Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Loures and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Loures: $1,526 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Loures
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,526
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,526 per month in Loures vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Loures $1,526
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $2,329 per month in Loures vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Loures $2,329
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $3,133 per month in Loures vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Loures $3,133
  • Nosara $3,818

Loures is about 17% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Loures and Nosara sit above the global median – Loures by 13%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Loures
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.37 €11.00
$12.35 ₡5,539
0.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.7 €50.4
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-7.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.79 €7.82
$7.52 ₡3,373
16.89%
Cappuccino
$2.48 €2.20
$4.41 ₡1,978
-43.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 €1.45
$1.74 ₡780
-6.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 €1.03
$1.31 ₡587
-11.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 €2.44
$3.28 ₡1,471
-16.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 €3.07
$4.47 ₡2,004
-22.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Loures
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 €0.95
$1.56 ₡701
-31.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 €1.12
$3.02 ₡1,355
-58.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 €1.40
$2.51 ₡1,125
-37.45%
Eggs
$3.44 €3.06
$3.57 ₡1,603
-3.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.11 €8.10
$7.43 ₡3,333
22.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.61 €6.77
$10.52 ₡4,717
-27.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.12 €13.45
$13.97 ₡6,265
8.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 €2.53
$2.35 ₡1,052
21.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 €1.13
$1.61 ₡720
-21.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 €1.57
$4.80 ₡2,152
-63.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.22 €1.97
$1.61 ₡724
37.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 €1.83
$3.80 ₡1,703
-45.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 €1.46
$3.69 ₡1,657
-55.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.50 €1.33
$1.13 ₡507
32.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 €0.56
$2.66 ₡1,191
-76.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.76 €5.12
$5.18 ₡2,321
11.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.31 €2.95
$19.88 ₡8,916
-83.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.78
$2.90 ₡1,300
-69.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.13
$3.63 ₡1,626
-34.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Loures
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 €2.01
$1.12 ₡504
101.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.64 €37.03
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-42.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 €3.44
$2.14 ₡958
80.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 €0.71
$1.57 ₡703
-49.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.95 €15.08
$8.52 ₡3,823
98.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 €1.90
$1.52 ₡682
40.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K €29.4K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
52.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K €33.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
9.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Loures
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.0 €88.1
$96.3 ₡43.2K
2.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.81 €18.51
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-42.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.77 €30.93
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-35.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Loures
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.98 €41.78
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-34.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.37 €14.56
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-53.11%
Cinema Ticket
$7.98 €7.10
$7.89 ₡3,539
1.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Loures
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$581 €516
$494 ₡221.6K
17.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K €9,759
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-7.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Loures
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 €59.8
$53.9 ₡24.2K
24.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.34 €39.44
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-19.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 €63.9
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-7.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.6 €84.2
$79.6 ₡35.7K
18.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Loures
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 €885
$788 ₡353.4K
26.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$705 €627
$794 ₡356.2K
-11.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,379 €1,227
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-64.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,195 €1,063
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-15.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,025 €2,690
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-56.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,540 €2,259
$1,224 ₡549.0K
107.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Loures
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$846 €753
$864 ₡387.3K
-1.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.55
8.62
-58.82%

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

Last update for Loures: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Loures
$705
Nosara
$794 12.7% $89
Groceries & Markets
Loures
$233
Nosara
$352 51.3% $119
Eating Out
Loures
$187
Nosara
$212 13.4% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Loures
$155
Nosara
$186 20.2% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Loures
$125
Nosara
$120 4% $5
Sport & Entertainment
Loures
$63
Nosara
$87 38.8% $24
Getting Around
Loures
$59
Nosara
$87 48.8% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Loures 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 2% 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 $57.0 in Loures versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $352 – making Loures the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Loures
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
15:28 3:28 PM
08:28 8:28 AM
7 h behind Loures
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
201,632
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Loures Nosara 8,150 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Loures
  • 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
Loures vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Loures?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 21%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,288 per month in Loures 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 Loures, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Loures and in Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,526 in Loures and $1,839 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 21%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 74% less in Loures. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Loures or in Nosara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Loures, where all-in costs run around $1,526, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Loures it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Loures or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Loures – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Loures 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 Loures. 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.

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