Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Farmington, CT and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,952 in Farmington, CT, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Farmington, CT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,952
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,952 in Farmington, CT versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Farmington, CT $2,952
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,158 in Farmington, CT versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Farmington, CT $4,158
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,363 in Farmington, CT versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Farmington, CT $5,363
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Farmington, CT is roughly 61% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Farmington, CT 118% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Farmington, CT
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.40 $20.40
$12.34 ₡5,535
65.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$61.3 ₡27.5K
63.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.13 $12.13
$7.76 ₡3,481
56.31%
Cappuccino
$4.10 $4.10
$4.44 ₡1,992
-7.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.79 ₡803
41.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.29 ₡580
14.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.85 $6.85
$3.24 ₡1,451
111.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65 $7.65
$4.43 ₡1,985
72.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Farmington, CT
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.55 ₡696
-4.52%
White Bread (500g)
$4.30 $4.30
$3.08 ₡1,380
39.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.53 ₡1,133
64.82%
Eggs
$4.09 $4.09
$3.45 ₡1,546
18.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.36 $16.36
$7.32 ₡3,284
123.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.15 $13.15
$10.24 ₡4,594
28.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.69 $16.69
$14.10 ₡6,326
18.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$2.29 ₡1,027
89.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.64 ₡737
28.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$4.79 ₡2,149
-38.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.64 ₡735
164.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$3.85 ₡1,727
-59.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.75 ₡1,681
-27.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.09 ₡488
6.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.59 ₡1,160
-4.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.53 $13.53
$5.12 ₡2,295
164.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$19.92 ₡8,931
-24.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.80 ₡1,255
-18.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$3.52 ₡1,580
9.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Farmington, CT
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.22 ₡549
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.03 $5.03
$2.17 ₡973
131.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.11 $5.11
$1.56 ₡698
227.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.67 ₡3,886
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.55 ₡697
-28.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-19.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-32.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Farmington, CT
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$94.8 ₡42.5K
104.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.0 $54.0
$36.15 ₡16.2K
49.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 $52.6
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-0.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Farmington, CT
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 $15.23
$7.91 ₡3,548
92.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Farmington, CT
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$842 $842
$490 ₡219.9K
71.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.9K $32.9K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
176.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Farmington, CT
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.48 $49.48
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-9.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.53 $38.53
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-31.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 $77.1
$80.4 ₡36.0K
-4.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.1 $81.1
$77.9 ₡34.9K
4.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Farmington, CT
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,973 $1,973
$801 ₡359.1K
146.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,748 $1,748
$790 ₡354.1K
121.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,006 $3,006
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-24.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 $2,549
$1,409 ₡632.0K
80.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,236 ₡554.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Farmington, CT
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,181 $4,181
$887 ₡397.6K
371.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
8.62
-23.90%

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

Last update for Farmington, CT: October 18, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Farmington, CT
$1.7K
Nosara
$790 54.8% $959
Groceries & Markets
Farmington, CT
$417
Nosara
$350 16.2% $68
Eating Out
Farmington, CT
$314
Nosara
$213 32.3% $102
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Farmington, CT
$301
Nosara
$184 38.8% $117
Clothing & Footwear
Farmington, CT
$111
Nosara
$121 9.3% $10
Getting Around
Farmington, CT
$31 *
Nosara
$89 191% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Farmington, CT
$30 *
Nosara
$90 194% $59

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 $1,973 in Farmington, CT and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Farmington, CT pays 372% 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: $100 in Farmington, CT vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Farmington, CT
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
13:02 1:02 PM
11:02 11:02 AM
2 h behind Farmington, CT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,207
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
  • Farmington, CT Nosara 3,750 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Farmington, CT
  • 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
Farmington, CT vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Farmington, CT?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Farmington, CT or Nosara?
Average pay runs 372% higher in Farmington, CT, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Farmington, CT and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,973 in Farmington, CT versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Farmington, CT and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Farmington, CT. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Farmington, CT and in Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,952 per month in Farmington, CT versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Farmington, CT or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,952 in Farmington, CT, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Farmington, CT. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Farmington, CT or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Farmington, CT, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Farmington, CT or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Farmington, CT 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 61% less than in Farmington, CT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Farmington, CT vs other spots: cost of living compared

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