Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Irving, TX and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,476 in Irving, TX, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Irving, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,476
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,476 per month in Irving, TX vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Irving, TX $2,476
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $3,568 per month in Irving, TX vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Irving, TX $3,568
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $4,660 per month in Irving, TX vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Irving, TX $4,660
  • Nosara $3,712

Irving, TX costs about 35% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Irving, TX and Nosara sit above the global median – Irving, TX by 85%, Nosara by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irving, TX
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.71 $14.71
$12.22 ₡5,509
20.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2 $75.2
$60.2 ₡27.1K
24.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.03 $11.03
$7.54 ₡3,399
46.29%
Cappuccino
$4.79 $4.79
$4.31 ₡1,941
11.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.72 ₡773
46.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.35 ₡608
17.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$3.24 ₡1,459
89.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 $5.91
$4.48 ₡2,018
31.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irving, TX
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.57 ₡707
-46.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.80 $2.80
$3.17 ₡1,429
-11.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$2.42 ₡1,091
23.97%
Eggs
$2.73 $2.73
$3.57 ₡1,609
-23.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.61 $9.61
$7.43 ₡3,349
29.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.98 $9.98
$10.42 ₡4,697
-4.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.41 $16.41
$13.66 ₡6,156
20.13%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.32 ₡1,044
86.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.61 ₡728
-5.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.74 ₡2,138
-29.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.66 ₡747
68.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$3.72 ₡1,679
-48.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$3.57 ₡1,611
-53.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.10 ₡497
35.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.55 ₡1,149
-22.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91 $9.91
$4.95 ₡2,232
100.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.65 $10.65
$20.01 ₡9,020
-46.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$2.79 ₡1,256
-39.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 $3.94
$3.53 ₡1,589
11.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Irving, TX
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.08 $3.08
$1.19 ₡537
158.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$127 $127
$72.1 ₡32.5K
76.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.24 ₡1,011
49.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.55 ₡701
2.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.48 $30.48
$8.86 ₡3,993
244.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.57 ₡708
-42.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
23.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-26.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irving, TX
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$226 $226
$93.5 ₡42.1K
141.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.4 $50.4
$35.11 ₡15.8K
43.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2 $67.2
$51.5 ₡23.2K
30.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irving, TX
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.37 $30.37
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-57.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.20 $16.20
$7.84 ₡3,535
106.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irving, TX
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,820 $1,820
$490 ₡220.7K
271.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.9K $19.9K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
67.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irving, TX
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.10 $22.10
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-58.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.20 $25.20
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-54.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.3 $64.3
$79.3 ₡35.7K
-18.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 $98.9
$78.9 ₡35.6K
25.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irving, TX
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,525 $1,525
$786 ₡354.3K
93.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,177 $1,177
$780 ₡351.6K
50.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,775 $2,775
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-28.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,934 $1,934
$1,407 ₡634.4K
37.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,703 $3,703
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-46.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,453 $2,453
$1,201 ₡541.3K
104.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irving, TX
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,498 $4,498
$876 ₡395.0K
413.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
8.62
-23.20%

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

Last update for Irving, TX: October 3, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Irving, TX
$1.2K
Nosara
$780 33.7% $397
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irving, TX
$343
Nosara
$180 47.6% $163
Groceries & Markets
Irving, TX
$322
Nosara
$350 8.6% $28
Eating Out
Irving, TX
$267
Nosara
$209 21.6% $58
Getting Around
Irving, TX
$151
Nosara
$87 42.4% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Irving, TX
$95
Nosara
$120 27.1% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Irving, TX
$63
Nosara
$87 38.7% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,525 in Irving, TX versus $786 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 run about 413% higher in Irving, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Irving, TX versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $322 in Irving, TX vs $350 in Nosara – so Irving, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Irving, TX
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
01:25 1:25 AM
00:25 12:25 AM
1 h behind Irving, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
256,684
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
  • Irving, TX Nosara 2,790 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Irving, TX
  • 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
Irving, TX vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irving, TX or Nosara?
Irving, TX costs about 35% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Irving, TX and in Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,713 per month in Irving, TX and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Irving, TX or Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Irving, TX compared to Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,476 in Irving, TX and $1,837 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 35%.
How expensive is transport in Irving, TX compared to Nosara?
Public transport costs about 76% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Irving, TX or in Nosara?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Irving, TX at $2,476. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Irving, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Irving, TX or Nosara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nosara costs $1,837 versus $2,476 in Irving, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Irving, TX compared to Nosara?
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.
Should I move to Irving, TX or to Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Irving, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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