Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton, MT and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,844 a month against $2,220 in Hamilton, MT, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Hamilton, MT, United States
Nosara, Costa Rica
Hamilton, MT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,220
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,844
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,220 per month in Hamilton, MT vs $1,844 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Hamilton, MT $2,220
  • Nosara $1,844

A couple spends around $3,644 per month in Hamilton, MT vs $2,817 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Hamilton, MT $3,644
  • Nosara $2,817

A family of three spends $5,068 per month in Hamilton, MT vs $3,790 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Hamilton, MT $5,068
  • Nosara $3,790

Hamilton, MT costs about 20% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hamilton, MT and Nosara sit above the global median – Hamilton, MT by 64%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton, MT
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$37.54 $37.54
$12.38 ₡5,577
203.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.0 $69.0
$60.6 ₡27.3K
13.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 $11.34
$7.81 ₡3,518
45.20%
Cappuccino
$5.25 $5.25
$4.37 ₡1,969
20.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.78 ₡802
52.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.35 ₡606
46.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$3.39 ₡1,528
80.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06 $7.06
$4.31 ₡1,942
63.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton, MT
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.55 ₡700
-36.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.17 ₡1,428
10.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$2.51 ₡1,132
81.67%
Eggs
$4.18 $4.18
$3.53 ₡1,587
18.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.30 $12.30
$7.37 ₡3,318
66.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.43 $12.43
$10.46 ₡4,710
18.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.15 $19.15
$13.91 ₡6,264
37.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$2.26 ₡1,020
163.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.56 ₡703
-17.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$4.70 ₡2,116
-18.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$1.62 ₡730
185.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$3.88 ₡1,749
-28.61%
Onion (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.79 ₡1,706
-10.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.07 ₡482
96.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.61 ₡1,176
-16.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.94 $10.94
$5.16 ₡2,323
112.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.18 $15.18
$20.33 ₡9,157
-25.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.91 ₡1,312
-26.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 $3.51
$3.67 ₡1,653
-4.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton, MT
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.31 ₡589
54.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.3 $62.3
$73.2 ₡33.0K
-14.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 $3.13
$2.19 ₡985
42.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.84 ₡831
-0.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.18 $32.18
$7.81 ₡3,519
312.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.56 ₡703
-33.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$33.4K ₡15.0M
-11.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$38.1K ₡17.1M
-31.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton, MT
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 $202
$95.9 ₡43.2K
110.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$35.37 ₡15.9K
66.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.5 $89.5
$53.7 ₡24.2K
66.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton, MT
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.28 $40.28
$67.5 ₡30.4K
-40.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.43 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.00 $13.00
$7.72 ₡3,478
68.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton, MT
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 $1,307
$496 ₡223.2K
163.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K $22.7K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
91.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton, MT
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$54.6 ₡24.6K
-2.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.47 $47.47
$55.0 ₡24.8K
-13.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.2 $88.2
$79.8 ₡36.0K
10.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$77.9 ₡35.1K
47.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton, MT
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,172 $1,172
$817 ₡368.0K
43.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$713 $713
$800 ₡360.3K
-10.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,379 $2,379
$3,889 ₡1.8M
-38.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 $1,802
$1,396 ₡628.5K
29.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,261 $2,261
$6,977 ₡3.1M
-67.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,356 $2,356
$1,222 ₡550.4K
92.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton, MT
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,528 $3,528
$879 ₡395.9K
301.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.29
8.62
-15.43%

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

Last update for Hamilton, MT: November 1, 2026

Last update for Nosara: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hamilton, MT
$713
Nosara
$800 12.2% $87
Eating Out
Hamilton, MT
$461
Nosara
$213 53.8% $248
Groceries & Markets
Hamilton, MT
$410
Nosara
$353 14% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton, MT
$350
Nosara
$185 47.2% $165
Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton, MT
$137
Nosara
$120 11.9% $16
Getting Around
Hamilton, MT
$83
Nosara
$90 8.7% $7.2
Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton, MT
$66
Nosara
$83 25.1% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,172 in Hamilton, MT versus $817 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Hamilton, MT are about 4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Hamilton, MT versus $61 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $353 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hamilton, MT
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
16:58 4:58 PM
17:58 5:58 PM
1 h ahead of Hamilton, MT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
62,447
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hamilton, MT Nosara 4,850 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hamilton, MT
  • 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
Hamilton, MT vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hamilton, MT and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,220 in Hamilton, MT, $1,844 in Nosara – Nosara comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Hamilton, MT compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,330 per month in Hamilton, MT and $2,765 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hamilton, MT and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $817 there versus $1,172 in Hamilton, MT.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hamilton, MT or Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,220 in Hamilton, MT and $1,844 in Nosara. That makes Nosara about 17% cheaper.
How do commuting costs compare in Hamilton, MT and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Hamilton, MT. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $3,000 go in Hamilton, MT compared to Nosara?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,220 in Hamilton, MT and $1,844 in Nosara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Hamilton, MT or Nosara?
Families tend to lean toward Nosara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Hamilton, MT or Nosara safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
How do I decide between Hamilton, MT and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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