Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gresham, OR and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,712 in Gresham, OR, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gresham, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,712
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,712 in Gresham, OR versus $1,837 in Nosara.

  • Gresham, OR $2,712
  • Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,681 in Gresham, OR versus $2,775 in Nosara.

  • Gresham, OR $3,681
  • Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,650 in Gresham, OR versus $3,712 in Nosara.

  • Gresham, OR $4,650
  • Nosara $3,712

Living in Gresham, OR is roughly 48% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gresham, OR 102% above, Nosara 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gresham, OR
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.96 $24.96
$12.22 ₡5,509
104.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.4 $83.4
$60.2 ₡27.1K
38.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.26 $12.26
$7.54 ₡3,399
62.60%
Cappuccino
$5.88 $5.88
$4.31 ₡1,941
36.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.72 ₡773
69.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.35 ₡608
25.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.34 $6.34
$3.24 ₡1,459
95.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21 $7.21
$4.48 ₡2,018
60.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gresham, OR
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.57 ₡707
-33.76%
White Bread (500g)
$4.20 $4.20
$3.17 ₡1,429
32.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.42 ₡1,091
30.58%
Eggs
$4.18 $4.18
$3.57 ₡1,609
17.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.72 $11.72
$7.43 ₡3,349
57.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.46 $10.46
$10.42 ₡4,697
0.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.84 $16.84
$13.66 ₡6,156
23.28%
Apples (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$2.32 ₡1,044
89.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.61 ₡728
-1.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$4.74 ₡2,138
-41.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.66 ₡747
58.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$3.72 ₡1,679
-42.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 $1.85
$3.57 ₡1,611
-48.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.10 ₡497
81.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.55 ₡1,149
-32.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.83 $11.83
$4.95 ₡2,232
138.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.89 $10.89
$20.01 ₡9,020
-45.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$2.79 ₡1,256
-24.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$3.53 ₡1,589
-33.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Gresham, OR
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.19 ₡537
134.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.42 $4.42
$2.24 ₡1,011
97.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.55 ₡701
-50.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.95 $23.95
$8.86 ₡3,993
170.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.57 ₡708
-13.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K $36.9K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
69.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-26.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gresham, OR
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 $198
$93.5 ₡42.1K
112.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$35.11 ₡15.8K
105.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.6 $66.6
$51.5 ₡23.2K
29.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gresham, OR
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.31 $30.31
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-57.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.01 $12.01
$7.84 ₡3,535
53.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gresham, OR
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,350 $1,350
$490 ₡220.7K
175.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K $13.0K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
9.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gresham, OR
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.07 $41.07
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-23.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.53 $29.53
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-47.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.3 $84.3
$79.3 ₡35.7K
6.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.2 $85.2
$78.9 ₡35.6K
8.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gresham, OR
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 $1,681
$786 ₡354.3K
113.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,528 $1,528
$780 ₡351.6K
95.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,842 $2,842
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-26.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 $1,888
$1,407 ₡634.4K
34.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gresham, OR
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,028 $4,028
$876 ₡395.0K
359.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.7
8.62
-22.27%

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

Last update for Gresham, OR: October 5, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gresham, OR
$1.5K
Nosara
$780 49% $748
Eating Out
Gresham, OR
$372
Nosara
$209 43.6% $162
Groceries & Markets
Gresham, OR
$351
Nosara
$350 0.4% $1.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gresham, OR
$337
Nosara
$180 46.5% $157
Clothing & Footwear
Gresham, OR
$108
Nosara
$120 11.4% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Gresham, OR
$54
Nosara
$87 60.3% $33
Getting Around
Gresham, OR
$19 *
Nosara
$87 347% $67

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 $1,681 in Gresham, OR and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gresham, OR pays 360% 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: $83.0 in Gresham, OR vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Gresham, OR
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
19:26 7:26 PM
20:26 8:26 PM
1 h ahead of Gresham, OR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
114,247
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
  • Gresham, OR Nosara 5,270 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gresham, OR
  • 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
Gresham, OR vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Gresham, OR and in Nosara?
Gresham, OR and Nosara differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($2,712 vs $1,837 including rent). Nosara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Gresham, OR or Nosara?
Average pay runs 360% higher in Gresham, OR, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Gresham, OR and in Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,681 in Gresham, OR versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Gresham, OR and Nosara?
Childcare runs $1,350 in Gresham, OR versus $490 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $83.0 in Gresham, OR. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,712 in Gresham, OR, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Gresham, OR. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Gresham, OR and Nosara?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Gresham, OR or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Gresham, OR 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.
Where should expats move: Gresham, OR or Nosara?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Gresham, OR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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