Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monastir and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Monastir: $706 a month against $1,846 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monastir, Tunisia
Nosara, Costa Rica
Monastir
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$706
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,846
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Monastir versus $1,846 in Nosara.

  • Monastir $706
  • Nosara $1,846

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Monastir versus $2,833 in Nosara.

  • Monastir $1,131
  • Nosara $2,833

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,555 in Monastir versus $3,820 in Nosara.

  • Monastir $1,555
  • Nosara $3,820

Living in Monastir costs roughly 62% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Monastir is 48% below, Nosara is 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monastir
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01 TND 15.08
$12.36 ₡5,575
-59.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.48 TND 67.7
$60.8 ₡27.4K
-63.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 TND 18.51
$7.88 ₡3,557
-21.95%
Cappuccino
$1.19 TND 3.59
$4.40 ₡1,986
-72.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 TND 2.23
$1.72 ₡776
-56.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 TND 1.09
$1.34 ₡603
-73.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.63 TND 4.92
$3.34 ₡1,505
-51.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 TND 4.91
$4.54 ₡2,048
-64.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monastir
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.44 TND 1.32
$1.64 ₡739
-73.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.17 TND 0.51
$3.16 ₡1,426
-94.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 TND 5.05
$2.39 ₡1,080
-29.71%
Eggs
$1.58 TND 4.75
$3.47 ₡1,564
-54.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.71 TND 41.29
$7.13 ₡3,217
92.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.15 TND 18.52
$10.32 ₡4,655
-40.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.60 TND 43.97
$13.97 ₡6,302
4.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 TND 6.07
$2.29 ₡1,031
-12.23%
Banana (1kg)
$4.40 TND 13.25
$1.62 ₡731
171.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 TND 3.60
$4.81 ₡2,169
-75.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 TND 2.40
$1.68 ₡758
-52.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 TND 2.63
$3.91 ₡1,765
-77.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 TND 2.17
$3.63 ₡1,640
-80.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 TND 1.33
$1.13 ₡509
-61.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 1.01
$2.63 ₡1,188
-87.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.74 TND 11.27
$5.02 ₡2,267
-25.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.70 TND 17.18
$19.71 ₡8,893
-71.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 TND 3.65
$2.91 ₡1,314
-58.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 TND 3.97
$3.54 ₡1,597
-62.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Monastir
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.95
$1.21 ₡545
-73.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.01 TND 33.17
$73.8 ₡33.3K
-85.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.87
$2.15 ₡969
-86.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 TND 0.86
$1.63 ₡738
-82.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.77 TND 5.34
$8.77 ₡3,958
-79.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 TND 2.49
$1.55 ₡700
-46.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K TND 119.6K
$33.9K ₡15.3M
17.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K TND 108.3K
$38.5K ₡17.4M
-6.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.5 TND 185
$95.2 ₡43.0K
-35.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.56 TND 31.82
$36.29 ₡16.4K
-70.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.06 TND 60.4
$52.0 ₡23.5K
-61.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.67 TND 71.3
$67.6 ₡30.5K
-64.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 TND 19.97
$35.55 ₡16.0K
-81.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 TND 18.17
$7.54 ₡3,404
-20.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monastir
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.4 TND 284
$496 ₡224.0K
-80.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,205 TND 9,656
$11.8K ₡5.3M
-72.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.92 TND 141
$55.1 ₡24.9K
-14.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5 TND 203
$56.1 ₡25.3K
20.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 TND 335
$77.8 ₡35.1K
43.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2 TND 293
$79.1 ₡35.7K
22.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monastir
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 TND 610
$817 ₡368.9K
-75.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$121 TND 363
$806 ₡363.6K
-85.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$354 TND 1,067
$3,988 ₡1.8M
-91.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 TND 703
$1,429 ₡644.9K
-83.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,219 TND 3,671
$7,068 ₡3.2M
-82.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$619 TND 1,864
$1,197 ₡540.1K
-48.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monastir
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$347 TND 1,044
$888 ₡400.7K
-60.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
8.62
27.61%

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

Last update for Monastir: October 25, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Monastir
$210
Nosara
$351 67.4% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
$145
Nosara
$121 17% $25
Accommodation & Living
Monastir
$121
Nosara
$806 568% $685
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
$92
Nosara
$184 99.1% $91
Eating Out
Monastir
$89
Nosara
$213 141% $125
Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
$36
Nosara
$83 131% $47
Getting Around
Monastir
$14
Nosara
$89 536% $75

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Monastir and $817 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays about 2.6 times 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: $22 in Monastir vs $61 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $351 per month, with Monastir cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Monastir
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
13:56 1:56 PM
06:56 6:56 AM
7 h behind Monastir
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
104,535
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3.01 TND (1 TND = 0.332 USD). 1 EUR = 3.35 TND (1 TND = 0.298 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monastir Nosara 9,940 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Monastir
  • 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
Monastir vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monastir cheaper than Nosara?
Monastir is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 161% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Monastir or Nosara?
On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Monastir. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Monastir and Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $203 in Monastir versus $817 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Monastir and in Nosara?
All in, you’ll spend $706 per month in Monastir versus $1,846 in Nosara – a 161% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Monastir runs roughly 85% less than in Nosara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Monastir or in Nosara?
At $706 in Monastir versus $1,846 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Monastir but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Monastir the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Monastir or in Nosara?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Monastir or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Monastir 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 Monastir gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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