Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Krefeld and Nosara

For one person, living costs are similar in Krefeld and in Nosara: $1,899 and $1,839 a month, rent and utilities included.

Krefeld
🇩🇪 Germany
$1,899
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,899 in Krefeld versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Krefeld $1,899
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,932 in Krefeld versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Krefeld $2,932
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,964 in Krefeld versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Krefeld $3,964
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Krefeld is roughly 3% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Krefeld 41% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Krefeld
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 €14.95
$12.35 ₡5,539
36.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.6 €63.7
$61.2 ₡27.4K
17.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.93 €11.50
$7.52 ₡3,373
71.94%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$4.41 ₡1,978
-8.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 €3.28
$1.74 ₡780
112.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 €2.85
$1.31 ₡587
144.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$3.28 ₡1,471
75.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 €4.85
$4.47 ₡2,004
22.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Krefeld
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 €1.12
$1.56 ₡701
-19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 €1.87
$3.02 ₡1,355
-30.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.62 €3.22
$2.51 ₡1,125
44.22%
Eggs
$3.74 €3.33
$3.57 ₡1,603
4.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.16 €11.70
$7.43 ₡3,333
77.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.34 €10.98
$10.52 ₡4,717
17.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.32 €20.74
$13.97 ₡6,265
66.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 €2.68
$2.35 ₡1,052
28.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 €1.77
$1.61 ₡720
23.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 €2.12
$4.80 ₡2,152
-50.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 €3.71
$1.61 ₡724
159.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 €1.25
$3.80 ₡1,703
-63.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 €1.06
$3.69 ₡1,657
-67.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 €1.43
$1.13 ₡507
42.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 €0.92
$2.66 ₡1,191
-60.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.98 €8.88
$5.18 ₡2,321
92.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.58 €5.86
$19.88 ₡8,916
-66.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.97
$2.90 ₡1,300
-62.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.38
$3.63 ₡1,626
-57.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Krefeld
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 €3.04
$1.12 ₡504
205.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.6 €53.9
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-16.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 €4.50
$2.14 ₡958
136.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 €1.95
$1.57 ₡703
40.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.02 €30.26
$8.52 ₡3,823
299.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.26 €2.01
$1.52 ₡682
48.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K €28.8K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
49.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
10.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krefeld
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$300 €267
$96.3 ₡43.2K
211.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.28 €22.49
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-29.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.06 €36.52
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-23.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Krefeld
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.80 €35.40
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-44.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.10 €20.54
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-33.83%
Cinema Ticket
$13.54 €12.04
$7.89 ₡3,539
71.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Krefeld
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 €414
$494 ₡221.6K
-5.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.8K €19.4K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
83.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Krefeld
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8 €79.0
$53.9 ₡24.2K
64.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.10 €36.55
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-25.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$77.9 ₡34.9K
34.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 €116
$79.6 ₡35.7K
63.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Krefeld
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 €637
$788 ₡353.4K
-9.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$584 €519
$794 ₡356.2K
-26.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,425 €1,267
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-63.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,128 €1,003
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-20.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,248 €2,889
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-53.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,481 €3,985
$1,224 ₡549.0K
266.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Krefeld
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,002 €1,781
$864 ₡387.3K
131.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.96
8.62
-54.06%

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

Last update for Krefeld: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Krefeld
$583
Nosara
$794 36.1% $211
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Krefeld
$366
Nosara
$186 49.3% $181
Groceries & Markets
Krefeld
$339
Nosara
$352 4% $13
Eating Out
Krefeld
$289
Nosara
$212 26.6% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Krefeld
$164
Nosara
$120 26.8% $44
Getting Around
Krefeld
$90
Nosara
$87 3.6% $3.2
Sport & Entertainment
Krefeld
$67
Nosara
$87 30.6% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Krefeld and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Krefeld pays 132% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $72.0 in Krefeld vs $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $339 vs $352, with Krefeld cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Krefeld
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
20:11 8:11 PM
12:11 12:11 PM
8 h behind Krefeld
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
222,058
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Krefeld Nosara 9,300 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Krefeld
  • 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
Krefeld vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Krefeld?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Krefeld or Nosara?
Average pay runs 132% higher in Krefeld, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Krefeld and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Krefeld versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Krefeld and in Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $1,899 per month in Krefeld versus $1,839 in Nosara – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Nosara runs roughly 20% less than in Krefeld. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Krefeld or in Nosara?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $1,899 in Krefeld, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Krefeld. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Krefeld or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Krefeld, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Krefeld or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Krefeld and Nosara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Krefeld. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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