Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hama and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Hama: $557 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hama
🇸🇾 Syria
$557
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $557 in Hama versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Hama $557
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $868 in Hama versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Hama $868
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,180 in Hama versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Hama $1,180
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Hama costs roughly 70% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hama is 59% below, Nosara is 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hama
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.62 SYP 926
$12.34 ₡5,535
-38.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.44 SYP 3,699
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-50.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.70 SYP 329
$7.76 ₡3,481
-65.21%
Cappuccino
$1.16 SYP 141
$4.44 ₡1,992
-73.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 SYP 275
$1.79 ₡803
26.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 SYP 106
$1.29 ₡580
-32.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 SYP 237
$3.24 ₡1,451
-39.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 SYP 218
$4.43 ₡1,985
-59.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hama
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 SYP 129
$1.55 ₡696
-31.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 SYP 50.8
$3.08 ₡1,380
-86.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 SYP 191
$2.53 ₡1,133
-37.94%
Eggs
$1.64 SYP 199
$3.45 ₡1,546
-52.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.84 SYP 467
$7.32 ₡3,284
-47.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.57 SYP 677
$10.24 ₡4,594
-45.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 SYP 1,689
$14.10 ₡6,326
-1.42%
Apples (1kg)
$1.08 SYP 131
$2.29 ₡1,027
-52.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 SYP 173
$1.64 ₡737
-13.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.11 SYP 135
$4.79 ₡2,149
-76.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 SYP 128
$1.64 ₡735
-35.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 SYP 89.5
$3.85 ₡1,727
-80.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 SYP 96.3
$3.75 ₡1,681
-78.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 SYP 48.65
$1.09 ₡488
-63.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 SYP 74.6
$2.59 ₡1,160
-76.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74 SYP 333
$5.12 ₡2,295
-46.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.14 SYP 746
$19.92 ₡8,931
-69.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 SYP 134
$2.80 ₡1,255
-60.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 SYP 353
$3.52 ₡1,580
-17.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Hama
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 SYP 23.72
$1.22 ₡549
-83.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 SYP 123
$2.17 ₡973
-53.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 SYP 181
$1.56 ₡698
-4.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 SYP 959
$8.67 ₡3,886
-9.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.60 SYP 437
$1.55 ₡697
132.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0K SYP 1.8M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-56.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K SYP 2.4M
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-49.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hama
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 SYP 17.3K
$94.8 ₡42.5K
50.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.32 SYP 1,132
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-74.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.15 SYP 2,814
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-56.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hama
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.39 SYP 655
$7.91 ₡3,548
-31.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hama
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$67.9 SYP 8,249
$490 ₡219.9K
-86.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,747 SYP 212.2K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-85.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hama
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.42 SYP 3,454
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-48.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.97 SYP 4,857
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-28.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.9 SYP 7,277
$80.4 ₡36.0K
-25.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.8 SYP 7,143
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-24.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hama
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$801 ₡359.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$790 ₡354.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,236 ₡554.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hama
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.25
8.62
65.31%

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

Last update for Hama: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hama
$175
Nosara
$184 5% $8.8
Groceries & Markets
Hama
$169
Nosara
$350 107% $181
Eating Out
Hama
$109
Nosara
$213 95.4% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Hama
$84
Nosara
$121 43.8% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Hama
$11 *
Nosara
$90 731% $79
Getting Around
Hama
$9.2 *
Nosara
$89 861% $80
Accommodation & Living
Hama
- *
Nosara
$790

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

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Hama vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $350 per month, with Hama cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇾 Hama
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
23:34 11:34 PM
14:34 2:34 PM
9 h behind Hama
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
312,994
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to SYP – Syrian Pound Converter

Syrian Pound exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 122 SYP (1,000 SYP = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 137 SYP (1,000 SYP = 7.32 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Hama Nosara 12,160 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hama
  • Nosara

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Hama vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hama and in Nosara?
Hama and Nosara differ by about 230% in total monthly costs ($557 vs $1,835 including rent). Hama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Hama compared to Nosara?
You'd need roughly $835 in Hama and $2,753 in Nosara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 107% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hama or Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $557 per month in Hama versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 230% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $557 in Hama versus $1,835 in Nosara, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hama but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Hama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hama 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 Hama or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hama 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: Hama or Nosara?
Expats usually find Hama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 230% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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