Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mayari and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Mayari: $1,484 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mayari
🇨🇺 Cuba
$1,484
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mayari versus $1,837 in Nosara.

  • Mayari $1,484
  • Nosara $1,837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,453 in Mayari versus $2,775 in Nosara.

  • Mayari $2,453
  • Nosara $2,775

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,423 in Mayari versus $3,712 in Nosara.

  • Mayari $3,423
  • Nosara $3,712

Living in Mayari costs roughly 19% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mayari 11% above, Nosara 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mayari
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.87 CUP 141
$12.22 ₡5,509
-51.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.85 CUP 476
$60.2 ₡27.1K
-67.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.42 CUP 154
$7.54 ₡3,399
-14.85%
Cappuccino
$1.32 CUP 31.74
$4.31 ₡1,941
-69.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 CUP 51.5
$1.72 ₡773
24.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 CUP 29.49
$1.35 ₡608
-8.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.52 CUP 60.5
$3.24 ₡1,459
-22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 CUP 70.8
$4.48 ₡2,018
-34.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mayari
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.01 CUP 72.2
$1.57 ₡707
91.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 CUP 18.40
$3.17 ₡1,429
-75.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 CUP 58.3
$2.42 ₡1,091
0.41%
Eggs
$3.07 CUP 73.7
$3.57 ₡1,609
-14.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.81 CUP 139
$7.43 ₡3,349
-21.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.23 CUP 125
$10.42 ₡4,697
-49.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.96 CUP 287
$13.66 ₡6,156
-12.45%
Apples (1kg)
$5.05 CUP 121
$2.32 ₡1,044
117.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 CUP 28.41
$1.61 ₡728
-26.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.42 CUP 34.11
$4.74 ₡2,138
-70.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 CUP 33.97
$1.66 ₡747
-14.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CUP 46.37
$3.72 ₡1,679
-48.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 CUP 69.1
$3.57 ₡1,611
-19.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 CUP 24.39
$1.10 ₡497
-7.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 CUP 26.88
$2.55 ₡1,149
-56.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.55 CUP 85.1
$4.95 ₡2,232
-28.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.86 CUP 237
$20.01 ₡9,020
-50.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 CUP 40.96
$2.79 ₡1,256
-38.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 CUP 47.78
$3.53 ₡1,589
-43.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mayari
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 CUP 4.46
$1.19 ₡537
-84.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.16 CUP 484
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-72.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 CUP 55.1
$2.24 ₡1,011
2.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 CUP 9.92
$1.55 ₡701
-73.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.78 CUP 475
$8.86 ₡3,993
123.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 CUP 29.74
$1.57 ₡708
-21.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$70.0K CUP 1.7M
$21.8K ₡9.8M
220.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$80.4K CUP 1.9M
$34.6K ₡15.6M
132.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mayari
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.53 CUP 853
$93.5 ₡42.1K
-61.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.35 CUP 968
$35.11 ₡15.8K
14.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$252 CUP 6,052
$51.5 ₡23.2K
389.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mayari
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.42 CUP 946
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-44.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.92 CUP 358
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-57.90%
Cinema Ticket
$0.98 CUP 23.61
$7.84 ₡3,535
-87.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mayari
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 CUP 2,859
$490 ₡220.7K
-75.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.2K CUP 412.2K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
44.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mayari
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 CUP 1,303
$53.5 ₡24.1K
1.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 CUP 968
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-27.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.69 CUP 1,096
$79.3 ₡35.7K
-42.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.17 CUP 1,180
$78.9 ₡35.6K
-37.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mayari
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$211 CUP 5,069
$786 ₡354.3K
-73.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$679 CUP 16.3K
$780 ₡351.6K
-12.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 CUP 9,016
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-90.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 CUP 41.7K
$1,407 ₡634.4K
23.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$390 CUP 9,357
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-94.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$354 CUP 8,506
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-70.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mayari
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$21.80 CUP 523
$876 ₡395.0K
-97.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
8.62
16.01%

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

Last update for Mayari: October 5, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mayari
$679
Nosara
$780 14.9% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mayari
$328
Nosara
$180 45.1% $148
Groceries & Markets
Mayari
$246
Nosara
$350 42.3% $104
Eating Out
Mayari
$114
Nosara
$209 83.6% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Mayari
$85
Nosara
$120 41.2% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Mayari
$41
Nosara
$87 110% $46
Getting Around
Mayari
$25
Nosara
$87 244% $62

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Mayari and $786 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 3920% 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: $20.00 in Mayari vs $60.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $350 per month, with Mayari cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇺 Mayari
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
02:17 2:17 AM
00:17 12:17 AM
2 h behind Mayari
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
29,259
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CUP – Cuban Peso Converter

Cuban Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 24 CUP (100 CUP = 4.17 USD). 1 EUR = 26.92 CUP (100 CUP = 3.72 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mayari Nosara 1,600 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mayari
  • Nosara

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mayari vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mayari or Nosara?
Mayari wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Nosara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mayari the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mayari or in Nosara?
On paper, salaries run 3920% lower in Nosara. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mayari compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $211 in Mayari versus $786 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mayari and in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Mayari – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $60.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mayari compared to Nosara?
All in, you'll spend $1,484 per month in Mayari versus $1,837 in Nosara – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mayari or in Nosara?
At $1,484 in Mayari versus $1,837 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mayari but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Mayari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mayari or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mayari delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,484 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mayari hard to pass up.
How safe is Mayari compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Mayari 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mayari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mayari vs other spots: cost of living compared

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