Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Island Garden City of Samal and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal: $747 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

35

Cost of Living Index in Island Garden City of Samal
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Island Garden City of Samal Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Island Garden City of Samal

🇵🇭 Philippines

$747

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $747 per month in Island Garden City of Samal vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

Island Garden City of Samal $747
Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,102 per month in Island Garden City of Samal vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

Island Garden City of Samal $1,102
Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,457 per month in Island Garden City of Samal vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

Island Garden City of Samal $1,457
Nosara $3,818

Island Garden City of Samal is about 59% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Island Garden City of Samal sits 45% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.22 ₱76.6

$12.35 ₡5,539

-90.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.02 ₱1,072

$61.2 ₡27.4K

-72.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 ₱256

$7.52 ₡3,373

-45.88%

Cappuccino

$2.18 ₱137

$4.41 ₡1,978

-50.57%

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

$1.04 ₱65.8

$1.74 ₡780

-40.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱40.35

$1.31 ₡587

-51.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₱74.5

$3.28 ₡1,471

-64.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱125

$4.47 ₡2,004

-55.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ₱128

$1.56 ₡701

30.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 ₱71.5

$3.02 ₡1,355

-62.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 ₱55.2

$2.51 ₡1,125

-64.94%

Eggs

$1.87 ₱118

$3.57 ₡1,603

-47.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.26 ₱394

$7.43 ₡3,333

-15.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 ₱292

$10.52 ₡4,717

-55.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.10 ₱573

$13.97 ₡6,265

-34.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 ₱172

$2.35 ₡1,052

16.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ₱70.5

$1.61 ₡720

-30.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ₱150

$4.80 ₡2,152

-50.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$1.61 ₡724

-29.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 ₱125

$3.80 ₡1,703

-47.89%

Onion (1kg)

$3.41 ₱215

$3.69 ₡1,657

-7.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 ₱76.1

$1.13 ₡507

7.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱45.49

$2.66 ₡1,191

-72.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.49 ₱157

$5.18 ₡2,321

-51.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 ₱489

$19.88 ₡8,916

-60.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱77.6

$2.90 ₡1,300

-57.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₱106

$3.63 ₡1,626

-53.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ₱18.10

$1.12 ₡504

-74.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.62 ₱732

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-84.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.0

$2.14 ₡958

-61.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.83

$1.57 ₡703

-84.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 ₱121

$8.52 ₡3,823

-77.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.52 ₡682

-18.42%

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

$21.2K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₡9.7M

-1.88%

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

$18.9K ₱1.2M

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-45.33%

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

$98.4 ₱6,199

$96.3 ₡43.2K

2.20%

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

$19.24 ₱1,212

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-46.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.01 ₱1,953

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-42.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.89 ₱1,883

$71.6 ₡32.1K

-58.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.57 ₱288

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-86.91%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 ₱307

$7.89 ₡3,539

-38.28%

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

$107 ₱6,732

$494 ₡221.6K

-78.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,691 ₱484.5K

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-35.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.60 ₱2,116

$53.9 ₡24.2K

-37.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.67 ₱1,239

$55.4 ₡24.8K

-64.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 ₱4,435

$77.9 ₡34.9K

-9.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.4 ₱3,931

$79.6 ₡35.7K

-21.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 ₱15.7K

$788 ₡353.4K

-68.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 ₱12.4K

$794 ₡356.2K

-75.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$504 ₱31.8K

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-87.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 ₱19.8K

$1,419 ₡636.5K

-77.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,056 ₱129.5K

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-70.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,083 ₱68.2K

$1,224 ₡549.0K

-11.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.31

8.62

-3.60%

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

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Island Garden City of Samal

$199 26.6%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 77.2% $153

Accommodation & Living

Island Garden City of Samal

$197 26.3%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 304% $598

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Island Garden City of Samal

$149 19.9%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 25% $37

Clothing & Footwear

Island Garden City of Samal

$84 11.2%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 43.4% $36

Eating Out

Island Garden City of Samal

$65 8.7%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 228% $147

Sport & Entertainment

Island Garden City of Samal

$40 5.3%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 121% $48

Getting Around

Island Garden City of Samal

$15 2%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 487% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $250 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $788 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 $17.00 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $352 – making Island Garden City of Samal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Island Garden City of Samal

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

03:40 3:40 AM

13:40 1:40 PM

14 h behind Island Garden City of Samal

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

116,771

4,912

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.82 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 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).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Island Garden City of Samal Nosara 16,060 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Island Garden City of Samal
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

Island Garden City of Samal vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara costs about 146% more than Island Garden City of Samal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,121 per month in Island Garden City of Samal and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal, 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 $747 in Island Garden City of Samal and $1,839 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 146%.

Public transport costs about 525% less in Island Garden City of Samal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Island Garden City of Samal, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Island Garden City of Samal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Island Garden City of Samal costs $747 versus $1,839 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Island Garden City of Samal. 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.