Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Enfield and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,570 in Enfield, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Enfield
🇺🇸 United States
$2,570
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,570 in Enfield versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Enfield $2,570
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,806 in Enfield versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Enfield $3,806
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,042 in Enfield versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Enfield $5,042
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Enfield is roughly 40% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Enfield 90% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Enfield
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.65 $19.65
$12.34 ₡5,535
59.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.8 $73.8
$61.3 ₡27.5K
20.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 $11.36
$7.76 ₡3,481
46.39%
Cappuccino
$6.08 $6.08
$4.44 ₡1,992
36.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.79 ₡803
32.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.29 ₡580
42.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.82 $6.82
$3.24 ₡1,451
110.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.00 $8.00
$4.43 ₡1,985
80.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Enfield
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.55 ₡696
-32.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.08 ₡1,380
16.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$2.53 ₡1,133
74.70%
Eggs
$4.16 $4.16
$3.45 ₡1,546
20.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.56 $12.56
$7.32 ₡3,284
71.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.68 $11.68
$10.24 ₡4,594
14.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.23 $17.23
$14.10 ₡6,326
22.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.29 ₡1,027
113.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.64 ₡737
-4.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.79 ₡2,149
-10.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$1.64 ₡735
190.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$3.85 ₡1,727
-28.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$3.75 ₡1,681
-20.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.09 ₡488
93.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.59 ₡1,160
-11.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.00 $10.00
$5.12 ₡2,295
95.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.20 $15.20
$19.92 ₡8,931
-23.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.80 ₡1,255
-34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.52 ₡1,580
-2.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Enfield
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.22 ₡549
42.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.90 $2.90
$2.17 ₡973
33.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.56 ₡698
23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.96 $25.96
$8.67 ₡3,886
199.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.55 ₡697
-23.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-13.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-31.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Enfield
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$94.8 ₡42.5K
110.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$36.15 ₡16.2K
64.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8 $68.8
$53.1 ₡23.8K
29.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Enfield
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.52 $41.52
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-43.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.2 $50.2
$35.63 ₡16.0K
40.81%
Cinema Ticket
$14.24 $14.24
$7.91 ₡3,548
80.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Enfield
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,477 $1,477
$490 ₡219.9K
201.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
100.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Enfield
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 $53.8
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-1.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.42 $41.42
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-25.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.2 $87.2
$80.4 ₡36.0K
8.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$77.9 ₡34.9K
45.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Enfield
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,766 $1,766
$801 ₡359.1K
120.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,289 $1,289
$790 ₡354.1K
63.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,341 $2,341
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-41.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,173 $2,173
$1,409 ₡632.0K
54.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,913 $2,913
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-58.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,152 $2,152
$1,236 ₡554.3K
74.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Enfield
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,415 $5,415
$887 ₡397.6K
510.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
8.62
-23.78%

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

Last update for Enfield: 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
Enfield
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 38.7% $499
Groceries & Markets
Enfield
$400
Nosara
$350 12.5% $50
Eating Out
Enfield
$331
Nosara
$213 35.8% $119
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Enfield
$328
Nosara
$184 43.9% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Enfield
$133
Nosara
$121 9% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Enfield
$70
Nosara
$90 28% $20
Getting Around
Enfield
$19 *
Nosara
$89 357% $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 $1,766 in Enfield and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Enfield pays 511% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Enfield vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $400 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Enfield
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
04:02 4:02 AM
02:02 2:02 AM
2 h behind Enfield
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
45,231
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 23, 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
  • Enfield Nosara 3,780 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Enfield
  • 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
Enfield vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Enfield or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Enfield. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Enfield or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 511% higher in Enfield, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Enfield compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,766 in Enfield versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Enfield and in Nosara?
Childcare runs $1,477 in Enfield versus $490 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Enfield and in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $74.0 in Enfield. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Enfield or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,570 in Enfield, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Enfield. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Enfield or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,835 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Enfield compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Enfield 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Enfield. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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