groceries & Markets
Dodge City, KS
$364
Nosara
$350 3.9% $14
Eating Out
Dodge City, KS
$294
Nosara
$213 27.6% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Dodge City, KS
$149
Nosara
$121 18.6% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Dodge City, KS
$65
Nosara
$90 38% $25
Getting Around
Dodge City, KS
$18 *
Nosara
$89 394% $71

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,594 in Dodge City, KS versus $801 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 226% higher in Dodge City, KS, 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 $61.0 in Dodge City, KS versus $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Dodge City, KS vs $350 in Nosara – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Dodge City, KS
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
01:25 1:25 AM
00:25 12:25 AM
1 h behind Dodge City, KS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
26,101
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
  • Dodge City, KS Nosara 3,410 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dodge City, KS
  • 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
Dodge City, KS vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dodge City, KS and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,593 in Dodge City, KS, $1,835 in Nosara – roughly 41% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Dodge City, KS compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,889 per month in Dodge City, KS and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dodge City, KS 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 is more expensive overall: Dodge City, KS or Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,593 in Dodge City, KS and $1,835 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 41%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dodge City, KS and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $919 per month in Dodge City, KS and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 $1,835, than in Dodge City, KS at $2,593. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dodge City, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Dodge City, KS and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,835 in Nosara to $2,593 in Dodge City, KS. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Dodge City, KS 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 Dodge City, KS and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dodge City, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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