Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Minot, ND and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $1,966 in Minot, ND, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. The total is higher in Minot, ND despite lower rent and utilities.

Minot, ND
🇺🇸 United States
$1,966
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,966 per month in Minot, ND vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Minot, ND $1,966
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $3,003 per month in Minot, ND vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Minot, ND $3,003
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $4,040 per month in Minot, ND vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Minot, ND $4,040
  • Nosara $3,814

Minot, ND costs about 7% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Minot, ND and Nosara sit above the global median – Minot, ND by 45%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Minot, ND
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.11 $16.11
$12.34 ₡5,535
30.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 $76.0
$61.3 ₡27.5K
23.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$7.76 ₡3,481
60.18%
Cappuccino
$7.50 $7.50
$4.44 ₡1,992
68.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.79 ₡803
62.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.29 ₡580
85.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 $5.64
$3.24 ₡1,451
74.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80 $6.80
$4.43 ₡1,985
53.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Minot, ND
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.55 ₡696
-29.68%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.08 ₡1,380
-0.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$2.53 ₡1,133
25.69%
Eggs
$4.86 $4.86
$3.45 ₡1,546
40.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$7.32 ₡3,284
-40.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.13 $16.13
$10.24 ₡4,594
57.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.13 $23.13
$14.10 ₡6,326
64.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$2.29 ₡1,027
89.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.64 ₡737
23.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$4.79 ₡2,149
-25.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$1.64 ₡735
168.29%
Potato (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$3.85 ₡1,727
-14.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$3.75 ₡1,681
3.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.09 ₡488
178.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.59 ₡1,160
3.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.01 $8.01
$5.12 ₡2,295
56.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$19.92 ₡8,931
-23.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.80 ₡1,255
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.52 ₡1,580
-
🚌 Getting Around
Minot, ND
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.22 ₡549
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.17 ₡973
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.56 ₡698
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.67 ₡3,886
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.55 ₡697
-45.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K $31.1K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-10.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K $22.1K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-42.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minot, ND
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$94.8 ₡42.5K
121.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$160 $160
$36.15 ₡16.2K
341.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.7 $75.7
$53.1 ₡23.8K
42.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Minot, ND
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$7.91 ₡3,548
86.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Minot, ND
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,030 $1,030
$490 ₡219.9K
110.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Minot, ND
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.63 $34.63
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-36.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.2 $63.2
$55.9 ₡25.1K
13.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 $115
$80.4 ₡36.0K
42.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 $73.9
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-5.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Minot, ND
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$927 $927
$801 ₡359.1K
15.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$643 $643
$790 ₡354.1K
-18.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,669 $1,669
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-58.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 $1,134
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-19.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,551 $1,551
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-78.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 $1,524
$1,236 ₡554.3K
23.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Minot, ND
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,469 $3,469
$887 ₡397.6K
291.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
8.62
-23.20%

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

Last update for Minot, ND: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Minot, ND
$643
Nosara
$790 22.8% $147
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minot, ND
$446
Nosara
$184 58.7% $262
Groceries & Markets
Minot, ND
$400 *
Nosara
$350 12.5% $50
Eating Out
Minot, ND
$319
Nosara
$213 33.4% $107
Clothing & Footwear
Minot, ND
$129
Nosara
$121 6.1% $7.9
Sport & Entertainment
Minot, ND
$29 *
Nosara
$90 204% $60
Getting Around
Minot, ND
- *
Nosara
$89

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $927 in Minot, ND versus $801 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 run about 291% higher in Minot, ND, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Minot, ND versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $400 vs $350 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Minot, ND
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
10:15 10:15 AM
09:15 9:15 AM
1 h behind Minot, ND
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
34,745
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
  • Minot, ND Nosara 4,500 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Minot, ND
  • 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
Minot, ND vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Minot, ND and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,966 in Minot, ND, $1,835 in Nosara – roughly 7% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.
What salary covers living expenses in Minot, ND compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,949 per month in Minot, ND and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Minot, ND and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Minot, ND or Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,966 in Minot, ND and $1,835 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 7%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Minot, ND and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $1,030 per month in Minot, ND and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,835, than in Minot, ND at $1,966. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Minot, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Minot, ND and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,835 in Nosara to $1,966 in Minot, ND. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Minot, ND 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 Minot, ND and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Minot, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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