Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gardnerville, NV and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,439 in Gardnerville, NV, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gardnerville, NV
🇺🇸 United States
$2,439
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,439 per month in Gardnerville, NV vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Gardnerville, NV $2,439
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $3,589 per month in Gardnerville, NV vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Gardnerville, NV $3,589
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $4,738 per month in Gardnerville, NV vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Gardnerville, NV $4,738
  • Nosara $3,814

Gardnerville, NV costs about 33% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Gardnerville, NV and Nosara sit above the global median – Gardnerville, NV by 80%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gardnerville, NV
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.89 $9.89
$12.34 ₡5,535
-19.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1 $80.1
$61.3 ₡27.5K
30.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 $10.40
$7.76 ₡3,481
34.02%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$4.44 ₡1,992
31.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.79 ₡803
86.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$1.29 ₡580
134.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 $5.92
$3.24 ₡1,451
82.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.67 $7.67
$4.43 ₡1,985
73.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gardnerville, NV
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.55 ₡696
-39.35%
White Bread (500g)
$4.47 $4.47
$3.08 ₡1,380
45.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.53 ₡1,133
-10.67%
Eggs
$3.92 $3.92
$3.45 ₡1,546
13.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.29 $26.29
$7.32 ₡3,284
259.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 $6.48
$10.24 ₡4,594
-36.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.63 $15.63
$14.10 ₡6,326
10.85%
Apples (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$2.29 ₡1,027
86.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.64 ₡737
-18.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 $3.38
$4.79 ₡2,149
-29.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$1.64 ₡735
116.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$3.85 ₡1,727
-25.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$3.75 ₡1,681
-22.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.09 ₡488
130.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.59 ₡1,160
18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.75 $11.75
$5.12 ₡2,295
129.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.98 $12.98
$19.92 ₡8,931
-34.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.80 ₡1,255
-50.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$3.52 ₡1,580
-56.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Gardnerville, NV
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.22 ₡549
72.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 $3.45
$2.17 ₡973
58.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.56 ₡698
19.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.94 $39.94
$8.67 ₡3,886
360.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.55 ₡697
-19.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-19.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-31.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gardnerville, NV
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 $108
$94.8 ₡42.5K
13.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$36.15 ₡16.2K
72.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.3 $50.3
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-5.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gardnerville, NV
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.27 $43.27
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-41.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.97 $11.97
$7.91 ₡3,548
51.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gardnerville, NV
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,471 $2,471
$490 ₡219.9K
403.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.6K $35.6K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
199.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gardnerville, NV
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.70 $40.70
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-25.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.5 $70.5
$55.9 ₡25.1K
26.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 $94.8
$80.4 ₡36.0K
17.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$239 $239
$77.9 ₡34.9K
207.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gardnerville, NV
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,816 $1,816
$801 ₡359.1K
126.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,285 $1,285
$790 ₡354.1K
62.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,185 $2,185
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-45.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,038 $2,038
$1,409 ₡632.0K
44.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,613 $2,613
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-63.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,203 $2,203
$1,236 ₡554.3K
78.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gardnerville, NV
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
8.62
-23.20%

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

Last update for Gardnerville, NV: 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
Gardnerville, NV
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 38.5% $495
Groceries & Markets
Gardnerville, NV
$395
Nosara
$350 11.4% $45
Eating Out
Gardnerville, NV
$251
Nosara
$213 15.2% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gardnerville, NV
$221
Nosara
$184 16.6% $37
Clothing & Footwear
Gardnerville, NV
$200
Nosara
$121 39.6% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Gardnerville, NV
$67
Nosara
$90 33.3% $22
Getting Around
Gardnerville, NV
$21 *
Nosara
$89 317% $67

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,816 in Gardnerville, NV versus $801 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Gardnerville, NV versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $350 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Gardnerville, NV
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
06:14 6:14 AM
07:14 7:14 AM
1 h ahead of Gardnerville, NV
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,656
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Gardnerville, NV Nosara 4,670 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gardnerville, NV
  • 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
Gardnerville, NV vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Gardnerville, NV?
Yes – Gardnerville, NV is pricier by about 33%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,659 per month in Gardnerville, NV and $2,753 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 Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Gardnerville, NV or in Nosara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Gardnerville, NV and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Gardnerville, NV and in Nosara?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Gardnerville, NV, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Gardnerville, NV or in Nosara?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,835, than in Gardnerville, NV at $2,439. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gardnerville, NV it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gardnerville, NV or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nosara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Gardnerville, NV 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 Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gardnerville, NV makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Gardnerville, NV vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?