Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Legazpi and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Legazpi: $723 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

35

Cost of Living Index in Legazpi
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Legazpi Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Legazpi

🇵🇭 Philippines

$723

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $723 per month in Legazpi vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

Legazpi $723
Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,106 per month in Legazpi vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

Legazpi $1,106
Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,490 per month in Legazpi vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

Legazpi $1,490
Nosara $3,818

Legazpi is about 61% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Legazpi sits 46% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 ₱247

$12.35 ₡5,539

-68.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.45 ₱1,036

$61.2 ₡27.4K

-73.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.76 ₱174

$7.52 ₡3,373

-63.30%

Cappuccino

$2.28 ₱143

$4.41 ₡1,978

-48.30%

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

$0.62 ₱39.20

$1.74 ₡780

-64.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱19.29

$1.31 ₡587

-76.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$3.28 ₡1,471

-64.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₱126

$4.47 ₡2,004

-55.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ₱101

$1.56 ₡701

2.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱73.2

$3.02 ₡1,355

-61.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ₱56.9

$2.51 ₡1,125

-64.14%

Eggs

$2.75 ₱173

$3.57 ₡1,603

-22.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 ₱356

$7.43 ₡3,333

-23.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 ₱258

$10.52 ₡4,717

-61.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 ₱438

$13.97 ₡6,265

-50.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 ₱154

$2.35 ₡1,052

3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₱99.7

$1.61 ₡720

-1.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$4.80 ₡2,152

-50.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ₱71.4

$1.61 ₡724

-29.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 ₱127

$3.80 ₡1,703

-47.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$3.69 ₡1,657

-45.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₱61.1

$1.13 ₡507

-14.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₱34.66

$2.66 ₡1,191

-79.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱186

$5.18 ₡2,321

-43.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.62 ₱480

$19.88 ₡8,916

-61.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₱63.8

$2.90 ₡1,300

-65.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱122

$3.63 ₡1,626

-46.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.88

$1.12 ₡504

-80.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.95 ₱690

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-84.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱46.46

$2.14 ₡958

-65.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$1.57 ₡703

-85.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱121

$8.52 ₡3,823

-77.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱73.9

$1.52 ₡682

-23.03%

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

$20.1K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₡9.7M

-6.95%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-38.90%

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

$122 ₱7,697

$96.3 ₡43.2K

26.96%

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

$14.86 ₱935

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-58.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.81 ₱1,940

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-42.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.98 ₱2,013

$71.6 ₡32.1K

-55.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.42 ₱279

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-87.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 ₱322

$7.89 ₡3,539

-35.11%

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

$132 ₱8,292

$494 ₡221.6K

-73.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,019 ₱504.9K

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-32.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.94 ₱2,074

$53.9 ₡24.2K

-38.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.55 ₱1,231

$55.4 ₡24.8K

-64.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 ₱5,954

$77.9 ₡34.9K

21.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 ₱3,555

$79.6 ₡35.7K

-29.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 ₱12.3K

$788 ₡353.4K

-75.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ₱9,114

$794 ₡356.2K

-81.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$519 ₱32.7K

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-86.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 ₱19.9K

$1,419 ₡636.5K

-77.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 ₱138.6K

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-68.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$913 ₱57.5K

$1,224 ₡549.0K

-25.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$272 ₱17.1K

$864 ₡387.3K

-68.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

8.62

17.40%

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

Last update for Legazpi: 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

Legazpi

$182 25.2%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 93.5% $170

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Legazpi

$168 23.2%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 10.6% $18

Accommodation & Living

Legazpi

$145 20%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 449% $650

Clothing & Footwear

Legazpi

$92 12.7%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 31.1% $29

Eating Out

Legazpi

$81 11.1%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 163% $131

Sport & Entertainment

Legazpi

$42 5.8%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 107% $45

Getting Around

Legazpi

$14 1.9%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 535% $73

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Legazpi 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 218% 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 $16.00 in Legazpi versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $352 – making Legazpi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Legazpi

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

13:57 1:57 PM

23:57 11:57 PM

14 h behind Legazpi

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

209,533

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 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 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

Legazpi Nosara 15,880 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Legazpi
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

Legazpi vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $723 in Legazpi, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 154% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,084 per month in Legazpi 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 Legazpi, 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 $723 in Legazpi and $1,839 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 154%.

Public transport costs about 563% less in Legazpi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Legazpi, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Legazpi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $723 in Legazpi to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Legazpi. 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.