Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gloucester and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,401 in Gloucester, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gloucester
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,401
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,401 in Gloucester versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Gloucester $2,401
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,745 in Gloucester versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Gloucester $3,745
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,089 in Gloucester versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Gloucester $5,089
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Gloucester is roughly 31% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gloucester 78% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gloucester
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.98 £14.99
$12.35 ₡5,539
61.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4 £58.8
$61.2 ₡27.4K
28.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 £8.31
$7.52 ₡3,373
47.34%
Cappuccino
$4.70 £3.53
$4.41 ₡1,978
6.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 £1.68
$1.74 ₡780
28.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 £1.86
$1.31 ₡587
89.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.33 £4.00
$3.28 ₡1,471
62.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05 £3.79
$4.47 ₡2,004
12.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gloucester
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 £1.27
$1.56 ₡701
8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 £1.46
$3.02 ₡1,355
-35.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.11 £1.58
$2.51 ₡1,125
-15.94%
Eggs
$4.33 £3.25
$3.57 ₡1,603
21.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.61 £5.71
$7.43 ₡3,333
2.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.38 £7.04
$10.52 ₡4,717
-10.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.78 £14.84
$13.97 ₡6,265
41.59%
Apples (1kg)
$4.25 £3.19
$2.35 ₡1,052
80.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 £1.07
$1.61 ₡720
-11.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 £1.41
$4.80 ₡2,152
-61.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.51 £2.63
$1.61 ₡724
118.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 £1.17
$3.80 ₡1,703
-58.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 £1.43
$3.69 ₡1,657
-48.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 £0.97
$1.13 ₡507
14.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 £1.11
$2.66 ₡1,191
-44.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.03 £17.28
$5.18 ₡2,321
344.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.71 £8.03
$19.88 ₡8,916
-46.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 £1.69
$2.90 ₡1,300
-22.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 £2.21
$3.63 ₡1,626
-19.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Gloucester
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.98 £2.98
$1.12 ₡504
255.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 £81.4
$72.6 ₡32.6K
49.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.46 £4.85
$2.14 ₡958
201.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 £1.01
$1.57 ₡703
-14.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.13 £12.10
$8.52 ₡3,823
89.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 £1.48
$1.52 ₡682
30.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K £28.3K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
74.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K £30.3K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
17.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gloucester
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$375 £281
$96.3 ₡43.2K
289.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.63 £17.73
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-34.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.80 £30.61
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-23.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gloucester
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.4 £39.29
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-26.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.63 £7.97
$7.89 ₡3,539
34.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gloucester
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,321 £991
$494 ₡221.6K
167.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gloucester
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.1 £48.85
$53.9 ₡24.2K
20.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.91 £26.19
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-37.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.0 £55.5
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-5.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5 £60.4
$79.6 ₡35.7K
1.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gloucester
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 £835
$788 ₡353.4K
41.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,015 £761
$794 ₡356.2K
27.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,086 £2,315
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-21.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,193 £1,645
$1,419 ₡636.5K
54.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,403 £3,303
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-36.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,937 £2,954
$1,224 ₡549.0K
221.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gloucester
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,644 £1,983
$864 ₡387.3K
206.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.54
8.62
-35.73%

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

Last update for Gloucester: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gloucester
$1K
Nosara
$794 21.7% $221
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gloucester
$439
Nosara
$186 57.7% $254
Groceries & Markets
Gloucester
$316
Nosara
$352 11.5% $36
Eating Out
Gloucester
$305
Nosara
$212 30.6% $93
Getting Around
Gloucester
$138
Nosara
$87 36.7% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Gloucester
$115
Nosara
$120 4.9% $5.6
Sport & Entertainment
Gloucester
$74
Nosara
$87 18.6% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,113 in Gloucester and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gloucester pays 206% 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: $78.0 in Gloucester vs $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $316 vs $352, with Gloucester cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Gloucester
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
15:03 3:03 PM
08:03 8:03 AM
7 h behind Gloucester
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
121,700
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Gloucester Nosara 8,680 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gloucester
  • 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
Gloucester vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gloucester or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Gloucester. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gloucester or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 206% higher in Gloucester, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gloucester compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,113 in Gloucester versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Gloucester or in Nosara?
Shoppers in Gloucester pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Gloucester and in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $78.0 in Gloucester. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Gloucester or in Nosara?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,401 in Gloucester, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Gloucester. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gloucester or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,839 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Gloucester compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Gloucester 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Gloucester. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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