Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Libertyville, IL and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,530 in Libertyville, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Libertyville, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,530
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,530 in Libertyville, IL versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Libertyville, IL $2,530
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,759 in Libertyville, IL versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Libertyville, IL $3,759
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,987 in Libertyville, IL versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Libertyville, IL $4,987
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Libertyville, IL is roughly 38% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Libertyville, IL 87% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Libertyville, IL
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.12 $15.12
$12.34 ₡5,535
22.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2 $55.2
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-10.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.12 $10.12
$7.76 ₡3,481
30.41%
Cappuccino
$4.45 $4.45
$4.44 ₡1,992
0.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.79 ₡803
26.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.29 ₡580
79.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.24 ₡1,451
35.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09 $6.09
$4.43 ₡1,985
37.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Libertyville, IL
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.55 ₡696
-50.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.08 ₡1,380
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.50 $4.50
$2.53 ₡1,133
77.87%
Eggs
$4.82 $4.82
$3.45 ₡1,546
39.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.30 $11.30
$7.32 ₡3,284
54.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.58 $9.58
$10.24 ₡4,594
-6.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.81 $21.81
$14.10 ₡6,326
54.68%
Apples (1kg)
$6.03 $6.03
$2.29 ₡1,027
163.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.64 ₡737
-31.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$4.79 ₡2,149
-5.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.76 $5.76
$1.64 ₡735
251.22%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$3.85 ₡1,727
-5.97%
Onion (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$3.75 ₡1,681
13.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.09 ₡488
114.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 $1.28
$2.59 ₡1,160
-50.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.33 $11.33
$5.12 ₡2,295
121.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.13 $12.13
$19.92 ₡8,931
-39.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.80 ₡1,255
-26.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.52 ₡1,580
-1.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Libertyville, IL
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.22 ₡549
42.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.05 $5.05
$2.17 ₡973
132.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.56 ₡698
17.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.63 $49.63
$8.67 ₡3,886
472.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.55 ₡697
-38.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-21.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-31.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Libertyville, IL
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 $234
$94.8 ₡42.5K
147.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7 $51.7
$36.15 ₡16.2K
42.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.2 $59.2
$53.1 ₡23.8K
11.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Libertyville, IL
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.44 $37.44
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-49.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.10 $15.10
$7.91 ₡3,548
90.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Libertyville, IL
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,323 $1,323
$490 ₡219.9K
169.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.9K $19.9K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
67.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Libertyville, IL
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 $52.3
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-4.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.16 $40.16
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-28.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$80.4 ₡36.0K
37.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.3 $95.3
$77.9 ₡34.9K
22.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Libertyville, IL
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,412 $1,412
$801 ₡359.1K
76.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 $1,312
$790 ₡354.1K
66.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,278 $2,278
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-43.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,401 $2,401
$1,409 ₡632.0K
70.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,754 $2,754
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-61.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,395 $2,395
$1,236 ₡554.3K
93.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Libertyville, IL
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,437 $4,437
$887 ₡397.6K
400.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
8.62
-24.25%

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

Last update for Libertyville, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Libertyville, IL
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 39.8% $523
Groceries & Markets
Libertyville, IL
$392
Nosara
$350 10.9% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Libertyville, IL
$345
Nosara
$184 46.7% $161
Eating Out
Libertyville, IL
$257
Nosara
$213 17.3% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Libertyville, IL
$134
Nosara
$121 9.7% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Libertyville, IL
$68
Nosara
$90 32.5% $22
Getting Around
Libertyville, IL
$21 *
Nosara
$89 318% $68

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 $1,412 in Libertyville, IL and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Libertyville, IL pays 400% 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: $55.0 in Libertyville, IL vs $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $392 vs $350, with Nosara cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Libertyville, IL
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
23:46 11:46 PM
22:46 10:46 PM
1 h behind Libertyville, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
20,500
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
  • Libertyville, IL Nosara 3,600 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Libertyville, IL
  • 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
Libertyville, IL vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Libertyville, IL or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Libertyville, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Libertyville, IL or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 400% higher in Libertyville, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Libertyville, IL compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,412 in Libertyville, IL versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Libertyville, IL or in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Libertyville, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Libertyville, IL compared to Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,530 per month in Libertyville, IL versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Libertyville, IL or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,530 in Libertyville, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Libertyville, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Libertyville, IL or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,835 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Libertyville, IL compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Libertyville, IL 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Libertyville, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Libertyville, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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