Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maple Ridge and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,507 in Maple Ridge, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Maple Ridge
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,507
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,507 in Maple Ridge versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Maple Ridge $2,507
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,662 in Maple Ridge versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Maple Ridge $3,662
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,817 in Maple Ridge versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Maple Ridge $4,817
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Maple Ridge is roughly 36% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Maple Ridge 86% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maple Ridge
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.26 CA$24.40
$12.35 ₡5,539
39.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.6 CA$88.5
$61.2 ₡27.4K
2.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.24 CA$15.89
$7.52 ₡3,373
49.47%
Cappuccino
$3.75 CA$5.30
$4.41 ₡1,978
-14.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.75
$1.74 ₡780
11.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 CA$2.21
$1.31 ₡587
19.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.08 CA$7.18
$3.28 ₡1,471
54.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 CA$4.81
$4.47 ₡2,004
-23.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maple Ridge
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.67 CA$3.78
$1.56 ₡701
71.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 CA$3.02
$3.02 ₡1,355
-29.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.56 CA$3.63
$2.51 ₡1,125
1.99%
Eggs
$3.50 CA$4.95
$3.57 ₡1,603
-1.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.94 CA$15.46
$7.43 ₡3,333
47.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.80 CA$15.27
$10.52 ₡4,717
2.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.80 CA$23.74
$13.97 ₡6,265
20.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.63 CA$5.13
$2.35 ₡1,052
54.47%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 CA$3.38
$1.61 ₡720
48.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 CA$5.02
$4.80 ₡2,152
-26.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.93 CA$5.55
$1.61 ₡724
144.10%
Potato (1kg)
$3.33 CA$4.71
$3.80 ₡1,703
-12.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 CA$2.93
$3.69 ₡1,657
-43.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 CA$3.25
$1.13 ₡507
103.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 CA$3.16
$2.66 ₡1,191
-16.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.13 CA$19.97
$5.18 ₡2,321
172.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.05 CA$18.45
$19.88 ₡8,916
-34.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95 CA$4.17
$2.90 ₡1,300
1.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23 CA$5.98
$3.63 ₡1,626
16.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Maple Ridge
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$1.12 ₡504
73.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$112
$72.6 ₡32.6K
8.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 CA$3.63
$2.14 ₡958
20.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 CA$2.11
$1.57 ₡703
-5.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.63 CA$39.06
$8.52 ₡3,823
224.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 CA$1.80
$1.52 ₡682
-16.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K CA$39.2K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
28.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.3K CA$25.9K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-46.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maple Ridge
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 CA$266
$96.3 ₡43.2K
95.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.5 CA$91.2
$35.89 ₡16.1K
79.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.1 CA$113
$53.6 ₡24.0K
49.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maple Ridge
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.82 CA$67.6
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-33.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.87 CA$19.60
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-60.27%
Cinema Ticket
$10.31 CA$14.58
$7.89 ₡3,539
30.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maple Ridge
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,061 CA$1,499
$494 ₡221.6K
114.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K CA$15.0K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-10.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maple Ridge
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 CA$80.9
$53.9 ₡24.2K
6.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.52 CA$55.9
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-28.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 CA$128
$77.9 ₡34.9K
16.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 CA$175
$79.6 ₡35.7K
55.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maple Ridge
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 CA$1,896
$788 ₡353.4K
70.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,231 CA$1,740
$794 ₡356.2K
54.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,427 CA$3,430
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-38.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,056 CA$2,906
$1,419 ₡636.5K
44.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,697 CA$8,054
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-17.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,554 CA$5,025
$1,224 ₡549.0K
190.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maple Ridge
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,050 CA$4,312
$864 ₡387.3K
253.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.64
8.62
-46.17%

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

Last update for Maple Ridge: 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
Maple Ridge
$1.2K
Nosara
$794 35.5% $437
Groceries & Markets
Maple Ridge
$375
Nosara
$352 6.2% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maple Ridge
$333
Nosara
$186 44.2% $147
Eating Out
Maple Ridge
$263
Nosara
$212 19.5% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Maple Ridge
$140
Nosara
$120 14.3% $20
Getting Around
Maple Ridge
$97
Nosara
$87 10.1% $9.8
Sport & Entertainment
Maple Ridge
$68
Nosara
$87 27.7% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,341 in Maple Ridge and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maple Ridge pays 253% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $63.0 in Maple Ridge vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $352 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Maple Ridge
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
13:10 1:10 PM
14:10 2:10 PM
1 h ahead of Maple Ridge
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
90,990
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Maple Ridge Nosara 5,540 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Maple Ridge
  • 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
Maple Ridge vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Maple Ridge?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Maple Ridge or Nosara?
Average pay runs 253% higher in Maple Ridge, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Maple Ridge and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,341 in Maple Ridge versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Maple Ridge and in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Maple Ridge. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Maple Ridge or in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $63.0 in Maple Ridge. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Maple Ridge or in Nosara?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,507 in Maple Ridge, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Maple Ridge. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Maple Ridge or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Maple Ridge, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Maple Ridge or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Maple Ridge 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 36% less than in Maple Ridge. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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