Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Figueira da Foz and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Figueira da Foz: $1,211 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Figueira da Foz
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,211
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,211 per month in Figueira da Foz vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Figueira da Foz $1,211
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,780 per month in Figueira da Foz vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Figueira da Foz $1,780
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $2,349 per month in Figueira da Foz vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Figueira da Foz $2,349
  • Nosara $3,818

Figueira da Foz is about 34% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Figueira da Foz sits 10% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Figueira da Foz
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13 €9.01
$12.35 ₡5,539
-17.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.34 €40.33
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-25.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.67 €5.93
$7.52 ₡3,373
-11.30%
Cappuccino
$1.43 €1.27
$4.41 ₡1,978
-67.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.32
$1.74 ₡780
-14.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 €0.98
$1.31 ₡587
-16.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 €1.59
$3.28 ₡1,471
-45.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 €2.51
$4.47 ₡2,004
-36.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Figueira da Foz
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 €0.85
$1.56 ₡701
-39.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 €1.11
$3.02 ₡1,355
-58.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 €1.44
$2.51 ₡1,125
-35.46%
Eggs
$2.71 €2.41
$3.57 ₡1,603
-24.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.18 €5.50
$7.43 ₡3,333
-16.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.37 €5.67
$10.52 ₡4,717
-39.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.49 €9.33
$13.97 ₡6,265
-24.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.91 €1.70
$2.35 ₡1,052
-18.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 €1.24
$1.61 ₡720
-13.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 €1.60
$4.80 ₡2,152
-62.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.87 €1.66
$1.61 ₡724
16.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 €1.53
$3.80 ₡1,703
-54.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 €1.59
$3.69 ₡1,657
-51.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 €1.12
$1.13 ₡507
11.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 €0.40
$2.66 ₡1,191
-83.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.01 €5.35
$5.18 ₡2,321
16.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.87 €3.44
$19.88 ₡8,916
-80.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.83
$2.90 ₡1,300
-67.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 €2.33
$3.63 ₡1,626
-27.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Figueira da Foz
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
$1.12 ₡504
109.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.32 €34.09
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-47.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 €2.26
$2.14 ₡958
18.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 €0.71
$1.57 ₡703
-49.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.10 €8.98
$8.52 ₡3,823
18.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.52 ₡682
32.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K €29.9K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
55.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4K €34.1K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
11.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Figueira da Foz
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.2 €85.6
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-0.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.41 €19.05
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-40.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.19 €27.74
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-41.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Figueira da Foz
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.55 €30.73
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-51.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.61 €17.44
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-43.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.29 €7.37
$7.89 ₡3,539
5.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Figueira da Foz
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$278 €247
$494 ₡221.6K
-43.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,886 €5,236
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-50.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Figueira da Foz
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 €51.7
$53.9 ₡24.2K
7.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.92 €31.95
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-35.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.32 €39.43
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-43.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3 €81.2
$79.6 ₡35.7K
14.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Figueira da Foz
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$688 €612
$788 ₡353.4K
-12.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$517 €460
$794 ₡356.2K
-34.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,120 €996
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-71.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$739 €658
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-47.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,088 €1,857
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-69.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,431 €1,273
$1,224 ₡549.0K
16.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Figueira da Foz
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,135 €1,010
$864 ₡387.3K
31.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.53
8.62
-59.05%

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

Last update for Figueira da Foz: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Figueira da Foz
$517
Nosara
$794 53.5% $277
Groceries & Markets
Figueira da Foz
$192
Nosara
$352 83% $160
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Figueira da Foz
$149
Nosara
$186 24.8% $37
Eating Out
Figueira da Foz
$143
Nosara
$212 48% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Figueira da Foz
$103
Nosara
$120 16.2% $17
Getting Around
Figueira da Foz
$54
Nosara
$87 60.6% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Figueira da Foz
$51
Nosara
$87 70.9% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $688 in Figueira da Foz versus $788 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 31% higher in Figueira da Foz, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Figueira da Foz versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $352 – making Figueira da Foz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Figueira da Foz
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
01:18 1:18 AM
18:18 6:18 PM
7 h behind Figueira da Foz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
58,962
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Figueira da Foz Nosara 8,180 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Figueira da Foz
  • 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
Figueira da Foz vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Figueira da Foz?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 52%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,816 per month in Figueira da Foz and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Figueira da Foz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 90% less in Figueira da Foz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $278 per month in Figueira da Foz and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Figueira da Foz or in Nosara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Figueira da Foz, where all-in costs run around $1,211, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Figueira da Foz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Figueira da Foz or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Figueira da Foz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Figueira da Foz or Nosara?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Figueira da Foz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Figueira da Foz vs other spots: cost of living compared

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