Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Longyan and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Longyan: $462 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $16,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Longyan
🇨🇳 China
$462
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $462 per month in Longyan vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Longyan $462
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $750 per month in Longyan vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Longyan $750
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $1,038 per month in Longyan vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Longyan $1,038
  • Nosara $3,814

Longyan is about 75% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Longyan sits 66% below the global median, while Nosara is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Longyan
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.95 ¥19.74
$12.34 ₡5,535
-76.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.57 ¥151
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-63.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥33.19
$7.76 ₡3,481
-36.08%
Cappuccino
$2.20 ¥14.72
$4.44 ₡1,992
-50.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥2.94
$1.79 ₡803
-75.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.79
$1.29 ₡580
-79.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 ¥5.87
$3.24 ₡1,451
-72.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ¥10.68
$4.43 ₡1,985
-63.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Longyan
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 ¥13.90
$1.55 ₡696
34.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ¥9.47
$3.08 ₡1,380
-53.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 ¥5.22
$2.53 ₡1,133
-69.17%
Eggs
$1.48 ¥9.90
$3.45 ₡1,546
-57.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.63 ¥51.0
$7.32 ₡3,284
4.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.18 ¥14.61
$10.24 ₡4,594
-78.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.99 ¥60.1
$14.10 ₡6,326
-36.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 ¥12.63
$2.29 ₡1,027
-17.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 ¥8.95
$1.64 ₡737
-18.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 ¥11.83
$4.79 ₡2,149
-63.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ¥7.48
$1.64 ₡735
-31.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 ¥5.97
$3.85 ₡1,727
-76.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 ¥6.75
$3.75 ₡1,681
-73.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 ¥2.90
$1.09 ₡488
-60.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.21
$2.59 ₡1,160
-81.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42 ¥22.85
$5.12 ₡2,295
-33.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.16 ¥81.3
$19.92 ₡8,931
-38.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥5.21
$2.80 ₡1,255
-72.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 ¥7.89
$3.52 ₡1,580
-66.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Longyan
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 ¥1.08
$1.22 ₡549
-86.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.06 ¥7.10
$2.17 ₡973
-51.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 ¥3.12
$1.56 ₡698
-69.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.57 ¥50.6
$8.67 ₡3,886
-12.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ¥8.76
$1.55 ₡697
-15.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K ¥129.1K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-44.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥104.3K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-59.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longyan
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.3 ¥443
$94.8 ₡42.5K
-30.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.68 ¥105
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-56.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.86 ¥59.3
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-83.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Longyan
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.40 ¥29.44
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-87.65%
Cinema Ticket
$7.61 ¥50.9
$7.91 ₡3,548
-3.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Longyan
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$213 ¥1,425
$490 ₡219.9K
-56.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K ¥78.4K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-1.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Longyan
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.86 ¥200
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-45.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.92 ¥99.8
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-73.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.0 ¥508
$80.4 ₡36.0K
-5.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.4 ¥658
$77.9 ₡34.9K
26.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Longyan
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$801 ₡359.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$790 ₡354.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ¥2,518
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-90.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,338 ¥8,949
$1,236 ₡554.3K
8.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Longyan
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$485 ¥3,243
$887 ₡397.6K
-45.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
8.62
-59.86%

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

Last update for Longyan: October 18, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Longyan
$178
Nosara
$350 96.8% $172
Clothing & Footwear
Longyan
$99
Nosara
$121 22.7% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longyan
$91
Nosara
$184 103% $93
Eating Out
Longyan
$75
Nosara
$213 182% $137
Sport & Entertainment
Longyan
$15 *
Nosara
$90 489% $74
Getting Around
Longyan
$4 *
Nosara
$89 2097% $85
Accommodation & Living
Longyan
- *
Nosara
$790

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 83% 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 $23.00 in Longyan versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $350 – making Longyan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Longyan
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
10:22 10:22 AM
20:22 8:22 PM
14 h behind Longyan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,559,545
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 23, 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
  • Longyan Nosara 15,410 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Longyan
  • 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
Longyan vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Longyan and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $462 in Longyan, $1,835 in Nosara – roughly 297% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Longyan compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $693 per month in Longyan and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Longyan and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 97% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Longyan, where all-in costs run around $462, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Longyan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Longyan and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $462 in Longyan to $1,835 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Longyan or Nosara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Longyan and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Longyan. 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.

Longyan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?