Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lombard, IL and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,625 in Lombard, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lombard, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,625
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,625 in Lombard, IL versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Lombard, IL $2,625
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,685 in Lombard, IL versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Lombard, IL $3,685
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,745 in Lombard, IL versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Lombard, IL $4,745
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Lombard, IL is roughly 43% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lombard, IL 94% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lombard, IL
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.91 $19.91
$12.34 ₡5,535
61.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.5 $73.5
$61.3 ₡27.5K
19.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.30 $11.30
$7.76 ₡3,481
45.62%
Cappuccino
$6.33 $6.33
$4.44 ₡1,992
42.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.79 ₡803
49.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.29 ₡580
99.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.05 $7.05
$3.24 ₡1,451
117.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01 $6.01
$4.43 ₡1,985
35.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lombard, IL
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.55 ₡696
-36.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$3.08 ₡1,380
15.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$2.53 ₡1,133
77.08%
Eggs
$4.28 $4.28
$3.45 ₡1,546
24.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$7.32 ₡3,284
66.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 $11.69
$10.24 ₡4,594
14.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.87 $16.87
$14.10 ₡6,326
19.65%
Apples (1kg)
$5.03 $5.03
$2.29 ₡1,027
119.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.64 ₡737
-4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$4.79 ₡2,149
-9.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$1.64 ₡735
194.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.85 ₡1,727
-27.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$3.75 ₡1,681
-20.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.09 ₡488
83.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.59 ₡1,160
-25.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.18 $10.18
$5.12 ₡2,295
98.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.98 $14.98
$19.92 ₡8,931
-24.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.80 ₡1,255
-28.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.52 ₡1,580
-2.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Lombard, IL
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.22 ₡549
58.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.17 ₡973
23.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.56 ₡698
4.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.54 $32.54
$8.67 ₡3,886
275.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.55 ₡697
-22.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-25.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-35.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lombard, IL
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$94.8 ₡42.5K
136.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.7 $58.7
$36.15 ₡16.2K
62.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.2 $69.2
$53.1 ₡23.8K
30.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lombard, IL
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.48 $41.48
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-43.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.03 $14.03
$7.91 ₡3,548
77.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lombard, IL
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,562 $1,562
$490 ₡219.9K
218.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K $24.5K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
105.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lombard, IL
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 $60.6
$54.8 ₡24.6K
10.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.12 $37.12
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-33.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$80.4 ₡36.0K
5.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 $129
$77.9 ₡34.9K
65.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lombard, IL
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 $1,612
$801 ₡359.1K
101.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,313 $1,313
$790 ₡354.1K
66.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,313 $2,313
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-42.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,891 $1,891
$1,409 ₡632.0K
34.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,780 $2,780
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-60.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,167 $2,167
$1,236 ₡554.3K
75.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lombard, IL
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
8.62
-23.78%

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

Last update for Lombard, IL: October 20, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lombard, IL
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 39.8% $523
Groceries & Markets
Lombard, IL
$394
Nosara
$350 11.3% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lombard, IL
$353
Nosara
$184 47.8% $169
Eating Out
Lombard, IL
$337
Nosara
$213 37% $125
Clothing & Footwear
Lombard, IL
$140
Nosara
$121 13.6% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Lombard, IL
$70
Nosara
$90 28.9% $20
Getting Around
Lombard, IL
$19 *
Nosara
$89 379% $70

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 $1,612 in Lombard, IL and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Lombard, IL vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Lombard, IL
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
22:51 10:51 PM
21:51 9:51 PM
1 h behind Lombard, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,792
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
  • Lombard, IL Nosara 3,560 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lombard, 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
Lombard, IL vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Lombard, IL?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,938 in Lombard, IL and $2,753 in Nosara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Lombard, IL and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lombard, IL versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lombard, IL and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Lombard, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lombard, IL and in Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,625 per month in Lombard, IL versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lombard, IL or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,625 in Lombard, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Lombard, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lombard, IL or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lombard, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lombard, IL or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Lombard, 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Lombard, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lombard, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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