Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dongying and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Dongying: $705 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dongying
🇨🇳 China
$705
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $705 in Dongying versus $1,837 in Nosara.

  • Dongying $705
  • Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Dongying versus $2,775 in Nosara.

  • Dongying $1,139
  • Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,572 in Dongying versus $3,712 in Nosara.

  • Dongying $1,572
  • Nosara $3,712

Living in Dongying costs roughly 62% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Dongying is 47% below, Nosara is 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dongying
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 ¥19.13
$12.22 ₡5,498
-76.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.81 ¥146
$60.2 ₡27.1K
-63.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 ¥32.86
$7.54 ₡3,391
-34.75%
Cappuccino
$3.10 ¥20.71
$4.31 ₡1,937
-28.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥2.93
$1.72 ₡772
-74.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.95
$1.35 ₡606
-78.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.37
$3.24 ₡1,456
-70.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 ¥14.05
$4.48 ₡2,014
-53.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dongying
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 ¥12.59
$1.57 ₡705
19.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 ¥10.78
$3.17 ₡1,426
-49.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.12
$2.42 ₡1,089
-61.98%
Eggs
$1.60 ¥10.71
$3.57 ₡1,605
-55.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 ¥86.3
$7.43 ₡3,342
73.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 ¥21.13
$10.42 ₡4,687
-69.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.03 ¥67.0
$13.66 ₡6,143
-26.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ¥12.40
$2.32 ₡1,042
-19.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ¥8.10
$1.61 ₡726
-24.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 ¥9.86
$4.74 ₡2,133
-68.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.66
$1.66 ₡746
-30.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 ¥4.60
$3.72 ₡1,675
-81.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 ¥6.52
$3.57 ₡1,608
-72.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 ¥3.78
$1.10 ₡496
-48.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.45
$2.55 ₡1,147
-79.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16 ¥21.14
$4.95 ₡2,227
-36.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.48 ¥70.0
$20.01 ₡9,001
-47.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ¥5.39
$2.79 ₡1,253
-70.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ¥11.01
$3.53 ₡1,586
-53.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Dongying
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.96
$1.19 ₡536
-75.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.73 ¥112
$72.1 ₡32.4K
-76.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ¥9.53
$2.24 ₡1,009
-36.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.18
$1.55 ₡699
-78.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.80 ¥45.42
$8.86 ₡3,985
-23.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥7.47
$1.57 ₡706
-28.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥130.4K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
-10.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K ¥116.0K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-49.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dongying
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.89 ¥300
$93.5 ₡42.0K
-51.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.96 ¥66.6
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-71.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.55 ¥77.2
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-77.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dongying
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.59 ¥278
$71.4 ₡32.1K
-41.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.06 ¥93.9
$35.44 ₡15.9K
-60.33%
Cinema Ticket
$5.79 ¥38.69
$7.84 ₡3,528
-26.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dongying
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$336 ¥2,245
$490 ₡220.2K
-31.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K ¥113.1K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
42.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dongying
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.57 ¥291
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-18.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.12 ¥201
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-45.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.7 ¥473
$79.3 ₡35.7K
-10.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7 ¥486
$78.9 ₡35.5K
-7.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dongying
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 ¥1,839
$786 ₡353.6K
-64.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$194 ¥1,296
$780 ₡350.8K
-75.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$581 ¥3,880
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-84.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 ¥2,406
$1,407 ₡633.0K
-74.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,987 ¥20.0K
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-57.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,015 ¥13.5K
$1,201 ₡540.2K
67.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dongying
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$876 ₡394.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.89
8.62
-54.87%

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

Last update for Dongying: October 6, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dongying
$199
Nosara
$350 76% $151
Accommodation & Living
Dongying
$194
Nosara
$780 302% $586
Clothing & Footwear
Dongying
$98
Nosara
$120 23.2% $23
Eating Out
Dongying
$87
Nosara
$209 142% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dongying
$66
Nosara
$180 171% $114
Sport & Entertainment
Dongying
$53
Nosara
$87 63.8% $34
Getting Around
Dongying
$21
Nosara
$87 315% $66

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Dongying and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Dongying vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $350 per month, with Dongying cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Dongying
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
15:43 3:43 PM
01:43 1:43 AM
14 h behind Dongying
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,035,300
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 6.68 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dongying Nosara 14,170 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Dongying
  • 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
Dongying vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Dongying?
Dongying is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 160% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,058 in Dongying and $2,756 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 Dongying and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $275 in Dongying versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $336 in Dongying versus $490 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Dongying and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Dongying or in Nosara?
At $705 in Dongying versus $1,837 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dongying but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Dongying the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dongying or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Dongying is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nosara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dongying or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Dongying 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 Dongying gentler on the wallet – expenses run 160% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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