Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Elblag and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Elblag: $1,455 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Elblag
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,455
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,455 in Elblag versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Elblag $1,455
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Elblag versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Elblag $2,027
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,599 in Elblag versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Elblag $2,599
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Elblag costs roughly 21% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Elblag 8% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elblag
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.17 zł 47.29
$12.35 ₡5,539
-1.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.38 zł 106
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-55.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 zł 28.54
$7.52 ₡3,373
-2.39%
Cappuccino
$3.35 zł 13.03
$4.41 ₡1,978
-24.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 zł 8.16
$1.74 ₡780
20.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 zł 6.63
$1.31 ₡587
30.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 zł 11.78
$3.28 ₡1,471
-7.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 zł 14.50
$4.47 ₡2,004
-16.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elblag
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 zł 4.04
$1.56 ₡701
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 zł 6.44
$3.02 ₡1,355
-45.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 zł 3.69
$2.51 ₡1,125
-62.15%
Eggs
$3.79 zł 14.72
$3.57 ₡1,603
6.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.96 zł 34.81
$7.43 ₡3,333
20.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.83 zł 26.53
$10.52 ₡4,717
-35.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.50 zł 44.68
$13.97 ₡6,265
-17.68%
Apples (1kg)
$1.34 zł 5.22
$2.35 ₡1,052
-42.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 zł 6.48
$1.61 ₡720
3.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 zł 6.20
$4.80 ₡2,152
-66.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.08 zł 11.98
$1.61 ₡724
91.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 zł 3.09
$3.80 ₡1,703
-79.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.32 zł 5.13
$3.69 ₡1,657
-64.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 zł 4.27
$1.13 ₡507
-2.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 zł 1.93
$2.66 ₡1,191
-81.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 zł 16.04
$5.18 ₡2,321
-20.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.31 zł 24.52
$19.88 ₡8,916
-68.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 zł 1.91
$2.90 ₡1,300
-83.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 zł 5.47
$3.63 ₡1,626
-61.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Elblag
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 zł 4.01
$1.12 ₡504
-8.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.01 zł 93.3
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-66.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 zł 8.33
$2.14 ₡958
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 zł 3.04
$1.57 ₡703
-50.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.86 zł 38.29
$8.52 ₡3,823
15.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 zł 5.98
$1.52 ₡682
1.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K zł 119.4K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
42.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K zł 96.6K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-28.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elblag
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$285 zł 1,108
$96.3 ₡43.2K
196.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.79 zł 30.27
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-78.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.79 zł 53.6
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-74.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elblag
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.85 zł 163
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-41.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.09 zł 85.8
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-36.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.23 zł 20.30
$7.89 ₡3,539
-33.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elblag
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$323 zł 1,255
$494 ₡221.6K
-34.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,954 zł 7,593
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-83.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elblag
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.9 zł 314
$53.9 ₡24.2K
50.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.97 zł 144
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-33.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 zł 342
$77.9 ₡34.9K
13.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 zł 383
$79.6 ₡35.7K
23.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elblag
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$602 zł 2,339
$788 ₡353.4K
-23.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$514 zł 1,995
$794 ₡356.2K
-35.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$857 zł 3,331
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-78.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$738 zł 2,868
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-47.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,191 zł 8,514
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-68.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,243 zł 8,714
$1,224 ₡549.0K
83.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elblag
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,299 zł 5,048
$864 ₡387.3K
50.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
8.62
-20.07%

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

Last update for Elblag: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Elblag
$514
Nosara
$794 54.7% $281
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elblag
$307
Nosara
$186 39.5% $121
Groceries & Markets
Elblag
$213
Nosara
$352 65.2% $139
Eating Out
Elblag
$197
Nosara
$212 7.3% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Elblag
$137
Nosara
$120 12.4% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Elblag
$52
Nosara
$87 67.1% $35
Getting Around
Elblag
$34
Nosara
$87 155% $53

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $602 in Elblag and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elblag pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Elblag vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $352 per month, with Elblag cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Elblag
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
02:27 2:27 AM
18:27 6:27 PM
8 h behind Elblag
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
122,899
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Elblag Nosara 10,070 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Elblag
  • 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
Elblag vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Elblag?
Elblag is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Elblag or Nosara?
Average pay runs 50% higher in Elblag, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Elblag and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $602 in Elblag versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Elblag and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Elblag or in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Elblag – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Elblag or in Nosara?
At $1,455 in Elblag versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Elblag but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Elblag the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Elblag or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Elblag 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, Elblag or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Elblag 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 Elblag gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Elblag vs other spots: cost of living compared

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