Cost of Living Comparison Between Escazu and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Escazu and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,032 in Escazu versus $1,668 in Nosara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,800 in Escazu versus $2,595 in Nosara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,569 in Escazu versus $3,522 in Nosara.

Living in Escazu is roughly 22% more expensive than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Escazu 52% above, Nosara 25% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.96 ₡4,984

$11.08 ₡5,037

-1.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.7 ₡27.2K

$58.6 ₡26.7K

1.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 ₡4,504

$6.92 ₡3,146

43.06%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,773

$3.91 ₡1,776

-0.26%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₡935

$1.62 ₡736

27.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₡757

$1.22 ₡554

36.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,372

$2.97 ₡1,350

1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 ₡2,117

$4.53 ₡2,060

2.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡936

$1.46 ₡663

41.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 ₡1,250

$2.76 ₡1,253

-0.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,006

$2.13 ₡970

3.76%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,338

$2.87 ₡1,307

2.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 ₡4,484

$6.82 ₡3,100

44.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.28 ₡4,219

$8.97 ₡4,080

3.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 ₡6,243

$13.53 ₡6,152

1.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 ₡2,106

$2.13 ₡968

117.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡678

$1.40 ₡639

6.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 ₡1,916

$4.37 ₡1,988

-3.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,456

$1.53 ₡696

109.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,624

$3.39 ₡1,542

5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 ₡1,472

$3.20 ₡1,455

1.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡430

$1.00 ₡457

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,344

$2.31 ₡1,051

28.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 ₡2,196

$4.66 ₡2,118

3.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.74 ₡8,522

$20.81 ₡9,462

-9.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₡802

$2.41 ₡1,095

-26.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₡1,242

$2.83 ₡1,287

-3.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡438

$0.96 ₡435

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₡30.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 ₡757

$1.85 ₡841

-10.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡805

$1.84 ₡839

-3.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₡3,682

$7.87 ₡3,578

2.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡632

$1.29 ₡585

7.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.4K ₡14.3M

$32.7K ₡14.9M

-4.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.7K ₡14.9M

-0.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$66.2 ₡30.1K

$95.3 ₡43.3K

-30.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.87 ₡11.8K

$25.39 ₡11.5K

1.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 ₡22.8K

$48.17 ₡21.9K

4.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 ₡49.0K

$56.3 ₡25.6K

91.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.16 ₡4,621

$23.52 ₡10.7K

-56.80%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,446

$10.19 ₡4,633

-4.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$580 ₡263.5K

$458 ₡208.1K

26.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₡6.5M

$10.5K ₡4.8M

35.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ₡28.1K

$50.6 ₡23.0K

22.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 ₡23.3K

$51.6 ₡23.5K

-0.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.4K

$71.9 ₡32.7K

75.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₡47.9K

$72.4 ₡32.9K

45.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 ₡484.5K

$769 ₡349.7K

38.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 ₡481.6K

$741 ₡337.0K

42.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 ₡764.3K

$1,548 ₡704.1K

8.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₡596.4K

$1,341 ₡609.8K

-2.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 ₡738.7K

$7,153 ₡3.3M

-77.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,132 ₡514.9K

$1,201 ₡546.2K

-5.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,759 ₡799.8K

$869 ₡395.4K

102.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Escazu: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nosara: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,065 in Escazu and $769 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 102% 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: $60.0 in Escazu vs $59.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $320 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

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

Escazu vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Escazu pays 102% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,065 in Escazu versus $769 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Escazu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,032 per month in Escazu versus $1,668 in Nosara – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,668 in Nosara versus $2,032 in Escazu, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Escazu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Escazu 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.

Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.