Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Etten-Leur and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,416 in Etten-Leur, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Etten-Leur
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,416
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,416 in Etten-Leur versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Etten-Leur $2,416
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,764 in Etten-Leur versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Etten-Leur $3,764
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,113 in Etten-Leur versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Etten-Leur $5,113
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Etten-Leur is roughly 31% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Etten-Leur 79% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Etten-Leur
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.50 €20.01
$12.35 ₡5,539
82.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.6 €85.1
$61.2 ₡27.4K
56.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.34 €11.86
$7.52 ₡3,373
77.39%
Cappuccino
$4.04 €3.59
$4.41 ₡1,978
-8.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 €3.15
$1.74 ₡780
103.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.66
$1.31 ₡587
128.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 €5.45
$3.28 ₡1,471
86.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 €4.75
$4.47 ₡2,004
19.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Etten-Leur
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 €1.19
$1.56 ₡701
-14.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.06 €1.83
$3.02 ₡1,355
-31.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 €2.22
$2.51 ₡1,125
-0.40%
Eggs
$4.87 €4.33
$3.57 ₡1,603
36.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.77 €13.14
$7.43 ₡3,333
98.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.40 €12.81
$10.52 ₡4,717
36.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.13 €16.13
$13.97 ₡6,265
29.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 €2.39
$2.35 ₡1,052
14.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 €2.11
$1.61 ₡720
47.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 €1.62
$4.80 ₡2,152
-62.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.90 €5.25
$1.61 ₡724
266.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$3.80 ₡1,703
-46.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 €1.89
$3.69 ₡1,657
-42.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.13 ₡507
20.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 €0.65
$2.66 ₡1,191
-72.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.13 €12.57
$5.18 ₡2,321
172.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.98 €6.21
$19.88 ₡8,916
-64.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 €1.35
$2.90 ₡1,300
-47.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 €2.25
$3.63 ₡1,626
-30.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Etten-Leur
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.52 €3.13
$1.12 ₡504
214.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.5 €79.6
$72.6 ₡32.6K
23.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 €3.02
$2.14 ₡958
58.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 €1.46
$1.57 ₡703
5.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.17 €19.72
$8.52 ₡3,823
160.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.37 €2.11
$1.52 ₡682
55.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3K €36.7K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
91.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K €33.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
9.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Etten-Leur
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 €169
$96.3 ₡43.2K
97.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.59 €23.65
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-25.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.04 €41.84
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-12.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Etten-Leur
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.50 €17.35
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-72.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.27 €23.37
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-24.75%
Cinema Ticket
$15.18 €13.50
$7.89 ₡3,539
92.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Etten-Leur
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 €604
$494 ₡221.6K
37.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,341 €4,751
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-54.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Etten-Leur
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9 €75.5
$53.9 ₡24.2K
57.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.65 €44.16
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-10.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 €79.4
$77.9 ₡34.9K
14.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 €132
$79.6 ₡35.7K
85.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Etten-Leur
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,340 €1,192
$788 ₡353.4K
70.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 €1,009
$794 ₡356.2K
42.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,392 €2,128
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-39.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 €1,866
$1,419 ₡636.5K
47.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,242 €3,773
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-38.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,330 €3,851
$1,224 ₡549.0K
253.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Etten-Leur
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.89
8.62
-54.87%

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

Last update for Etten-Leur: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Etten-Leur
$1.1K
Nosara
$794 30% $340
Groceries & Markets
Etten-Leur
$350
Nosara
$352 0.7% $2.6
Eating Out
Etten-Leur
$336
Nosara
$212 36.9% $124
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Etten-Leur
$264
Nosara
$186 29.6% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Etten-Leur
$167
Nosara
$120 28.2% $47
Getting Around
Etten-Leur
$115
Nosara
$87 24.4% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Etten-Leur
$50
Nosara
$87 75.2% $38

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,340 in Etten-Leur and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $96.0 in Etten-Leur vs $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $350 vs $352, with Etten-Leur cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Etten-Leur
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
05:35 5:35 AM
21:35 9:35 PM
8 h behind Etten-Leur
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
43,027
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

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
  • Etten-Leur Nosara 9,160 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Etten-Leur
  • 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
Etten-Leur vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Etten-Leur?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,624 in Etten-Leur and $2,758 in Nosara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Etten-Leur and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,340 in Etten-Leur versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Etten-Leur or in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $96.0 in Etten-Leur. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Etten-Leur and in Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,416 per month in Etten-Leur versus $1,839 in Nosara – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Etten-Leur or in Nosara?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,416 in Etten-Leur, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Etten-Leur. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Etten-Leur or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Etten-Leur, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Etten-Leur or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Etten-Leur 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 Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Etten-Leur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Etten-Leur vs other spots: cost of living compared

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