Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fall River, MA and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,762 in Fall River, MA, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Fall River, MA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,762
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,762 in Fall River, MA versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Fall River, MA $2,762
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,879 in Fall River, MA versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Fall River, MA $3,879
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,995 in Fall River, MA versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Fall River, MA $4,995
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Fall River, MA is roughly 51% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fall River, MA 104% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fall River, MA
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.34 $18.34
$12.34 ₡5,535
48.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.8 $94.8
$61.3 ₡27.5K
54.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 $11.76
$7.76 ₡3,481
51.55%
Cappuccino
$5.32 $5.32
$4.44 ₡1,992
19.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.79 ₡803
60.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.29 ₡580
79.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.96 $4.96
$3.24 ₡1,451
53.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.91 $7.91
$4.43 ₡1,985
78.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fall River, MA
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.55 ₡696
-32.90%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.08 ₡1,380
28.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.61 $5.61
$2.53 ₡1,133
121.74%
Eggs
$6.10 $6.10
$3.45 ₡1,546
76.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.88 $15.88
$7.32 ₡3,284
116.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.49 $14.49
$10.24 ₡4,594
41.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.67 $17.67
$14.10 ₡6,326
25.32%
Apples (1kg)
$6.88 $6.88
$2.29 ₡1,027
200.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.64 ₡737
9.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$4.79 ₡2,149
14.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.65 $5.65
$1.64 ₡735
244.51%
Potato (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.85 ₡1,727
13.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 $1.89
$3.75 ₡1,681
-49.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.02 $3.02
$1.09 ₡488
177.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.59 ₡1,160
3.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.29 $13.29
$5.12 ₡2,295
159.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.74 $13.74
$19.92 ₡8,931
-31.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.80 ₡1,255
-25.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24 $4.24
$3.52 ₡1,580
20.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Fall River, MA
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.22 ₡549
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.17 ₡973
20.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.56 ₡698
14.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.62 $27.62
$8.67 ₡3,886
218.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.55 ₡697
-29.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-20.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-33.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fall River, MA
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$241 $241
$94.8 ₡42.5K
154.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.2 $55.2
$36.15 ₡16.2K
52.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.4 $86.4
$53.1 ₡23.8K
62.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fall River, MA
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.47 $27.47
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-62.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.84 $29.84
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-16.25%
Cinema Ticket
$16.31 $16.31
$7.91 ₡3,548
106.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fall River, MA
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,849 $1,849
$490 ₡219.9K
277.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.3K $30.3K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
155.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fall River, MA
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$54.8 ₡24.6K
3.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.35 $38.35
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-31.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 $114
$80.4 ₡36.0K
42.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.3 $99.3
$77.9 ₡34.9K
27.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fall River, MA
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,137 $1,137
$801 ₡359.1K
42.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,389 $1,389
$790 ₡354.1K
75.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,893 $1,893
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-52.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,895 $1,895
$1,409 ₡632.0K
34.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,919 $2,919
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-58.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,768 $2,768
$1,236 ₡554.3K
124.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fall River, MA
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,354 $3,354
$887 ₡397.6K
278.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
8.62
-22.74%

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

Last update for Fall River, MA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fall River, MA
$1.4K
Nosara
$790 43.2% $599
Groceries & Markets
Fall River, MA
$473
Nosara
$350 26% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fall River, MA
$383
Nosara
$184 51.9% $199
Eating Out
Fall River, MA
$307
Nosara
$213 30.8% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Fall River, MA
$139
Nosara
$121 12.9% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Fall River, MA
$60
Nosara
$90 49.2% $30
Getting Around
Fall River, MA
$12 *
Nosara
$89 671% $77

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 $1,137 in Fall River, MA and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fall River, MA pays 278% 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: $95.0 in Fall River, MA vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $473 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fall River, MA
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
12:53 12:53 PM
10:53 10:53 AM
2 h behind Fall River, MA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
88,857
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

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
  • Fall River, MA Nosara 3,800 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Fall River, MA
  • 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
Fall River, MA vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fall River, MA or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Fall River, MA. 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 Fall River, MA or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 278% higher in Fall River, MA, 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 Fall River, MA compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,137 in Fall River, MA versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Fall River, MA or in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Fall River, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Fall River, MA compared to Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,762 per month in Fall River, MA versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Fall River, MA or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,762 in Fall River, MA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Fall River, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fall River, MA 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 Fall River, MA compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Fall River, MA 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 51% less than in Fall River, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Fall River, MA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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