Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Worth, FL and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,604 in Lake Worth, FL, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lake Worth, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,604
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,604 in Lake Worth, FL versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Lake Worth, FL $2,604
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,701 in Lake Worth, FL versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Lake Worth, FL $3,701
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,798 in Lake Worth, FL versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Lake Worth, FL $4,798
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Lake Worth, FL is roughly 42% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lake Worth, FL 92% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Worth, FL
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.58 $25.58
$12.34 ₡5,535
107.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$61.3 ₡27.5K
24.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.86 $9.86
$7.76 ₡3,481
27.06%
Cappuccino
$5.05 $5.05
$4.44 ₡1,992
13.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.79 ₡803
41.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.29 ₡580
45.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.22 $5.22
$3.24 ₡1,451
61.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.71 $7.71
$4.43 ₡1,985
74.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Worth, FL
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.55 ₡696
-47.74%
White Bread (500g)
$3.00 $3.00
$3.08 ₡1,380
-2.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.53 ₡1,133
24.90%
Eggs
$4.53 $4.53
$3.45 ₡1,546
31.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.40 $13.40
$7.32 ₡3,284
83.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.01 $11.01
$10.24 ₡4,594
7.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.80 $14.80
$14.10 ₡6,326
4.96%
Apples (1kg)
$4.62 $4.62
$2.29 ₡1,027
101.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.64 ₡737
-6.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$4.79 ₡2,149
-36.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.40 $5.40
$1.64 ₡735
229.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.85 ₡1,727
-24.16%
Onion (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$3.75 ₡1,681
-10.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.09 ₡488
113.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.59 ₡1,160
-0.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.55 $9.55
$5.12 ₡2,295
86.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.09 $13.09
$19.92 ₡8,931
-34.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.80 ₡1,255
-36.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 $3.21
$3.52 ₡1,580
-8.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Worth, FL
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.22 ₡549
80.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.17 ₡973
44.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.56 ₡698
20.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.64 $29.64
$8.67 ₡3,886
241.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.55 ₡697
-33.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-18.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-31.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Worth, FL
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 $169
$94.8 ₡42.5K
78.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$36.15 ₡16.2K
61.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.0 $76.0
$53.1 ₡23.8K
43.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Worth, FL
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.61 $40.61
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-44.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.91 $9.91
$7.91 ₡3,548
25.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Worth, FL
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$894 $894
$490 ₡219.9K
82.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.7K $20.7K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
74.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Worth, FL
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.5 $65.5
$54.8 ₡24.6K
19.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.50 $42.50
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-23.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 $115
$80.4 ₡36.0K
42.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$77.9 ₡34.9K
31.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Worth, FL
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,720 $1,720
$801 ₡359.1K
114.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,342 $1,342
$790 ₡354.1K
69.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,558 $2,558
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-36.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 $1,966
$1,409 ₡632.0K
39.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,547 $2,547
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-63.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,031 $2,031
$1,236 ₡554.3K
64.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Worth, FL
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,586 $7,586
$887 ₡397.6K
755.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
8.62
-23.90%

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

Last update for Lake Worth, FL: October 18, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lake Worth, FL
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 41.1% $552
Groceries & Markets
Lake Worth, FL
$377
Nosara
$350 7.2% $27
Eating Out
Lake Worth, FL
$354
Nosara
$213 39.9% $141
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Worth, FL
$303
Nosara
$184 39.3% $119
Clothing & Footwear
Lake Worth, FL
$146
Nosara
$121 17.3% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Lake Worth, FL
$60
Nosara
$90 48.3% $29
Getting Around
Lake Worth, FL
$21 *
Nosara
$89 315% $67

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,720 in Lake Worth, FL and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lake Worth, FL pays 756% 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: $76.0 in Lake Worth, FL vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Lake Worth, FL
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
12:20 12:20 PM
10:20 10:20 AM
2 h behind Lake Worth, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,000
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Lake Worth, FL Nosara 1,940 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lake Worth, FL
  • 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
Lake Worth, FL vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Lake Worth, FL?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lake Worth, FL or Nosara?
Average pay runs 756% higher in Lake Worth, FL, 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 Lake Worth, FL and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,720 in Lake Worth, FL versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $894 in Lake Worth, FL versus $490 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Lake Worth, FL or in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $76.0 in Lake Worth, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lake Worth, FL or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,604 in Lake Worth, FL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Lake Worth, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lake Worth, FL or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lake Worth, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lake Worth, FL or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Lake Worth, FL 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 42% less than in Lake Worth, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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