Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Florence and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,395 in Florence, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Florence
🇮🇹 Italy
$2,395
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,395 per month in Florence vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Florence $2,395
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $3,671 per month in Florence vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Florence $3,671
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $4,947 per month in Florence vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Florence $4,947
  • Nosara $3,712

Florence costs about 30% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Florence and Nosara sit above the global median – Florence by 79%, Nosara by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Florence
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.37 €24.43
$12.22 ₡5,509
123.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.3 €69.0
$60.2 ₡27.1K
28.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.54 €12.98
$7.54 ₡3,399
92.84%
Cappuccino
$2.29 €2.04
$4.31 ₡1,941
-46.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 €2.85
$1.72 ₡773
86.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.29
$1.35 ₡608
6.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.64 €5.92
$3.24 ₡1,459
104.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.99 €7.13
$4.48 ₡2,018
78.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Florence
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.72
$1.57 ₡707
22.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 €2.28
$3.17 ₡1,429
-19.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.90 €2.59
$2.42 ₡1,091
19.83%
Eggs
$4.82 €4.30
$3.57 ₡1,609
35.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.17 €23.36
$7.43 ₡3,349
252.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.23 €10.92
$10.42 ₡4,697
17.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.48 €22.74
$13.66 ₡6,156
86.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 €2.62
$2.32 ₡1,044
26.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 €2.35
$1.61 ₡728
63.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.35 €2.99
$4.74 ₡2,138
-29.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.32 €2.96
$1.66 ₡747
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 €1.99
$3.72 ₡1,679
-40.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$3.57 ₡1,611
-47.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.10 ₡497
71.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 €0.63
$2.55 ₡1,149
-72.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.47 €6.66
$4.95 ₡2,232
50.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.83 €6.99
$20.01 ₡9,020
-60.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 €1.78
$2.79 ₡1,256
-28.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 €2.79
$3.53 ₡1,589
-11.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Florence
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.07 €1.85
$1.19 ₡537
73.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.27 €38.62
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-39.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.78 €3.37
$2.24 ₡1,011
68.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 €1.12
$1.55 ₡701
-18.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.89 €27.56
$8.86 ₡3,993
248.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.86
$1.57 ₡708
33.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K €32.1K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
64.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K €31.5K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
1.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$247 €220
$93.5 ₡42.1K
163.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 €10.34
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-66.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.90 €30.25
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-34.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Florence
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.4 €57.5
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-9.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.77 €18.54
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-41.39%
Cinema Ticket
$13.02 €11.62
$7.84 ₡3,535
66.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Florence
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$745 €665
$490 ₡220.7K
52.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K €15.2K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
43.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Florence
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.5 €86.1
$53.5 ₡24.1K
80.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.82 €34.65
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-30.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €96.4
$79.3 ₡35.7K
36.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 €131
$78.9 ₡35.6K
85.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Florence
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,570 €1,401
$786 ₡354.3K
99.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,043 €931
$780 ₡351.6K
33.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,766 €2,469
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-28.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,833 €1,635
$1,407 ₡634.4K
30.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,288 €5,612
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-9.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,951 €3,526
$1,201 ₡541.3K
229.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Florence
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,005 €1,789
$876 ₡395.0K
128.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
8.62
-63.34%

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

Last update for Florence: October 4, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Florence
$1K
Nosara
$780 25.2% $263
Groceries & Markets
Florence
$411
Nosara
$350 14.9% $61
Eating Out
Florence
$358
Nosara
$209 41.5% $148
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence
$292
Nosara
$180 38.4% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Florence
$175
Nosara
$120 31.4% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Florence
$90
Nosara
$87 3.7% $3.3
Getting Around
Florence
$62
Nosara
$87 40.9% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,570 in Florence versus $786 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 129% higher in Florence, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Florence versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $411 vs $350 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇹 Florence
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
03:38 3:38 AM
19:38 7:38 PM
8 h behind Florence
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
382,808
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Florence Nosara 9,790 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Florence
  • 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 vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Florence and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,395 in Florence, $1,837 in Nosara – roughly 30% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Florence compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,593 per month in Florence and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Florence and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Florence or Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,395 in Florence and $1,837 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 30%.
How do commuting costs compare in Florence and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 67% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Florence at $2,395. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Florence it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Florence and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Nosara to $2,395 in Florence. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Florence or Nosara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Florence and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Florence makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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