Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lewes and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,349 in Lewes, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lewes
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,349
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,349 per month in Lewes vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Lewes $2,349
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $3,484 per month in Lewes vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Lewes $3,484
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $4,619 per month in Lewes vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Lewes $4,619
  • Nosara $3,818

Lewes costs about 28% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Lewes and Nosara sit above the global median – Lewes by 74%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lewes
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.91 £18.69
$12.35 ₡5,539
101.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.0 £69.8
$61.2 ₡27.4K
52.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 £7.52
$7.52 ₡3,373
33.38%
Cappuccino
$4.82 £3.61
$4.41 ₡1,978
9.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 £2.22
$1.74 ₡780
70.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 £2.01
$1.31 ₡587
104.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.74 £6.56
$3.28 ₡1,471
166.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.40 £4.80
$4.47 ₡2,004
43.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lewes
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 £1.07
$1.56 ₡701
-8.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 £1.32
$3.02 ₡1,355
-41.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.11 £1.59
$2.51 ₡1,125
-15.94%
Eggs
$3.69 £2.77
$3.57 ₡1,603
3.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 £8.23
$7.43 ₡3,333
47.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.33 £6.25
$10.52 ₡4,717
-20.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 £9.46
$13.97 ₡6,265
-9.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 £2.15
$2.35 ₡1,052
21.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 £1.15
$1.61 ₡720
-4.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 £2.07
$4.80 ₡2,152
-42.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 £2.43
$1.61 ₡724
101.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 £1.19
$3.80 ₡1,703
-58.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 £1.01
$3.69 ₡1,657
-63.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 £0.70
$1.13 ₡507
-16.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 £1.11
$2.66 ₡1,191
-44.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.53 £17.65
$5.18 ₡2,321
354.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.12 £8.34
$19.88 ₡8,916
-44.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 £1.72
$2.90 ₡1,300
-21.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 £2.37
$3.63 ₡1,626
-12.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lewes
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.33 £2.50
$1.12 ₡504
197.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.5 £72.4
$72.6 ₡32.6K
32.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 £3.66
$2.14 ₡958
127.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.58 £1.94
$1.57 ₡703
64.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.61 £16.96
$8.52 ₡3,823
165.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 £1.55
$1.52 ₡682
36.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K £28.7K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
77.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9K £30.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
18.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lewes
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$279 £210
$96.3 ₡43.2K
190.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.87 £12.66
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-53.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.59 £34.20
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-14.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lewes
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.22 £33.92
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-36.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.98 £9.74
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-62.82%
Cinema Ticket
$12.96 £9.72
$7.89 ₡3,539
64.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lewes
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,757 £1,318
$494 ₡221.6K
255.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.2K £21.9K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
146.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lewes
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.3 £56.5
$53.9 ₡24.2K
39.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.73 £33.55
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-19.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 £77.8
$77.9 ₡34.9K
33.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 £66.4
$79.6 ₡35.7K
11.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lewes
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 £924
$788 ₡353.4K
56.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 £761
$794 ₡356.2K
27.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,123 £1,593
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-46.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,664 £1,248
$1,419 ₡636.5K
17.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,103 £3,828
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-26.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,930 £2,948
$1,224 ₡549.0K
221.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lewes
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,554 £3,416
$864 ₡387.3K
427.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.62
-42.00%

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

Last update for Lewes: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lewes
$1K
Nosara
$794 21.7% $220
Eating Out
Lewes
$366
Nosara
$212 42.2% $154
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lewes
$342
Nosara
$186 45.7% $156
Groceries & Markets
Lewes
$287
Nosara
$352 22.7% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Lewes
$141
Nosara
$120 14.5% $20
Getting Around
Lewes
$128
Nosara
$87 31.8% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Lewes
$71
Nosara
$87 22.8% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,232 in Lewes 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 427% higher in Lewes, 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 $93.0 in Lewes versus $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $287 in Lewes vs $352 in Nosara – so Lewes wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Lewes
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
09:16 9:16 AM
02:16 2:16 AM
7 h behind Lewes
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
17,297
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lewes Nosara 8,840 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lewes
  • 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
Lewes vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Lewes?
Yes – Lewes is pricier by about 28%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,523 per month in Lewes and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,757 per month in Lewes and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lewes and in Nosara?
Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Lewes – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lewes or in Nosara?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,839, than in Lewes at $2,349. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lewes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lewes or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nosara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lewes or Nosara?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lewes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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