Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kempten and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $1,998 in Kempten, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kempten
🇩🇪 Germany
$1,998
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,998 per month in Kempten vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Kempten $1,998
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $2,974 per month in Kempten vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Kempten $2,974
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $3,951 per month in Kempten vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Kempten $3,951
  • Nosara $3,818

Kempten costs about 9% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Kempten and Nosara sit above the global median – Kempten by 48%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kempten
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.82 €15.85
$12.35 ₡5,539
44.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.1 €50.8
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-6.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.75 €8.67
$7.52 ₡3,373
29.65%
Cappuccino
$4.16 €3.70
$4.41 ₡1,978
-5.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 €2.54
$1.74 ₡780
64.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 €2.07
$1.31 ₡587
77.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.82 €4.29
$3.28 ₡1,471
46.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.06
$4.47 ₡2,004
-23.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kempten
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 €1.19
$1.56 ₡701
-14.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 €2.00
$3.02 ₡1,355
-25.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.14 €2.80
$2.51 ₡1,125
25.10%
Eggs
$4.58 €4.07
$3.57 ₡1,603
28.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.33 €14.53
$7.43 ₡3,333
119.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.94 €11.51
$10.52 ₡4,717
23.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.68 €14.84
$13.97 ₡6,265
19.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 €2.11
$2.35 ₡1,052
1.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 €1.30
$1.61 ₡720
-9.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$4.80 ₡2,152
-67.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.85 €3.42
$1.61 ₡724
139.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 €1.24
$3.80 ₡1,703
-63.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 €1.27
$3.69 ₡1,657
-61.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.34
$1.13 ₡507
33.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$2.66 ₡1,191
-79.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.18 €8.17
$5.18 ₡2,321
77.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.50 €4.89
$19.88 ₡8,916
-72.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 €0.90
$2.90 ₡1,300
-64.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 €1.02
$3.63 ₡1,626
-68.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Kempten
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.18 €2.83
$1.12 ₡504
183.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.9 €53.3
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-17.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.69 €4.17
$2.14 ₡958
119.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.83 €2.52
$1.57 ₡703
80.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.57 €36.08
$8.52 ₡3,823
376.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.86
$1.52 ₡682
37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.5K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
53.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K €30.3K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-1.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kempten
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$318 €283
$96.3 ₡43.2K
230.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.53 €15.59
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-51.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.07 €37.42
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-21.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kempten
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.5 €50.3
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-21.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.76 €22.91
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-26.21%
Cinema Ticket
$13.11 €11.66
$7.89 ₡3,539
66.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kempten
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 €281
$494 ₡221.6K
-36.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.6K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
48.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kempten
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 €77.8
$53.9 ₡24.2K
62.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.16 €38.39
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-22.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.0 €86.3
$77.9 ₡34.9K
24.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 €128
$79.6 ₡35.7K
80.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kempten
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 €783
$788 ₡353.4K
11.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$691 €615
$794 ₡356.2K
-12.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,542 €1,372
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-60.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,217 €1,083
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-14.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,050 €5,382
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-12.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,896 €4,355
$1,224 ₡549.0K
299.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kempten
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,849 €3,424
$864 ₡387.3K
345.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.6
8.62
-69.84%

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

Last update for Kempten: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kempten
$691
Nosara
$794 14.9% $103
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kempten
$377
Nosara
$186 50.8% $192
Groceries & Markets
Kempten
$315
Nosara
$352 12% $38
Eating Out
Kempten
$273
Nosara
$212 22.5% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Kempten
$167
Nosara
$120 28.1% $47
Getting Around
Kempten
$91
Nosara
$87 4.8% $4.4
Sport & Entertainment
Kempten
$83
Nosara
$87 5.6% $4.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $880 in Kempten 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.

Salaries run about 346% higher in Kempten, 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 $57.0 in Kempten versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $315 vs $352 – making Kempten the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Kempten
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
03:41 3:41 AM
19:41 7:41 PM
8 h behind Kempten
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
61,399
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Kempten Nosara 9,630 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kempten
  • 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
Kempten vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kempten and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,998 in Kempten, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 9% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Kempten compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,997 per month in Kempten and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kempten and 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 do commuting costs compare in Kempten and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 21% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kempten and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Kempten and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,839, than in Kempten at $1,998. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kempten it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kempten and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,839 in Nosara to $1,998 in Kempten. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kempten or Nosara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kempten and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kempten makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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