Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mishref and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Mishref: $1,409 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Mishref
🇰🇼 Kuwait
$1,409
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,409 per month in Mishref vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Mishref $1,409
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $2,326 per month in Mishref vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Mishref $2,326
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $3,243 per month in Mishref vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Mishref $3,243
  • Nosara $3,818

Mishref is about 23% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mishref and Nosara sit above the global median – Mishref by 4%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mishref
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.70 KWD 3.91
$12.35 ₡5,539
2.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.3 KWD 20.10
$61.2 ₡27.4K
6.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.82 KWD 2.72
$7.52 ₡3,373
17.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 KWD 0.96
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 KWD 1.47
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.09 KWD 1.57
$4.41 ₡1,978
15.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 KWD 0.22
$1.74 ₡780
-59.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 KWD 0.09
$1.31 ₡587
-77.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.28 ₡1,471
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.47 ₡2,004
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mishref
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 KWD 0.48
$1.56 ₡701
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 KWD 0.47
$3.02 ₡1,355
-49.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 KWD 0.58
$2.51 ₡1,125
-24.70%
Eggs
$2.04 KWD 0.63
$3.57 ₡1,603
-42.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 KWD 1.35
$7.43 ₡3,333
-40.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 KWD 2.09
$10.52 ₡4,717
-35.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.28 KWD 3.17
$13.97 ₡6,265
-26.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 KWD 0.75
$2.35 ₡1,052
3.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 KWD 0.57
$1.61 ₡720
14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 KWD 0.54
$4.80 ₡2,152
-63.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 KWD 0.47
$1.61 ₡724
-4.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 KWD 0.40
$3.80 ₡1,703
-65.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 KWD 0.44
$3.69 ₡1,657
-61.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 KWD 0.71
$1.13 ₡507
103.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 KWD 0.18
$2.66 ₡1,191
-78.57%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.26 KWD 1.00
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 KWD 0.31
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 KWD 0.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.67 KWD 0.82
$5.18 ₡2,321
-48.46%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$19.88 ₡8,916
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.90 ₡1,300
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63 ₡1,626
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mishref
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 KWD 0.24
$1.12 ₡504
-29.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.84 KWD 1.49
$2.14 ₡958
126.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.13 KWD 0.96
$1.57 ₡703
99.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.12 KWD 4.97
$8.52 ₡3,823
89.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.35 KWD 0.11
$1.52 ₡682
-76.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K KWD 6,302
$21.6K ₡9.7M
-5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K KWD 6,123
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-42.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mishref
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.4 KWD 19.85
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-33.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.30 KWD 6.87
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-37.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.29 KWD 9.33
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-43.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mishref
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$101 KWD 31.01
$71.6 ₡32.1K
40.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.32 KWD 3.49
$7.89 ₡3,539
43.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mishref
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 KWD 93.4
$494 ₡221.6K
-38.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,536 KWD 2,938
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-19.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mishref
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.54 KWD 11.57
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-30.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.03 KWD 12.03
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-29.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 KWD 29.56
$77.9 ₡34.9K
23.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 KWD 26.97
$79.6 ₡35.7K
9.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mishref
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$715 KWD 220
$788 ₡353.4K
-9.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 KWD 200
$794 ₡356.2K
-18.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,795 KWD 553
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-54.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,371 KWD 422
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-3.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mishref
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
8.62
-24.25%

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

Last update for Mishref: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mishref
$650
Nosara
$794 22.3% $145
Eating Out
Mishref
$193
Nosara
$212 9.7% $19
Groceries & Markets
Mishref
$185
Nosara
$352 90% $167
Sport & Entertainment
Mishref
$123
Nosara
$87 29.1% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Mishref
$117
Nosara
$120 2.6% $3.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mishref
$117
Nosara
$186 58.8% $69
Getting Around
Mishref
$24 *
Nosara
$87 268% $63

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $715 in Mishref 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Mishref versus $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $185 in Mishref vs $352 in Nosara – so Mishref wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇼 Mishref
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
00:47 12:47 AM
15:47 3:47 PM
9 h behind Mishref
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
40,945
4,912
💱 Currency
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD د.ك
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to KWD – Kuwaiti Dinar Converter

Kuwaiti Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.308 KWD (1 KWD = 3.25 USD). 1 EUR = 0.346 KWD (1 KWD = 2.89 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
  • Mishref Nosara 13,410 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mishref
  • 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
Mishref vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Mishref?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 30%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,114 per month in Mishref and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mishref, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mishref or in Nosara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Mishref and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mishref and in Nosara?
Groceries cost about 90% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mishref or in Nosara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mishref, where all-in costs run around $1,409, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Mishref it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mishref or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mishref – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mishref or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mishref. 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.

Mishref vs other spots: cost of living compared

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