Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ljubljana and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,111 in Ljubljana, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ljubljana
🇸🇮 Slovenia
$2,111
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,111 in Ljubljana versus $1,837 in Nosara.

  • Ljubljana $2,111
  • Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,086 in Ljubljana versus $2,775 in Nosara.

  • Ljubljana $3,086
  • Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,062 in Ljubljana versus $3,712 in Nosara.

  • Ljubljana $4,062
  • Nosara $3,712

Living in Ljubljana is roughly 15% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ljubljana 58% above, Nosara 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ljubljana
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.87 €14.16
$12.22 ₡5,509
29.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.2
$60.2 ₡27.1K
12.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.07 €9.88
$7.54 ₡3,399
46.82%
Cappuccino
$2.90 €2.58
$4.31 ₡1,941
-32.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 €2.87
$1.72 ₡773
87.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.35 ₡608
45.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.94 €3.52
$3.24 ₡1,459
21.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 €3.95
$4.48 ₡2,018
-1.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ljubljana
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 €1.23
$1.57 ₡707
-12.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 €1.98
$3.17 ₡1,429
-30.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 €2.87
$2.42 ₡1,091
33.06%
Eggs
$4.11 €3.67
$3.57 ₡1,609
15.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.98 €13.36
$7.43 ₡3,349
101.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.17 €9.07
$10.42 ₡4,697
-2.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.01 €13.40
$13.66 ₡6,156
9.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €2.04
$2.32 ₡1,044
-1.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.54
$1.61 ₡728
6.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$4.74 ₡2,138
-52.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.59 €3.21
$1.66 ₡747
116.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 €1.33
$3.72 ₡1,679
-59.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 €1.45
$3.57 ₡1,611
-54.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 €1.53
$1.10 ₡497
55.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 €0.80
$2.55 ₡1,149
-65.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34 €5.66
$4.95 ₡2,232
28.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.91 €7.06
$20.01 ₡9,020
-60.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 €1.26
$2.79 ₡1,256
-49.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 €1.95
$3.53 ₡1,589
-37.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Ljubljana
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.70 €1.52
$1.19 ₡537
42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.46 €37.00
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-42.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 €1.92
$2.24 ₡1,011
-4.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 €1.11
$1.55 ₡701
-19.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.30 €17.22
$8.86 ₡3,993
117.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.57 ₡708
21.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K €26.4K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
35.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K €22.4K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-27.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ljubljana
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$287 €256
$93.5 ₡42.1K
207.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.33 €14.58
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-53.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.49 €37.92
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-17.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ljubljana
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.66
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-23.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.60 €21.96
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-30.59%
Cinema Ticket
$10.49 €9.36
$7.84 ₡3,535
33.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ljubljana
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$661 €590
$490 ₡220.7K
35.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.9K €12.4K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
16.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ljubljana
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116 €104
$53.5 ₡24.1K
117.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.02 €39.29
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-21.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 €97.2
$79.3 ₡35.7K
37.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 €130
$78.9 ₡35.6K
85.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ljubljana
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,123 €1,002
$786 ₡354.3K
42.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$884 €789
$780 ₡351.6K
13.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,077 €1,853
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-46.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 €1,277
$1,407 ₡634.4K
1.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,421 €5,730
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-7.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,816 €4,298
$1,201 ₡541.3K
301.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ljubljana
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,001 €1,786
$876 ₡395.0K
128.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.56
8.62
-58.70%

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

Last update for Ljubljana: October 5, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ljubljana
$884
Nosara
$780 11.8% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ljubljana
$346
Nosara
$180 47.9% $166
Groceries & Markets
Ljubljana
$307
Nosara
$350 13.7% $42
Eating Out
Ljubljana
$244
Nosara
$209 14.2% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Ljubljana
$187
Nosara
$120 35.7% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Ljubljana
$76
Nosara
$87 15.3% $12
Getting Around
Ljubljana
$57
Nosara
$87 53.3% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,123 in Ljubljana and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ljubljana pays 128% 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: $67.0 in Ljubljana vs $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $307 vs $350, with Ljubljana cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇮 Ljubljana
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
14:30 2:30 PM
06:30 6:30 AM
8 h behind Ljubljana
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
285,604 Capital
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ljubljana Nosara 9,980 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ljubljana
  • 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
Ljubljana vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Ljubljana?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in eating out and clothing. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ljubljana or Nosara?
Average pay runs 128% higher in Ljubljana, 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 Ljubljana and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,123 in Ljubljana versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Nosara runs roughly 74% less than in Ljubljana. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $661 in Ljubljana versus $490 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Ljubljana or in Nosara?
At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,111 in Ljubljana, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Ljubljana. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ljubljana or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ljubljana, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ljubljana or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Ljubljana 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 15% less than in Ljubljana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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