Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mawlamyine and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Mawlamyine: $655 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mawlamyine
🇲🇲 Myanmar
$655
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $655 per month in Mawlamyine vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Mawlamyine $655
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $956 per month in Mawlamyine vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Mawlamyine $956
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,258 per month in Mawlamyine vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Mawlamyine $1,258
  • Nosara $3,818

Mawlamyine is about 64% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Mawlamyine sits 52% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mawlamyine
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 MMK 4,115
$12.35 ₡5,539
-84.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.89 MMK 10.2K
$7.52 ₡3,373
-34.97%
Cappuccino
$1.03 MMK 2,150
$4.41 ₡1,978
-76.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 MMK 1,009
$1.74 ₡780
-72.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.31 ₡587
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.28 ₡1,471
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 MMK 3,201
$4.47 ₡2,004
-65.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mawlamyine
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 MMK 1,923
$1.56 ₡701
-41.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 MMK 1,095
$3.02 ₡1,355
-82.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$2.51 ₡1,125
-
Eggs
$2.97 MMK 6,228
$3.57 ₡1,603
-16.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MMK 17.3K
$7.43 ₡3,333
11.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.16 MMK 4,519
$10.52 ₡4,717
-79.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.88 MMK 8,124
$13.97 ₡6,265
-72.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 MMK 3,400
$2.35 ₡1,052
-31.06%
Banana (1kg)
$0.91 MMK 1,900
$1.61 ₡720
-43.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 MMK 3,554
$4.80 ₡2,152
-64.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.84 MMK 5,943
$1.61 ₡724
76.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 MMK 3,177
$3.80 ₡1,703
-60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.34 MMK 702
$3.69 ₡1,657
-90.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 MMK 3,217
$1.13 ₡507
36.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.19 MMK 389
$2.66 ₡1,191
-92.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.18 ₡2,321
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$19.88 ₡8,916
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 MMK 2,577
$2.90 ₡1,300
-57.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 MMK 3,875
$3.63 ₡1,626
-49.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Mawlamyine
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 MMK 3,054
$1.12 ₡504
30.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 MMK 4,163
$2.14 ₡958
-7.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MMK 5,208
$1.57 ₡703
58.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.52 ₡3,823
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 MMK 3,686
$1.52 ₡682
15.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.7K MMK 104.1M
$21.6K ₡9.7M
130.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K MMK 73.4M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
1.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mawlamyine
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.4 MMK 157.9K
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-21.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.31 MMK 53.0K
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-29.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.5 MMK 105.7K
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-5.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mawlamyine
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$120 MMK 251.1K
$71.6 ₡32.1K
67.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.94 MMK 10.3K
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-85.85%
Cinema Ticket
$10.03 MMK 21.0K
$7.89 ₡3,539
27.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mawlamyine
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 MMK 1.1M
$494 ₡221.6K
2.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,090 MMK 19.0M
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-23.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mawlamyine
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.71 MMK 81.0K
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-28.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.32 MMK 76.1K
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-34.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.72 MMK 49.7K
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-70.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mawlamyine
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 MMK 517.3K
$788 ₡353.4K
-68.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$119 MMK 250.1K
$794 ₡356.2K
-84.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$601 MMK 1.3M
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-84.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$246 MMK 515.9K
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-82.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$797 MMK 1.7M
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-88.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$506 MMK 1.1M
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-58.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mawlamyine
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.62
-42.00%

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

Last update for Mawlamyine: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mawlamyine
$151
Nosara
$186 22.9% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Mawlamyine
$140
Nosara
$87 37.6% $53
Groceries & Markets
Mawlamyine
$132 *
Nosara
$352 168% $221
Accommodation & Living
Mawlamyine
$119
Nosara
$794 565% $675
Eating Out
Mawlamyine
$48 *
Nosara
$212 344% $164
Clothing & Footwear
Mawlamyine
$44 *
Nosara
$120 170% $76
Getting Around
Mawlamyine
$20 *
Nosara
$87 330% $67

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Mawlamyine 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.

Good to know
🇲🇲 Mawlamyine
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
07:21 7:21 AM
18:51 6:51 PM
12 h 30 min behind Mawlamyine
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
300,000
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to MMK – Myanmar Kyat Converter

Myanmar Kyat exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 2,094 MMK (10,000 MMK = 4.78 USD). 1 EUR = 2,354 MMK (10,000 MMK = 4.25 EUR).

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
  • Mawlamyine Nosara 17,050 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mawlamyine
  • 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
Mawlamyine vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mawlamyine or Nosara?
Nosara costs about 181% more than Mawlamyine, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mawlamyine and in Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $982 per month in Mawlamyine and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mawlamyine or Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mawlamyine, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Mawlamyine compared to Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $655 in Mawlamyine and $1,839 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 181%.
Are groceries more expensive in Mawlamyine or in Nosara?
Groceries cost about 168% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mawlamyine or in Nosara?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mawlamyine, where all-in costs run around $655, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Mawlamyine it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mawlamyine or Nosara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mawlamyine costs $655 versus $1,839 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mawlamyine compared to 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.
Should I move to Mawlamyine or to Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Mawlamyine. 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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