Cost of Living Comparison Between Grecia and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Grecia and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,371 in Grecia versus $1,712 in Nosara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,845 in Grecia versus $2,637 in Nosara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,320 in Grecia versus $3,562 in Nosara.

Living in Grecia costs roughly 20% less than in Nosara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grecia 2% above, Nosara 28% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grecia
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.22 ₡3,757
$11.04 ₡5,046
-25.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.14 ₡17.9K
$60.5 ₡27.6K
-35.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.41 ₡4,298
$7.09 ₡3,240
32.72%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₡1,150
$3.89 ₡1,777
-35.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 ₡654
$1.57 ₡719
-8.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₡441
$1.17 ₡533
-17.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 ₡990
$2.94 ₡1,345
-26.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 ₡1,236
$4.71 ₡2,150
-42.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grecia
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 ₡875
$1.47 ₡671
29.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 ₡469
$2.81 ₡1,286
-63.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡972
$2.25 ₡1,026
-5.33%
Eggs
$3.01 ₡1,377
$2.94 ₡1,345
2.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 ₡2,748
$6.78 ₡3,099
-11.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 ₡1,840
$9.03 ₡4,126
-55.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.94 ₡6,371
$13.62 ₡6,223
2.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 ₡1,008
$2.05 ₡935
7.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 ₡696
$1.46 ₡668
4.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 ₡533
$4.18 ₡1,908
-72.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 ₡535
$1.51 ₡691
-22.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 ₡733
$3.44 ₡1,573
-53.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ₡624
$3.19 ₡1,457
-57.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ₡468
$0.96 ₡437
6.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 ₡916
$2.42 ₡1,104
-17.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.29 ₡2,416
$4.61 ₡2,107
14.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.78 ₡5,839
$21.01 ₡9,601
-39.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₡868
$2.41 ₡1,100
-21.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₡648
$2.85 ₡1,301
-50.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Grecia
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.80 ₡820
$0.96 ₡438
87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.5 ₡29.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 ₡836
$1.80 ₡822
1.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 ₡821
$1.85 ₡845
-2.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.98 ₡3,646
$7.77 ₡3,550
2.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ₡668
$1.28 ₡585
14.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K ₡17.1M
$32.4K ₡14.8M
15.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡14.9M
$32.2K ₡14.7M
1.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grecia
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 ₡37.8K
$95.5 ₡43.6K
-13.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.62 ₡11.7K
$26.09 ₡11.9K
-1.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 ₡27.2K
$47.42 ₡21.7K
25.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grecia
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.15 ₡20.6K
$57.8 ₡26.4K
-21.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.90 ₡10.9K
$23.56 ₡10.8K
1.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.95 ₡3,175
$10.18 ₡4,651
-31.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grecia
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 ₡262.9K
$442 ₡202.1K
30.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡5.8M
$10.5K ₡4.8M
21.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grecia
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.0 ₡28.3K
$50.6 ₡23.1K
22.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 ₡23.6K
$51.4 ₡23.5K
0.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 ₡58.1K
$72.2 ₡33.0K
76.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₡49.7K
$70.4 ₡32.1K
54.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grecia
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$400 ₡182.8K
$770 ₡352.0K
-48.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 ₡275.8K
$733 ₡334.8K
-17.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 ₡321.2K
$1,500 ₡685.6K
-53.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$608 ₡277.6K
$1,290 ₡589.4K
-52.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,047 ₡3.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,234 ₡563.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grecia
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 ₡304.6K
$897 ₡409.9K
-25.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-

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

Last update for Grecia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nosara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $400 in Grecia and $770 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 35% 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: $39.00 in Grecia vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $323 per month, with Grecia cheaper across the board.

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
Grecia vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Grecia or Nosara?
Grecia wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Nosara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Grecia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Grecia or Nosara?
On paper, Nosara earns 35% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Grecia vs Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $400 in Grecia versus $770 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Grecia and Nosara?
Childcare runs $575 in Grecia versus $442 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Grecia vs Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Grecia – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $60.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Grecia or Nosara?
At $1,371 in Grecia versus $1,712 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Grecia but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Grecia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Grecia or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Grecia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,371 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Grecia hard to pass up.
How safe is Grecia compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Grecia 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 Grecia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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