Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Greenwood, SC and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,592 in Greenwood, SC, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Greenwood, SC
🇺🇸 United States
$2,592
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,592 in Greenwood, SC versus $1,837 in Nosara.

  • Greenwood, SC $2,592
  • Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,823 in Greenwood, SC versus $2,775 in Nosara.

  • Greenwood, SC $3,823
  • Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,053 in Greenwood, SC versus $3,712 in Nosara.

  • Greenwood, SC $5,053
  • Nosara $3,712

Living in Greenwood, SC is roughly 41% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Greenwood, SC 93% above, Nosara 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Greenwood, SC
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.78 $17.78
$12.22 ₡5,509
45.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.7 $73.7
$60.2 ₡27.1K
22.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.09 $11.09
$7.54 ₡3,399
47.08%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$4.31 ₡1,941
35.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.72 ₡773
54.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.35 ₡608
64.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.98 $5.98
$3.24 ₡1,459
84.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42 $7.42
$4.48 ₡2,018
65.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Greenwood, SC
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.68 $0.68
$1.57 ₡707
-56.69%
White Bread (500g)
$4.00 $4.00
$3.17 ₡1,429
26.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.42 ₡1,091
38.43%
Eggs
$3.44 $3.44
$3.57 ₡1,609
-3.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.51 $16.51
$7.43 ₡3,349
122.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.07 $16.07
$10.42 ₡4,697
54.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.39 $18.39
$13.66 ₡6,156
34.63%
Apples (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$2.32 ₡1,044
125.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.61 ₡728
-8.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$4.74 ₡2,138
-1.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$1.66 ₡747
183.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.72 ₡1,679
-1.61%
Onion (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$3.57 ₡1,611
-10.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.10 ₡497
87.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.55 ₡1,149
-8.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.09 $10.09
$4.95 ₡2,232
103.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.23 $15.23
$20.01 ₡9,020
-23.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.79 ₡1,256
-12.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.53 ₡1,589
4.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Greenwood, SC
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.19 ₡537
52.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.24 ₡1,011
29.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.55 ₡701
16.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.15 $30.15
$8.86 ₡3,993
240.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.57 ₡708
-50.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
62.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-28.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Greenwood, SC
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$93.5 ₡42.1K
84.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.9 $67.9
$35.11 ₡15.8K
93.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.0 $76.0
$51.5 ₡23.2K
47.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Greenwood, SC
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.54 $41.54
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-41.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.92 $15.92
$7.84 ₡3,535
103.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Greenwood, SC
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$671 $671
$490 ₡220.7K
37.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
111.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Greenwood, SC
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 $51.0
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-4.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.76 $37.76
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-32.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 $93.9
$79.3 ₡35.7K
18.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$78.9 ₡35.6K
77.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Greenwood, SC
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,572 $1,572
$786 ₡354.3K
100.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$780 ₡351.6K
63.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 $2,518
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-34.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 $2,137
$1,407 ₡634.4K
51.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,534 $1,534
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-77.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,605 $1,605
$1,201 ₡541.3K
33.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Greenwood, SC
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,393 $5,393
$876 ₡395.0K
515.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.48
8.62
-24.83%

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

Last update for Greenwood, SC: October 3, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Greenwood, SC
$1.3K
Nosara
$780 38.8% $494
Groceries & Markets
Greenwood, SC
$440
Nosara
$350 20.5% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Greenwood, SC
$317
Nosara
$180 43.2% $137
Eating Out
Greenwood, SC
$310
Nosara
$209 32.4% $100
Clothing & Footwear
Greenwood, SC
$145
Nosara
$120 17.2% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Greenwood, SC
$73
Nosara
$87 18.7% $14
Getting Around
Greenwood, SC
$19 *
Nosara
$87 353% $68

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,572 in Greenwood, SC and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Greenwood, SC pays 515% 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: $74.0 in Greenwood, SC vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $440 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Greenwood, SC
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
22:28 10:28 PM
20:28 8:28 PM
2 h behind Greenwood, SC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,205
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Greenwood, SC Nosara 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Greenwood, SC
  • 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
Greenwood, SC vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Greenwood, SC or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Greenwood, SC. 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 Greenwood, SC or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 515% higher in Greenwood, SC, 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 Greenwood, SC compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,572 in Greenwood, SC versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Greenwood, SC or in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Greenwood, SC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Greenwood, SC compared to Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,592 per month in Greenwood, SC versus $1,837 in Nosara – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Greenwood, SC or in Nosara?
At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,592 in Greenwood, SC, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Greenwood, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Greenwood, SC or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,837 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Greenwood, SC compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Greenwood, SC 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 41% less than in Greenwood, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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