Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ettelbruck and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Ettelbruck: $1,423 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Nosara outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ettelbruck
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
$1,423
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,423 in Ettelbruck versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Ettelbruck $1,423
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,607 in Ettelbruck versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Ettelbruck $3,607
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,792 in Ettelbruck versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Ettelbruck $5,792
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Ettelbruck costs roughly 23% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ettelbruck 5% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ettelbruck
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.91 €23.94
$12.35 ₡5,539
117.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 €89.3
$61.2 ₡27.4K
64.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.58 €12.97
$7.52 ₡3,373
93.88%
Cappuccino
$4.35 €3.87
$4.41 ₡1,978
-1.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 €3.67
$1.74 ₡780
137.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 €3.88
$1.31 ₡587
232.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.75 €6.89
$3.28 ₡1,471
136.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58 €5.86
$4.47 ₡2,004
47.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ettelbruck
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 €1.45
$1.56 ₡701
4.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.92 €1.71
$3.02 ₡1,355
-36.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 €2.54
$2.51 ₡1,125
13.94%
Eggs
$4.78 €4.26
$3.57 ₡1,603
33.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.50 €16.45
$7.43 ₡3,333
148.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.69 €13.07
$10.52 ₡4,717
39.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.28 €22.48
$13.97 ₡6,265
80.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 €3.02
$2.35 ₡1,052
44.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 €2.05
$1.61 ₡720
42.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.14 €2.80
$4.80 ₡2,152
-34.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.49 €3.99
$1.61 ₡724
178.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.19
$3.80 ₡1,703
-35.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 €2.04
$3.69 ₡1,657
-37.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.13 ₡507
68.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 €0.95
$2.66 ₡1,191
-60.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.69 €6.84
$5.18 ₡2,321
48.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.15 €9.92
$19.88 ₡8,916
-43.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 €1.78
$2.90 ₡1,300
-31.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.21
$3.63 ₡1,626
-31.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Ettelbruck
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.12 ₡504
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.17 €4.60
$2.14 ₡958
141.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.80 €3.38
$1.57 ₡703
142.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$55.4 €49.24
$8.52 ₡3,823
549.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 €1.65
$1.52 ₡682
21.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K €27.1K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
41.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K €29.2K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-4.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ettelbruck
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$295 €262
$96.3 ₡43.2K
206.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.52 €23.59
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-26.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.1 €52.6
$53.6 ₡24.0K
10.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ettelbruck
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.01 €19.57
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-36.95%
Cinema Ticket
$17.53 €15.60
$7.89 ₡3,539
122.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ettelbruck
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,368 €1,217
$494 ₡221.6K
176.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K €16.3K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
54.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ettelbruck
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 €95.2
$53.9 ₡24.2K
98.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2 €44.69
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-9.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €99.1
$77.9 ₡34.9K
43.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 €116
$79.6 ₡35.7K
63.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ettelbruck
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$788 ₡353.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$794 ₡356.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,984 €2,654
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-24.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,583 €2,297
$1,419 ₡636.5K
81.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,217 €7,309
$6,912 ₡3.1M
18.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,399 €6,581
$1,224 ₡549.0K
504.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ettelbruck
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,425 €3,936
$864 ₡387.3K
412.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2
8.62
-76.80%

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

Last update for Ettelbruck: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ettelbruck
$406
Nosara
$352 13.3% $54
Eating Out
Ettelbruck
$397
Nosara
$212 46.7% $185
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ettelbruck
$381
Nosara
$186 51.2% $195
Clothing & Footwear
Ettelbruck
$179
Nosara
$120 33% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Ettelbruck
$35 *
Nosara
$87 149% $52
Getting Around
Ettelbruck
$24 *
Nosara
$87 261% $63
Accommodation & Living
Ettelbruck
- *
Nosara
$794

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Ettelbruck pays 412% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Ettelbruck vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $352 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇱🇺 Ettelbruck
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
13:45 1:45 PM
05:45 5:45 AM
8 h behind Ettelbruck
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,000
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Ettelbruck Nosara 9,290 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ettelbruck
  • 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
Ettelbruck vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Ettelbruck?
Ettelbruck is cheaper overall, especially in utilities, leisure, and transport. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ettelbruck or Nosara?
Average pay runs 412% higher in Ettelbruck, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Ettelbruck and in Nosara?
Shoppers in Nosara pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Ettelbruck and in Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $1,423 per month in Ettelbruck versus $1,839 in Nosara – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ettelbruck or in Nosara?
At $1,423 in Ettelbruck versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ettelbruck but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Ettelbruck the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ettelbruck or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Ettelbruck 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, Ettelbruck or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Ettelbruck 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 Ettelbruck gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ettelbruck vs other spots: cost of living compared

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