Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Khost and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Khost: $406 a month against $1,846 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $17,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Khost, Afghanistan
Nosara, Costa Rica
Khost
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
$406
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,846
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Khost versus $1,846 in Nosara.

  • Khost $406
  • Nosara $1,846

Estimated couple costs with rent: $598 in Khost versus $2,833 in Nosara.

  • Khost $598
  • Nosara $2,833

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $789 in Khost versus $3,820 in Nosara.

  • Khost $789
  • Nosara $3,820

Living in Khost costs roughly 78% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Khost is 70% below, Nosara is 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khost
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75 ؋178
$12.36 ₡5,575
-77.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.61 ؋494
$60.8 ₡27.4K
-87.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.55 ؋295
$7.88 ₡3,557
-42.26%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ؋153
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ؋117
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.12 ؋72.5
$4.40 ₡1,986
-74.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ؋31.50
$1.72 ₡776
-71.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ؋10.08
$1.34 ₡603
-88.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.34 ₡1,505
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.54 ₡2,048
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khost
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 ؋55.9
$1.64 ₡739
-47.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.25 ؋16.35
$3.16 ₡1,426
-92.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 ؋117
$2.39 ₡1,080
-24.27%
Eggs
$1.51 ؋97.8
$3.47 ₡1,564
-56.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.47 ؋290
$7.13 ₡3,217
-37.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 ؋262
$10.32 ₡4,655
-60.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.85 ؋445
$13.97 ₡6,302
-50.97%
Apples (1kg)
$0.69 ؋44.78
$2.29 ₡1,031
-69.87%
Banana (1kg)
$0.84 ؋54.2
$1.62 ₡731
-48.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 ؋58.2
$4.81 ₡2,169
-81.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 ؋35.20
$1.68 ₡758
-67.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 ؋39.25
$3.91 ₡1,765
-84.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 ؋33.04
$3.63 ₡1,640
-85.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.30 ؋19.69
$1.13 ₡509
-73.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 ؋25.89
$2.63 ₡1,188
-84.79%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.87 ؋121
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ؋51.4
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ؋67.6
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 ؋158
$5.02 ₡2,267
-51.59%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$19.71 ₡8,893
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.91 ₡1,314
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.54 ₡1,597
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khost
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 ؋31.04
$1.21 ₡545
-60.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 ؋1,212
$73.8 ₡33.3K
-74.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ؋48.84
$2.15 ₡969
-65.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 ؋28.44
$1.63 ₡738
-73.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ؋149
$8.77 ₡3,958
-73.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ؋70.9
$1.55 ₡700
-29.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,296 ؋538.7K
$33.9K ₡15.3M
-75.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K ؋2.2M
$38.5K ₡17.4M
-11.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khost
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.62 ؋2,768
$95.2 ₡43.0K
-55.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.76 ؋829
$36.29 ₡16.4K
-64.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$95.8 ؋6,223
$52.0 ₡23.5K
84.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khost
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$7.80 ؋507
$67.6 ₡30.5K
-88.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.01 ؋390
$35.55 ₡16.0K
-83.09%
Cinema Ticket
$2.27 ؋148
$7.54 ₡3,404
-69.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khost
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$20.43 ؋1,327
$496 ₡224.0K
-95.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,054 ؋68.5K
$11.8K ₡5.3M
-91.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khost
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.71 ؋696
$55.1 ₡24.9K
-80.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.69 ؋1,019
$56.1 ₡25.3K
-72.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.4 ؋3,795
$77.8 ₡35.1K
-24.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.17 ؋1,635
$79.1 ₡35.7K
-68.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khost
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$30.85 ؋2,003
$817 ₡368.9K
-96.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$15.63 ؋1,015
$806 ₡363.6K
-98.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$76.5 ؋4,967
$3,988 ₡1.8M
-98.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$46.93 ؋3,048
$1,429 ₡644.9K
-96.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,068 ₡3.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,197 ₡540.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khost
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$188 ؋12.2K
$888 ₡400.7K
-78.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
8.62
16.01%

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

Last update for Khost: October 25, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khost
$151
Nosara
$184 21.4% $32
Groceries & Markets
Khost
$102
Nosara
$351 244% $249
Eating Out
Khost
$52
Nosara
$213 314% $162
Clothing & Footwear
Khost
$50
Nosara
$121 144% $71
Getting Around
Khost
$24
Nosara
$89 278% $65
Accommodation & Living
Khost
$16
Nosara
$806 5055% $790
Sport & Entertainment
Khost
$12
Nosara
$83 570% $70

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $31 in Khost and $817 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays about 4.7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $8 in Khost vs $61 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $351 per month, with Khost cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇫 Khost
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
12:59 12:59 PM
02:29 2:29 AM
10 h 30 min behind Khost
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,987
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to AFN – Afghanistan Afghani Converter

Afghanistan Afghani exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 64.94 AFN (100 AFN = 1.54 USD). 1 EUR = 72.27 AFN (100 AFN = 1.38 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Khost Nosara 14,550 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Khost
  • 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
Khost vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Khost cheaper than Nosara?
Khost is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 355% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Khost or Nosara?
On paper, salaries run 79% lower in Khost. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Khost and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $31 in Khost versus $817 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Khost or in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Khost – a meal for two runs $8 versus $61 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Khost and in Nosara?
All in, you’ll spend $406 per month in Khost versus $1,846 in Nosara – a 355% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Khost or in Nosara?
At $406 in Khost versus $1,846 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Khost but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Khost the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Khost or in 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Khost gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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