Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamra and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Hamra: $1,000 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hamra
🇱🇧 Lebanon
$1,000
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Hamra versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Hamra $1,000
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,601 in Hamra versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Hamra $1,601
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,203 in Hamra versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Hamra $2,203
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Hamra costs roughly 46% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hamra is 26% below, Nosara is 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamra
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.04 LBP 1.1M
$12.35 ₡5,539
-2.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.8 LBP 6.2M
$61.2 ₡27.4K
12.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 LBP 884.8K
$7.52 ₡3,373
31.52%
Cappuccino
$4.51 LBP 403.9K
$4.41 ₡1,978
2.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 LBP 203.2K
$1.74 ₡780
30.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 LBP 80.7K
$1.31 ₡587
-31.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.88 LBP 436.6K
$3.28 ₡1,471
48.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81 LBP 430.7K
$4.47 ₡2,004
7.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamra
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 LBP 177.2K
$1.56 ₡701
26.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 LBP 79.9K
$3.02 ₡1,355
-70.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 LBP 200.2K
$2.51 ₡1,125
-10.76%
Eggs
$3.52 LBP 315.3K
$3.57 ₡1,603
-1.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.22 LBP 1.0M
$7.43 ₡3,333
51.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.58 LBP 946.6K
$10.52 ₡4,717
0.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.75 LBP 1.3M
$13.97 ₡6,265
5.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 LBP 268.0K
$2.35 ₡1,052
27.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 LBP 153.1K
$1.61 ₡720
6.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 LBP 150.9K
$4.80 ₡2,152
-64.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 LBP 131.1K
$1.61 ₡724
-9.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 LBP 112.6K
$3.80 ₡1,703
-66.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 LBP 138.4K
$3.69 ₡1,657
-57.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 LBP 104.6K
$1.13 ₡507
3.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 LBP 61.6K
$2.66 ₡1,191
-74.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08 LBP 275.5K
$5.18 ₡2,321
-40.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.83 LBP 968.9K
$19.88 ₡8,916
-45.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 LBP 119.0K
$2.90 ₡1,300
-54.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 LBP 231.1K
$3.63 ₡1,626
-28.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamra
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.12 ₡504
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 LBP 445.7K
$2.14 ₡958
132.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 LBP 206.9K
$1.57 ₡703
47.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.69 LBP 2.0M
$8.52 ₡3,823
166.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 LBP 94.7K
$1.52 ₡682
-30.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.9K LBP 4.7B
$21.6K ₡9.7M
144.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K LBP 2.9B
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-5.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamra
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 LBP 20.9M
$96.3 ₡43.2K
142.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.40 LBP 2.0M
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-37.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.66 LBP 3.4M
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-29.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamra
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.96 LBP 891.0K
$7.89 ₡3,539
26.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamra
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$690 LBP 61.8M
$494 ₡221.6K
39.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K LBP 956.8M
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-9.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamra
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 LBP 6.1M
$53.9 ₡24.2K
26.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.41 LBP 4.3M
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-12.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 LBP 12.3M
$77.9 ₡34.9K
76.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 LBP 10.7M
$79.6 ₡35.7K
49.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamra
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$788 ₡353.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$794 ₡356.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamra
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
8.62
27.61%

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

Last update for Hamra: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamra
$293
Nosara
$186 36.6% $107
Groceries & Markets
Hamra
$275
Nosara
$352 28% $77
Eating Out
Hamra
$227
Nosara
$212 6.6% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Hamra
$168
Nosara
$120 28.5% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Hamra
$20 *
Nosara
$87 339% $67
Getting Around
Hamra
$17 *
Nosara
$87 427% $71
Accommodation & Living
Hamra
- *
Nosara
$794

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

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $69.0 in Hamra vs $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $352, with Hamra cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇱🇧 Hamra
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
20:59 8:59 PM
11:59 11:59 AM
9 h behind Hamra
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,251,739
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to LBP – Lebanese Pound Converter

Lebanese Pound exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 89,500 LBP (100,000 LBP = 1.12 USD). 1 EUR = 100,630 LBP (1,000,000 LBP = 9.94 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Hamra Nosara 12,120 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hamra
  • 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
Hamra vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamra and in Nosara?
Hamra and Nosara differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,000 vs $1,839 including rent). Hamra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Hamra compared to Nosara?
You'd need roughly $1,499 in Hamra and $2,758 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hamra and Nosara?
Childcare runs $690 in Hamra versus $494 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 Hamra – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,000 in Hamra versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamra but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Hamra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamra 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 Hamra or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamra 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: Hamra or Nosara?
Expats usually find Hamra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Hamra vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?