Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Magelang and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Magelang: $522 a month against $1,846 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $15,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Magelang, Indonesia
Nosara, Costa Rica
Magelang
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$522
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,846
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $522 per month in Magelang vs $1,846 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Magelang $522
  • Nosara $1,846

A couple spends around $829 per month in Magelang vs $2,833 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Magelang $829
  • Nosara $2,833

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Magelang vs $3,820 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Magelang $1,136
  • Nosara $3,820

Magelang is about 72% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Magelang sits 62% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Magelang
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.41 Rp 25.6K
$12.36 ₡5,561
-88.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.48 Rp 153.9K
$60.8 ₡27.3K
-86.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.54 Rp 46.1K
$7.88 ₡3,547
-67.77%
Cappuccino
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$4.40 ₡1,981
-83.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 Rp 5,749
$1.72 ₡774
-81.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 Rp 3,098
$1.34 ₡602
-87.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.30 Rp 23.6K
$3.34 ₡1,501
-61.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 Rp 48.0K
$4.54 ₡2,042
-41.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Magelang
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 Rp 18.7K
$1.64 ₡737
-37.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 Rp 20.5K
$3.16 ₡1,422
-64.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$2.39 ₡1,077
-68.62%
Eggs
$1.18 Rp 21.4K
$3.47 ₡1,559
-65.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.45 Rp 117.1K
$7.13 ₡3,209
-9.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$10.32 ₡4,642
-78.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.95 Rp 126.1K
$13.97 ₡6,285
-50.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 Rp 36.8K
$2.29 ₡1,029
-11.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.2K
$1.62 ₡729
-31.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 22.6K
$4.81 ₡2,164
-74.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.68 ₡756
-48.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 Rp 18.2K
$3.91 ₡1,760
-74.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
$3.63 ₡1,636
-63.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
$1.13 ₡508
-29.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 Rp 6,478
$2.63 ₡1,185
-86.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92 Rp 34.8K
$5.02 ₡2,261
-61.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.50 Rp 299.4K
$19.71 ₡8,870
-16.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 Rp 27.7K
$2.91 ₡1,311
-47.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 Rp 38.4K
$3.54 ₡1,593
-40.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Magelang
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,325
$1.21 ₡544
-76.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.28 Rp 204.7K
$73.8 ₡33.2K
-84.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.43 Rp 7,755
$2.15 ₡967
-80.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 Rp 5,787
$1.63 ₡736
-80.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 Rp 39.5K
$8.77 ₡3,948
-75.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$1.55 ₡698
-52.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K Rp 460.5M
$33.9K ₡15.2M
-25.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K Rp 507.7M
$38.5K ₡17.3M
-27.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magelang
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.08 Rp 836.0K
$95.2 ₡42.8K
-51.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
$36.29 ₡16.3K
-89.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.56 Rp 354.9K
$52.0 ₡23.4K
-62.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Magelang
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.49 Rp 244.7K
$67.6 ₡30.4K
-80.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.64 Rp 66.0K
$35.55 ₡16.0K
-89.76%
Cinema Ticket
$2.54 Rp 46.1K
$7.54 ₡3,395
-66.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Magelang
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.82 Rp 795.1K
$496 ₡223.4K
-91.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,925 Rp 71.2M
$11.8K ₡5.3M
-66.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Magelang
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.01 Rp 345.0K
$55.1 ₡24.8K
-65.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.05 Rp 345.6K
$56.1 ₡25.2K
-66.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.2 Rp 1.0M
$77.8 ₡35.0K
-26.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.7 Rp 937.3K
$79.1 ₡35.6K
-34.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Magelang
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$226 Rp 4.1M
$817 ₡367.9K
-72.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$146 Rp 2.7M
$806 ₡362.6K
-81.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$561 Rp 10.2M
$3,988 ₡1.8M
-85.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 Rp 6.6M
$1,429 ₡643.2K
-74.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,159 Rp 21.0M
$7,068 ₡3.2M
-83.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$800 Rp 14.5M
$1,197 ₡538.6K
-33.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Magelang
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.1M
$888 ₡399.7K
-80.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
8.62
-12.99%

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

Last update for Magelang: October 25, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Magelang
$165
Nosara
$351 113% $186
Accommodation & Living
Magelang
$146
Nosara
$806 450% $659
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magelang
$70
Nosara
$184 164% $114
Clothing & Footwear
Magelang
$66
Nosara
$121 82.4% $55
Eating Out
Magelang
$41
Nosara
$213 414% $172
Sport & Entertainment
Magelang
$19
Nosara
$83 345% $64
Getting Around
Magelang
$14
Nosara
$89 514% $74

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Magelang versus $817 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 in Nosara are about 5.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $8 in Magelang versus $61 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $351 – making Magelang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Magelang
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
23:24 11:24 PM
10:24 10:24 AM
13 h behind Magelang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
118,227
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 18,145 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,281 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Magelang Nosara 18,250 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Magelang
  • 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
Magelang vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Magelang and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $522 in Magelang, $1,846 in Nosara – roughly 254% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Magelang compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $782 per month in Magelang and $2,769 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Magelang and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Magelang, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $226 there versus $817 in Nosara.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 113% 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 has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $8 in Magelang and $61 in Nosara. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Magelang, where all-in costs run around $522, than in Nosara at $1,846. In Magelang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Magelang or Nosara?
Families tend to lean toward Magelang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Magelang 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 Magelang and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Magelang. 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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