Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Manchester, TN and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,613 in Manchester, TN, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Manchester, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,613
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,613 in Manchester, TN versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Manchester, TN $2,613
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,337 in Manchester, TN versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Manchester, TN $3,337
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,060 in Manchester, TN versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Manchester, TN $4,060
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Manchester, TN is roughly 42% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manchester, TN 93% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manchester, TN
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.17 $14.17
$12.34 ₡5,535
14.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.1 $52.1
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-15.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.08 $10.08
$7.76 ₡3,481
29.90%
Cappuccino
$4.73 $4.73
$4.44 ₡1,992
6.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.79 ₡803
40.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.29 ₡580
62.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.70 $5.70
$3.24 ₡1,451
75.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 $5.33
$4.43 ₡1,985
20.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manchester, TN
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.55 ₡696
-43.87%
White Bread (500g)
$4.02 $4.02
$3.08 ₡1,380
30.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$2.53 ₡1,133
75.89%
Eggs
$2.98 $2.98
$3.45 ₡1,546
-13.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.50 $11.50
$7.32 ₡3,284
57.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.06 $9.06
$10.24 ₡4,594
-11.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.45 $16.45
$14.10 ₡6,326
16.67%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.29 ₡1,027
90.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.64 ₡737
28.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$4.79 ₡2,149
-16.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$1.64 ₡735
171.95%
Potato (1kg)
$3.70 $3.70
$3.85 ₡1,727
-3.90%
Onion (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$3.75 ₡1,681
-1.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.09 ₡488
117.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.59 ₡1,160
8.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12 $7.12
$5.12 ₡2,295
39.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.14 $15.14
$19.92 ₡8,931
-24.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.80 ₡1,255
-37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.52 ₡1,580
-13.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Manchester, TN
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.22 ₡549
45.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.17 ₡973
37.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.56 ₡698
56.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.25 $40.25
$8.67 ₡3,886
364.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.55 ₡697
-42.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-6.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-31.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manchester, TN
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$254 $254
$94.8 ₡42.5K
168.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.7 $54.7
$36.15 ₡16.2K
51.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.4 $90.4
$53.1 ₡23.8K
70.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manchester, TN
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.28 $41.28
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-44.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.72 $16.72
$7.91 ₡3,548
111.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manchester, TN
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,294 $1,294
$490 ₡219.9K
163.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K $15.6K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
31.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manchester, TN
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.8 $77.8
$54.8 ₡24.6K
41.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.66 $44.66
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-20.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 $128
$80.4 ₡36.0K
59.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 $137
$77.9 ₡34.9K
75.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manchester, TN
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,050 $1,050
$801 ₡359.1K
31.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,296 $1,296
$790 ₡354.1K
64.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,099 $2,099
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-47.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,367 $1,367
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-3.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,073 $3,073
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-56.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,066 $2,066
$1,236 ₡554.3K
67.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manchester, TN
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.84
8.62
-20.65%

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

Last update for Manchester, TN: October 18, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Manchester, TN
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 39.1% $507
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manchester, TN
$399
Nosara
$184 53.9% $215
Groceries & Markets
Manchester, TN
$387
Nosara
$350 9.8% $38
Eating Out
Manchester, TN
$258
Nosara
$213 17.5% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Manchester, TN
$174
Nosara
$121 30.6% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Manchester, TN
$75
Nosara
$90 19.9% $15
Getting Around
Manchester, TN
$22 *
Nosara
$89 298% $66

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 $1,050 in Manchester, TN and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $52.0 in Manchester, TN vs $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $387 vs $350, with Nosara cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Manchester, TN
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
12:02 12:02 PM
11:02 11:02 AM
1 h behind Manchester, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
109,497
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Manchester, TN Nosara 2,840 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Manchester, TN
  • 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
Manchester, TN vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Manchester, TN?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,919 in Manchester, TN 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 Manchester, TN and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,050 in Manchester, TN 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 Manchester, TN and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Manchester, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Manchester, TN and in Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $2,613 per month in Manchester, TN versus $1,835 in Nosara – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Manchester, TN or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,613 in Manchester, TN, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Manchester, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Manchester, TN or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manchester, TN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Manchester, TN or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Manchester, TN 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 42% less than in Manchester, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Manchester, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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