Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyiv and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Kyiv: $1,005 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kyiv
🇺🇦 Ukraine
$1,005
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,005 in Kyiv versus $1,837 in Nosara.

  • Kyiv $1,005
  • Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,556 in Kyiv versus $2,775 in Nosara.

  • Kyiv $1,556
  • Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,107 in Kyiv versus $3,712 in Nosara.

  • Kyiv $2,107
  • Nosara $3,712

Living in Kyiv costs roughly 45% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kyiv is 25% below, Nosara is 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kyiv
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.04 ₴495
$12.22 ₡5,509
-9.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.92 ₴1,522
$60.2 ₡27.1K
-43.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.59 ₴340
$7.54 ₡3,399
0.66%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ₴77.2
$4.31 ₡1,941
-60.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ₴37.57
$1.72 ₡773
-51.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₴26.72
$1.35 ₡608
-55.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.32 ₴59.0
$3.24 ₡1,459
-59.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ₴88.4
$4.48 ₡2,018
-56.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kyiv
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 ₴60.9
$1.57 ₡707
-13.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 ₴40.33
$3.17 ₡1,429
-71.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 ₴65.4
$2.42 ₡1,091
-39.67%
Eggs
$1.97 ₴88.2
$3.57 ₡1,609
-44.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.39 ₴466
$7.43 ₡3,349
39.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.41 ₴243
$10.42 ₡4,697
-48.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.90 ₴399
$13.66 ₡6,156
-34.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 ₴53.3
$2.32 ₡1,044
-48.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 ₴69.4
$1.61 ₡728
-3.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 ₴83.6
$4.74 ₡2,138
-60.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.74 ₴123
$1.66 ₡747
65.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 ₴27.07
$3.72 ₡1,679
-83.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₴22.07
$3.57 ₡1,611
-86.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 ₴62.1
$1.10 ₡497
25.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₴27.04
$2.55 ₡1,149
-76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ₴153
$4.95 ₡2,232
-31.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.51 ₴247
$20.01 ₡9,020
-72.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₴42.61
$2.79 ₡1,256
-65.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 ₴61.1
$3.53 ₡1,589
-61.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Kyiv
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 ₴25.50
$1.19 ₡537
-52.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.05 ₴496
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-84.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.25 ₴101
$2.24 ₡1,011
0.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 ₴19.25
$1.55 ₡701
-72.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 ₴196
$8.86 ₡3,993
-50.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 ₴77.2
$1.57 ₡708
9.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K ₴1.3M
$21.8K ₡9.8M
32.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K ₴1.2M
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-25.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kyiv
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.5 ₴4,463
$93.5 ₡42.1K
6.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.19 ₴323
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-79.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.47 ₴290
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-87.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kyiv
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.23 ₴1,625
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-49.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.79 ₴843
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-46.98%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₴253
$7.84 ₡3,535
-27.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kyiv
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$411 ₴18.4K
$490 ₡220.7K
-16.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ₴667.2K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
25.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kyiv
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.0 ₴3,320
$53.5 ₡24.1K
38.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.09 ₴1,753
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-29.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.1 ₴4,353
$79.3 ₡35.7K
22.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 ₴5,368
$78.9 ₡35.6K
51.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kyiv
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ₴28.1K
$786 ₡354.3K
-20.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$342 ₴15.3K
$780 ₡351.6K
-56.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 ₴56.2K
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-67.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 ₴27.6K
$1,407 ₡634.4K
-56.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,637 ₴118.3K
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-62.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,132 ₴50.8K
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-5.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kyiv
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$831 ₴37.3K
$876 ₡395.0K
-5.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.88
8.62
107.42%

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

Last update for Kyiv: October 5, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kyiv
$342
Nosara
$780 128% $438
Groceries & Markets
Kyiv
$192
Nosara
$350 82.4% $158
Clothing & Footwear
Kyiv
$148
Nosara
$120 18.9% $28
Eating Out
Kyiv
$148
Nosara
$209 41.5% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kyiv
$113
Nosara
$180 59.1% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Kyiv
$48
Nosara
$87 83.2% $40
Getting Around
Kyiv
$18
Nosara
$87 390% $69

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Kyiv and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 5% 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: $34.00 in Kyiv vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $350 per month, with Kyiv cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇦 Kyiv
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
13:26 1:26 PM
04:26 4:26 AM
9 h behind Kyiv
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,908,249 Capital
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to UAH – Ukrainian Hryvnia Converter

Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 44.85 UAH (100 UAH = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 50.26 UAH (100 UAH = 1.99 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kyiv Nosara 10,920 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kyiv
  • 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
Kyiv vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Kyiv?
Kyiv is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kyiv or Nosara?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Nosara. 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 Kyiv and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Kyiv versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Kyiv and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 82% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Kyiv or in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Kyiv – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $60.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kyiv or in Nosara?
At $1,005 in Kyiv versus $1,837 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kyiv but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Kyiv the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kyiv or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Kyiv is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nosara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kyiv or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Kyiv 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 Kyiv gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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