Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Florence, KY and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,266 in Florence, KY, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Florence, KY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,266
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,266 in Florence, KY versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Florence, KY $2,266
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,312 in Florence, KY versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Florence, KY $3,312
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,358 in Florence, KY versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Florence, KY $4,358
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Florence, KY is roughly 23% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Florence, KY 68% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Florence, KY
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.05 $15.05
$12.35 ₡5,539
21.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2 $71.2
$61.2 ₡27.4K
16.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.37 $9.37
$7.52 ₡3,373
24.60%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$4.41 ₡1,978
12.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.74 ₡780
28.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.31 ₡587
26.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 $5.93
$3.28 ₡1,471
80.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 $7.04
$4.47 ₡2,004
57.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Florence, KY
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.56 ₡701
-48.72%
White Bread (500g)
$3.28 $3.28
$3.02 ₡1,355
8.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.51 ₡1,125
60.16%
Eggs
$3.56 $3.56
$3.57 ₡1,603
-0.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$7.43 ₡3,333
73.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.13 $12.13
$10.52 ₡4,717
15.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.30 $16.30
$13.97 ₡6,265
16.68%
Apples (1kg)
$5.75 $5.75
$2.35 ₡1,052
144.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.61 ₡720
3.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$4.80 ₡2,152
-2.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$1.61 ₡724
194.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.80 ₡1,703
-32.89%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$3.69 ₡1,657
-18.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.13 ₡507
84.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.66 ₡1,191
-30.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.74 $8.74
$5.18 ₡2,321
68.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.31 $15.31
$19.88 ₡8,916
-22.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$2.90 ₡1,300
-27.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.63 ₡1,626
-15.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Florence, KY
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.12 ₡504
81.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.2 $66.2
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-8.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.14 ₡958
26.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.57 ₡703
-22.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.30 $25.30
$8.52 ₡3,823
196.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.52 ₡682
-33.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K $36.4K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
68.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-25.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence, KY
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$96.3 ₡43.2K
85.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.8 $59.8
$35.89 ₡16.1K
66.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1 $68.1
$53.6 ₡24.0K
27.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Florence, KY
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.22 $17.22
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-75.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.82 $14.82
$7.89 ₡3,539
87.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Florence, KY
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,228 $1,228
$494 ₡221.6K
148.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K $16.1K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
35.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Florence, KY
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4 $50.4
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-6.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.63 $44.63
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-19.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.2 $90.2
$77.9 ₡34.9K
15.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$79.6 ₡35.7K
38.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Florence, KY
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,325 $1,325
$788 ₡353.4K
68.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,037 $1,037
$794 ₡356.2K
30.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,056 $2,056
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-47.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,642 $1,642
$1,419 ₡636.5K
15.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,920 $1,920
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-72.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,248 $1,248
$1,224 ₡549.0K
1.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Florence, KY
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,548 $3,548
$864 ₡387.3K
310.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
8.62
-23.55%

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

Last update for Florence, KY: 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
Florence, KY
$1K
Nosara
$794 23.4% $243
Groceries & Markets
Florence, KY
$392
Nosara
$352 10.1% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence, KY
$306
Nosara
$186 39.4% $121
Eating Out
Florence, KY
$267
Nosara
$212 20.7% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Florence, KY
$133
Nosara
$120 9.7% $13
Getting Around
Florence, KY
$83
Nosara
$87 4.8% $4
Sport & Entertainment
Florence, KY
$47
Nosara
$87 86.4% $41

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Florence, KY and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Florence, KY pays 311% 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: $71.0 in Florence, KY vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $352 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Florence, KY
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
16:25 4:25 PM
14:25 2:25 PM
2 h behind Florence, KY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
40,184
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

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
  • Florence, KY Nosara 3,230 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Florence, KY
  • 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
Florence, KY vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Florence, KY?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Florence, KY or Nosara?
Average pay runs 311% higher in Florence, KY, 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 Florence, KY and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Florence, KY versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Florence, KY and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Florence, KY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Florence, KY or in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $71.0 in Florence, KY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Florence, KY or in Nosara?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,266 in Florence, KY, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Florence, KY. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Florence, KY or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Florence, KY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Florence, KY or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Florence, KY 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 23% less than in Florence, KY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Florence, KY vs other spots: cost of living compared

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