Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Laoag City and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Laoag City: $743 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

36

Cost of Living Index in Laoag City
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Laoag City Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Laoag City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$743

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $743 per month in Laoag City vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

Laoag City $743
Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,112 per month in Laoag City vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

Laoag City $1,112
Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,480 per month in Laoag City vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

Laoag City $1,480
Nosara $3,818

Laoag City is about 60% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Laoag City sits 45% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.41 ₱215

$12.35 ₡5,539

-72.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.52 ₱1,040

$61.2 ₡27.4K

-73.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.94 ₱185

$7.52 ₡3,373

-60.90%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₱160

$4.41 ₡1,978

-42.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₱42.11

$1.74 ₡780

-61.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.52

$1.31 ₡587

-74.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ₱63.3

$3.28 ₡1,471

-69.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₱117

$4.47 ₡2,004

-58.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱102

$1.56 ₡701

4.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 ₱73.8

$3.02 ₡1,355

-61.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ₱58.1

$2.51 ₡1,125

-63.35%

Eggs

$1.95 ₱123

$3.57 ₡1,603

-45.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.25 ₱331

$7.43 ₡3,333

-29.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₱271

$10.52 ₡4,717

-59.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 ₱456

$13.97 ₡6,265

-48.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 ₱152

$2.35 ₡1,052

2.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ₱103

$1.61 ₡720

1.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 ₱154

$4.80 ₡2,152

-49.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 ₱74.6

$1.61 ₡724

-26.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 ₱122

$3.80 ₡1,703

-48.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ₱119

$3.69 ₡1,657

-49.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₱63.3

$1.13 ₡507

-10.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.73

$2.66 ₡1,191

-79.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₱182

$5.18 ₡2,321

-44.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.37 ₱464

$19.88 ₡8,916

-62.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱59.5

$2.90 ₡1,300

-67.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱122

$3.63 ₡1,626

-46.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.39

$1.12 ₡504

-76.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.99 ₱755

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-83.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 ₱45.76

$2.14 ₡958

-65.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱15.14

$1.57 ₡703

-84.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱138

$8.52 ₡3,823

-74.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ₱64.6

$1.52 ₡682

-32.24%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$21.6K ₡9.7M

0.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.0K ₱1.2M

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-44.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$136 ₱8,542

$96.3 ₡43.2K

40.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.48 ₱912

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-59.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.79 ₱1,561

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-53.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.51 ₱2,047

$71.6 ₡32.1K

-54.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.10 ₱321

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-85.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.03 ₱316

$7.89 ₡3,539

-36.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$133 ₱8,385

$494 ₡221.6K

-73.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,190 ₱515.6K

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-30.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.49 ₱2,108

$53.9 ₡24.2K

-37.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.72 ₱1,242

$55.4 ₡24.8K

-64.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.2 ₱4,481

$77.9 ₡34.9K

-8.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.3 ₱3,483

$79.6 ₡35.7K

-30.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱17.0K

$788 ₡353.4K

-65.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 ₱10.8K

$794 ₡356.2K

-78.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 ₱32.3K

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-86.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ₱20.7K

$1,419 ₡636.5K

-76.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,434 ₱153.3K

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-64.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,087 ₱68.4K

$1,224 ₡549.0K

-11.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$162 ₱10.2K

$864 ₡387.3K

-81.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

8.62

-21.23%

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

Last update for Laoag City: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Laoag City

$179 24.2%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 96.3% $173

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Laoag City

$175 23.5%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 6.2% $11

Accommodation & Living

Laoag City

$171 23%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 364% $623

Clothing & Footwear

Laoag City

$81 10.9%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 48.5% $39

Eating Out

Laoag City

$79 10.7%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 167% $133

Sport & Entertainment

Laoag City

$43 5.7%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 105% $45

Getting Around

Laoag City

$15 2%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 482% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Laoag City versus $788 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 434% higher in Nosara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Laoag City versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $352 – making Laoag City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Laoag City

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

02:21 2:21 AM

12:21 12:21 PM

14 h behind Laoag City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

112,117

4,912

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

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).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Laoag City Nosara 15,760 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Laoag City
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

Laoag City vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara costs about 147% more than Laoag City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,115 per month in Laoag City and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Laoag City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $743 in Laoag City and $1,839 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 147%.

Public transport costs about 506% less in Laoag City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Laoag City, where all-in costs run around $743, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Laoag City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Laoag City costs $743 versus $1,839 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Laoag City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.