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: $1,922 in Escazu versus $1,827 in Nosara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,968 in Escazu versus $2,820 in Nosara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,014 in Escazu versus $3,813 in Nosara.

Living in Escazu is roughly 5% more expensive than in Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Escazu 40% above, Nosara 34% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.15 ₡5,401

$12.01 ₡5,339

1.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 ₡26.2K

$58.3 ₡25.9K

1.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.48 ₡5,101

$7.63 ₡3,389

50.46%

Cappuccino

$4.30 ₡1,912

$4.46 ₡1,983

-3.59%

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

$2.68 ₡1,192

$1.75 ₡777

53.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡858

$1.36 ₡606

41.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 ₡1,469

$3.36 ₡1,494

-1.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 ₡1,926

$4.51 ₡2,003

-3.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₡1,040

$1.60 ₡710

46.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₡1,391

$3.18 ₡1,414

-1.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,076

$2.45 ₡1,089

-1.22%

Eggs

$3.52 ₡1,565

$3.59 ₡1,598

-1.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 ₡4,890

$7.44 ₡3,306

47.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 ₡4,713

$10.52 ₡4,674

0.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 ₡6,278

$14.37 ₡6,387

-1.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.07 ₡2,253

$2.37 ₡1,055

113.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡714

$1.58 ₡703

1.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,422

$4.93 ₡2,192

-35.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 ₡1,403

$1.64 ₡730

92.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 ₡1,675

$3.91 ₡1,737

-3.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 ₡1,651

$3.72 ₡1,655

-0.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡445

$1.10 ₡487

-9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₡759

$2.57 ₡1,141

-33.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.54 ₡2,461

$5.04 ₡2,240

9.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.25 ₡8,556

$20.18 ₡8,967

-4.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₡743

$2.89 ₡1,283

-42.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ₡1,232

$3.74 ₡1,661

-25.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₡495

$1.37 ₡609

-18.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 ₡33.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₡932

$2.19 ₡974

-4.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡726

$1.57 ₡697

3.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ₡3,896

$8.98 ₡3,993

-2.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡652

$1.56 ₡692

-5.77%

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

$21.8K ₡9.7M

0.23%

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

$34.7K ₡15.4M

$34.5K ₡15.3M

0.52%

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

$97.4 ₡43.3K

$96.9 ₡43.1K

0.58%

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

$30.08 ₡13.4K

$37.39 ₡16.6K

-19.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 ₡28.0K

$53.8 ₡23.9K

17.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 ₡48.4K

$73.6 ₡32.7K

47.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 ₡4,427

$36.39 ₡16.2K

-72.63%

Cinema Ticket

$8.36 ₡3,715

$8.51 ₡3,781

-1.76%

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

$450 ₡199.9K

$493 ₡219.2K

-8.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K ₡7.5M

$11.8K ₡5.3M

43.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.7 ₡32.3K

$55.8 ₡24.8K

30.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.6K

$55.7 ₡24.8K

-0.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 ₡58.9K

$78.4 ₡34.8K

69.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 ₡59.7K

$78.8 ₡35.0K

70.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 ₡374.7K

$814 ₡361.8K

3.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$836 ₡371.6K

$789 ₡350.5K

6.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 ₡854.0K

$3,935 ₡1.7M

-51.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,497 ₡665.2K

$1,418 ₡630.1K

5.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,378 ₡612.4K

$7,031 ₡3.1M

-80.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$945 ₡420.1K

$1,208 ₡536.9K

-21.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,803 ₡801.3K

$894 ₡397.3K

101.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Escazu: September 15, 2026

Last update for Nosara: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $843 in Escazu and $814 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: $59.0 in Escazu vs $58.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $356 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 102% higher in Escazu, 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: $843 in Escazu versus $814 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Escazu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,922 per month in Escazu versus $1,827 in Nosara – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,827 in Nosara versus $1,922 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 5% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.