Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Guanacaste and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,425 per month in Guanacaste vs $1,703 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,146 per month in Guanacaste vs $2,623 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,867 per month in Guanacaste vs $3,543 in Nosara, rent included.

Guanacaste is about 16% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Guanacaste and Nosara sit above the global median – Guanacaste by 7%, Nosara by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.89 ₡4,413

$10.85 ₡4,840

-8.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.00 ₡19.2K

$60.4 ₡27.0K

-28.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.10 ₡4,508

$7.14 ₡3,183

41.46%

Cappuccino

$3.74 ₡1,668

$3.79 ₡1,692

-1.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₡923

$1.57 ₡698

31.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡711

$1.22 ₡544

30.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 ₡1,330

$3.04 ₡1,358

-1.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 ₡1,923

$4.78 ₡2,132

-9.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ₡810

$1.48 ₡661

22.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,277

$2.89 ₡1,288

-1.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡985

$2.21 ₡984

Eggs

$2.98 ₡1,329

$3.00 ₡1,339

-0.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.08 ₡2,265

$6.73 ₡3,004

-24.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.86 ₡1,723

$8.99 ₡4,012

-57.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.12 ₡4,516

$13.52 ₡6,031

-25.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 ₡1,087

$2.11 ₡943

15.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡645

$1.42 ₡633

2.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 ₡1,813

$4.28 ₡1,909

-5.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 ₡633

$1.52 ₡677

-6.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 ₡1,506

$3.37 ₡1,502

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 ₡903

$3.08 ₡1,372

-34.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 ₡368

$1.01 ₡451

-18.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,262

$2.38 ₡1,061

18.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 ₡1,801

$4.64 ₡2,068

-12.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.12 ₡9,869

$21.02 ₡9,378

5.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ₡1,120

$2.45 ₡1,092

2.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₡1,087

$2.89 ₡1,291

-15.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡424

$0.98 ₡435

-3.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ₡30.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡824

$1.78 ₡795

3.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 ₡797

$1.80 ₡802

-0.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 ₡3,552

$7.70 ₡3,436

3.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡653

$1.31 ₡584

11.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.8K ₡16.8M

$32.6K ₡14.5M

15.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.2K ₡14.8M

$32.4K ₡14.5M

2.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.3 ₡41.6K

$94.4 ₡42.1K

-1.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.11 ₡11.6K

$25.89 ₡11.5K

0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.87 ₡13.3K

$47.27 ₡21.1K

-36.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 ₡25.1K

$57.3 ₡25.6K

-1.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.83 ₡10.6K

$23.50 ₡10.5K

1.40%

Cinema Ticket

$10.21 ₡4,555

$9.68 ₡4,320

5.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$564 ₡251.4K

$446 ₡199.0K

26.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.7M

$10.8K ₡4.8M

18.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 ₡27.0K

$49.75 ₡22.2K

21.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 ₡18.0K

$52.0 ₡23.2K

-22.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 ₡35.6K

$70.9 ₡31.6K

12.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 ₡31.2K

$70.2 ₡31.3K

-0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 ₡340.6K

$772 ₡344.6K

-1.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 ₡270.6K

$735 ₡328.0K

-17.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,512 ₡674.4K

$1,506 ₡671.7K

0.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 ₡428.4K

$1,325 ₡591.0K

-27.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,053 ₡3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,215 ₡542.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$878 ₡391.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Guanacaste: July 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $763 in Guanacaste versus $772 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 $43.00 in Guanacaste versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $323 – making Guanacaste the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Guanacaste vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,137 per month in Guanacaste and $2,554 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Guanacaste, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,425 in Guanacaste and $1,703 in Nosara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $564 per month in Guanacaste and $446 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guanacaste, where all-in costs run around $1,425, than in Nosara at $1,703. In Guanacaste it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Guanacaste – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Guanacaste. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.