Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monza and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,016 in Monza, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Monza
🇮🇹 Italy
$2,016
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,016 in Monza versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Monza $2,016
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,117 in Monza versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Monza $3,117
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,217 in Monza versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Monza $4,217
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Monza is roughly 10% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monza 49% above, Nosara 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monza
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.09 €19.65
$12.35 ₡5,539
78.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.8 €79.0
$61.2 ₡27.4K
45.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.06 €9.84
$7.52 ₡3,373
47.07%
Cappuccino
$1.87 €1.66
$4.41 ₡1,978
-57.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 €3.10
$1.74 ₡780
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.15
$1.31 ₡587
-1.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.66 €5.04
$3.28 ₡1,471
72.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 €5.30
$4.47 ₡2,004
33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monza
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 €1.27
$1.56 ₡701
-8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 €2.04
$3.02 ₡1,355
-24.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.61 €3.21
$2.51 ₡1,125
43.82%
Eggs
$3.37 €3.00
$3.57 ₡1,603
-5.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.44 €19.96
$7.43 ₡3,333
202.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.36 €12.77
$10.52 ₡4,717
36.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.25 €19.79
$13.97 ₡6,265
59.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 €2.52
$2.35 ₡1,052
20.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 €1.60
$1.61 ₡720
11.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 €2.91
$4.80 ₡2,152
-31.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 €2.91
$1.61 ₡724
103.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 €1.81
$3.80 ₡1,703
-46.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 €1.73
$3.69 ₡1,657
-47.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 €1.61
$1.13 ₡507
59.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 €0.55
$2.66 ₡1,191
-76.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.85
$5.18 ₡2,321
27.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.54 €4.93
$19.88 ₡8,916
-72.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 €1.70
$2.90 ₡1,300
-34.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.97
$3.63 ₡1,626
-38.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Monza
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 €2.70
$1.12 ₡504
170.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.6 €59.2
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-8.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.59 €6.75
$2.14 ₡958
254.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 €1.08
$1.57 ₡703
-22.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.56 €30.74
$8.52 ₡3,823
305.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.52 ₡682
32.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K €32.3K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
68.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K €31.5K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
2.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monza
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 €174
$96.3 ₡43.2K
103.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.42 €9.27
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-70.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.75 €23.79
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-50.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monza
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.30 €42.07
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-33.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.76 €35.36
$34.91 ₡15.7K
13.89%
Cinema Ticket
$12.63 €11.24
$7.89 ₡3,539
60.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monza
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$831 €739
$494 ₡221.6K
68.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.0K €16.9K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
59.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monza
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8 €80.8
$53.9 ₡24.2K
68.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.13 €39.25
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-20.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €96.1
$77.9 ₡34.9K
38.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166 €148
$79.6 ₡35.7K
108.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monza
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,013 €901
$788 ₡353.4K
28.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 €682
$794 ₡356.2K
-3.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 €1,735
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-50.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,261 €1,122
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-11.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,850
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-37.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,967 €2,640
$1,224 ₡549.0K
142.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monza
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,939 €1,725
$864 ₡387.3K
124.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.62
8.62
-58.00%

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

Last update for Monza: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monza
$767
Nosara
$794 3.5% $27
Groceries & Markets
Monza
$375
Nosara
$352 6.1% $23
Eating Out
Monza
$292
Nosara
$212 27.4% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monza
$233
Nosara
$186 20.3% $47
Clothing & Footwear
Monza
$184
Nosara
$120 34.8% $64
Getting Around
Monza
$92
Nosara
$87 5.7% $5.2
Sport & Entertainment
Monza
$73
Nosara
$87 20.4% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,013 in Monza and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Monza pays 125% 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: $89.0 in Monza vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $352 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇹 Monza
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
17:05 5:05 PM
09:05 9:05 AM
8 h behind Monza
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,204
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

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
  • Monza Nosara 9,600 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Monza
  • 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
Monza vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Monza or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Monza. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Monza or in Nosara?
Average pay runs 125% higher in Monza, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Monza compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,013 in Monza versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Monza and in Nosara?
Childcare runs $831 in Monza versus $494 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Monza or in Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Monza. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Monza or in Nosara?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,016 in Monza, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Monza. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Monza or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,839 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Monza compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Monza 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 Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Monza. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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