Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Juba and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Juba: $236 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $19,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Juba
🇸🇸 South Sudan
$236
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $236 per month in Juba vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Juba $236
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $366 per month in Juba vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Juba $366
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $496 per month in Juba vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Juba $496
  • Nosara $3,712

Juba is about 87% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Juba sits 82% below the global median, while Nosara is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Juba
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.91 SSP 112.9K
$12.22 ₡5,509
62.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$60.2 ₡27.1K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.55 SSP 54.2K
$7.54 ₡3,399
26.66%
Cappuccino
$3.44 SSP 19.5K
$4.31 ₡1,941
-20.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 SSP 8,639
$1.72 ₡773
-11.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.35 ₡608
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.24 ₡1,459
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.48 ₡2,018
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Juba
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.57 ₡707
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$3.17 ₡1,429
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$2.42 ₡1,091
-
Eggs
-
$3.57 ₡1,609
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$7.43 ₡3,349
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$10.42 ₡4,697
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$13.66 ₡6,156
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.32 ₡1,044
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.61 ₡728
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$4.74 ₡2,138
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.66 ₡747
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$3.72 ₡1,679
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$3.57 ₡1,611
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.10 ₡497
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.55 ₡1,149
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.95 ₡2,232
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$20.01 ₡9,020
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.79 ₡1,256
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.53 ₡1,589
-
🚌 Getting Around
Juba
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.19 ₡537
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.24 ₡1,011
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.55 ₡701
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.86 ₡3,993
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.57 ₡708
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.8K ₡9.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juba
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$93.5 ₡42.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Juba
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.84 ₡3,535
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Juba
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$490 ₡220.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.9K ₡5.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Juba
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$79.3 ₡35.7K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.9 ₡35.6K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Juba
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$786 ₡354.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$780 ₡351.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,407 ₡634.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Juba
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,796 SSP 10.2M
$876 ₡395.0K
104.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
8.62
39.21%

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

Last update for Juba: 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
Juba
–
Nosara
$780
Groceries & Markets
Juba
–
Nosara
$350
Eating Out
Juba
–
Nosara
$209
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juba
–
Nosara
$180
Clothing & Footwear
Juba
–
Nosara
$120
Sport & Entertainment
Juba
–
Nosara
$87
Getting Around
Juba
–
Nosara
$87

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 105% higher in Juba, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know
🇸🇸 Juba
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
09:10 9:10 AM
01:10 1:10 AM
8 h behind Juba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
372,410 Capital
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to SSP – South Sudanese Pound Converter

South Sudanese Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 5,670 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,360 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.57 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Juba Nosara 12,870 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Juba
  • 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
Juba vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Juba?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 679%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $354 per month in Juba and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Juba or in Nosara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Juba, where all-in costs run around $236, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Juba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Juba or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Juba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Juba or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Juba. 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.

Juba vs other spots: cost of living compared

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