Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Muntinlupa and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Muntinlupa: $742 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

36

Cost of Living Index in Muntinlupa
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Muntinlupa Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Muntinlupa

🇵🇭 Philippines

$742

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $742 in Muntinlupa versus $1,839 in Nosara.

Muntinlupa $742
Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,173 in Muntinlupa versus $2,828 in Nosara.

Muntinlupa $1,173
Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,604 in Muntinlupa versus $3,818 in Nosara.

Muntinlupa $1,604
Nosara $3,818

Living in Muntinlupa costs roughly 60% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muntinlupa is 45% below, Nosara is 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 ₱248

$12.35 ₡5,539

-68.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.36 ₱1,722

$61.2 ₡27.4K

-55.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.81 ₱177

$7.52 ₡3,373

-62.63%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱149

$4.41 ₡1,978

-46.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₱59.7

$1.74 ₡780

-45.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₱27.42

$1.31 ₡587

-66.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$3.28 ₡1,471

-64.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 ₱112

$4.47 ₡2,004

-60.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ₱103

$1.56 ₡701

5.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱76.6

$3.02 ₡1,355

-59.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱64.3

$2.51 ₡1,125

-59.36%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱130

$3.57 ₡1,603

-42.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.00 ₱315

$7.43 ₡3,333

-32.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₱238

$10.52 ₡4,717

-64.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.93 ₱436

$13.97 ₡6,265

-50.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ₱149

$2.35 ₡1,052

0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱96.4

$1.61 ₡720

-4.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ₱162

$4.80 ₡2,152

-46.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 ₱77.6

$1.61 ₡724

-23.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 ₱112

$3.80 ₡1,703

-52.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 ₱122

$3.69 ₡1,657

-47.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ₱61.8

$1.13 ₡507

-13.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱35.06

$2.66 ₡1,191

-78.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.90 ₱183

$5.18 ₡2,321

-44.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.68 ₱547

$19.88 ₡8,916

-56.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.9

$2.90 ₡1,300

-55.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₱132

$3.63 ₡1,626

-42.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.62

$1.12 ₡504

-76.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.39 ₱780

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-82.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱46.66

$2.14 ₡958

-65.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.51

$1.57 ₡703

-85.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ₱122

$8.52 ₡3,823

-77.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₱76.6

$1.52 ₡682

-19.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₡9.7M

-2.56%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-43.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 ₱7,728

$96.3 ₡43.2K

27.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.06 ₱1,011

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-55.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.97 ₱1,509

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-55.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.71 ₱2,059

$71.6 ₡32.1K

-54.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 ₱304

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-86.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 ₱325

$7.89 ₡3,539

-34.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$135 ₱8,503

$494 ₡221.6K

-72.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,993 ₱566.2K

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-24.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.60 ₱2,052

$53.9 ₡24.2K

-39.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.70 ₱1,240

$55.4 ₡24.8K

-64.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ₱4,889

$77.9 ₡34.9K

-0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.6 ₱3,688

$79.6 ₡35.7K

-26.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱17.0K

$788 ₡353.4K

-65.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ₱10.8K

$794 ₡356.2K

-78.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$517 ₱32.5K

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-86.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 ₱24.8K

$1,419 ₡636.5K

-72.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,401 ₱151.1K

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-65.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$994 ₱62.6K

$1,224 ₡549.0K

-18.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ₱37.9K

$864 ₡387.3K

-30.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

8.62

-21.69%

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

Last update for Muntinlupa: October 10, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Muntinlupa

$181 24.4%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 94.8% $171

Accommodation & Living

Muntinlupa

$172 23.2%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 362% $622

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Muntinlupa

$163 21.9%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 14.1% $23

Clothing & Footwear

Muntinlupa

$85 11.4%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 41.5% $35

Eating Out

Muntinlupa

$83 11.2%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 155% $129

Sport & Entertainment

Muntinlupa

$43 5.8%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 103% $44

Getting Around

Muntinlupa

$15 2.1%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 468% $72

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Muntinlupa and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 43% 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: $27.00 in Muntinlupa vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $352 per month, with Muntinlupa cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Muntinlupa

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

04:09 4:09 AM

14:09 2:09 PM

14 h behind Muntinlupa

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

543,445

4,912

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 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).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Muntinlupa Nosara 16,010 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Muntinlupa
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

Muntinlupa vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muntinlupa wins on cost – living expenses run 148% lower than in Nosara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Muntinlupa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 43% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Muntinlupa versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $135 in Muntinlupa versus $494 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 95% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $742 in Muntinlupa versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Muntinlupa but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Muntinlupa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Muntinlupa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $742 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Muntinlupa hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Muntinlupa 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.

Expats usually find Muntinlupa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.