Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kununurra and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,495 in Kununurra, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kununurra
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,495
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,495 in Kununurra versus $1,837 in Nosara.

  • Kununurra $2,495
  • Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,588 in Kununurra versus $2,775 in Nosara.

  • Kununurra $3,588
  • Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,682 in Kununurra versus $3,712 in Nosara.

  • Kununurra $4,682
  • Nosara $3,712

Living in Kununurra is roughly 36% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kununurra 86% above, Nosara 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kununurra
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.56 A$25.13
$12.22 ₡5,509
43.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.1 A$120
$60.2 ₡27.1K
39.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 A$15.17
$7.54 ₡3,399
40.58%
Cappuccino
$4.09 A$5.85
$4.31 ₡1,941
-5.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 A$4.09
$1.72 ₡773
66.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 A$3.27
$1.35 ₡608
68.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.80 A$11.16
$3.24 ₡1,459
140.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65 A$10.94
$4.48 ₡2,018
70.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kununurra
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 A$2.32
$1.57 ₡707
3.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 A$3.97
$3.17 ₡1,429
-12.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 A$3.09
$2.42 ₡1,091
-10.74%
Eggs
$4.88 A$6.98
$3.57 ₡1,609
36.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.46 A$13.54
$7.43 ₡3,349
27.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.26 A$13.25
$10.42 ₡4,697
-11.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.74 A$21.10
$13.66 ₡6,156
7.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.76 A$5.38
$2.32 ₡1,044
62.07%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.32
$1.61 ₡728
87.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 A$4.68
$4.74 ₡2,138
-31.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 A$6.64
$1.66 ₡747
179.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 A$3.95
$3.72 ₡1,679
-25.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 A$3.57
$3.57 ₡1,611
-29.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 A$3.35
$1.10 ₡497
112.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 A$2.26
$2.55 ₡1,149
-38.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$27.62 A$39.53
$4.95 ₡2,232
457.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.17 A$20.28
$20.01 ₡9,020
-29.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.85 A$6.94
$2.79 ₡1,256
73.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 A$7.67
$3.53 ₡1,589
51.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Kununurra
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.90 A$4.15
$1.19 ₡537
143.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.8 A$119
$72.1 ₡32.5K
14.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 A$5.12
$2.24 ₡1,011
59.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 A$2.34
$1.55 ₡701
5.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.47 A$56.5
$8.86 ₡3,993
345.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 A$1.83
$1.57 ₡708
-18.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K A$38.2K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
22.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K A$42.6K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-14.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kununurra
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 A$297
$93.5 ₡42.1K
122.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.38 A$40.62
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-19.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4 A$82.1
$51.5 ₡23.2K
11.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kununurra
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.4 A$79.3
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-22.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.83 A$25.52
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-49.69%
Cinema Ticket
$15.26 A$21.84
$7.84 ₡3,535
94.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kununurra
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,182 A$3,122
$490 ₡220.7K
345.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K A$28.9K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
70.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kununurra
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.6 A$110
$53.5 ₡24.1K
43.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8 A$77.0
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-3.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$158
$79.3 ₡35.7K
39.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 A$178
$78.9 ₡35.6K
57.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kununurra
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 A$1,995
$786 ₡354.3K
77.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,206 A$1,725
$780 ₡351.6K
54.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 A$3,058
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-44.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,843 A$2,637
$1,407 ₡634.4K
30.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,881 A$8,416
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-15.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,000 A$7,156
$1,201 ₡541.3K
316.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kununurra
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$876 ₡395.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
8.62
-32.25%

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

Last update for Kununurra: October 6, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kununurra
$1.2K
Nosara
$780 35.3% $426
Groceries & Markets
Kununurra
$369
Nosara
$350 5.3% $20
Eating Out
Kununurra
$296
Nosara
$209 29.3% $87
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kununurra
$294
Nosara
$180 38.7% $114
Clothing & Footwear
Kununurra
$164
Nosara
$120 26.8% $44
Getting Around
Kununurra
$106
Nosara
$87 18.2% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Kununurra
$86
Nosara
$87 1.3% $1.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,394 in Kununurra and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Kununurra vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Kununurra
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
15:32 3:32 PM
01:32 1:32 AM
14 h behind Kununurra
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,300
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.61 AUD (1 AUD = 0.623 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
  • Kununurra Nosara 16,240 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kununurra
  • 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
Kununurra vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kununurra or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Kununurra. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kununurra and in Nosara?
You'd need roughly $3,742 in Kununurra and $2,756 in Nosara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kununurra compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,394 in Kununurra versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kununurra and in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $84.0 in Kununurra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kununurra compared to Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,495 per month in Kununurra versus $1,837 in Nosara – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Kununurra or in Nosara?
At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,495 in Kununurra, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Kununurra. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kununurra or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,837 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Kununurra compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Kununurra 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Kununurra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kununurra vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?