Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Neum and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Neum: $955 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

46

Cost of Living Index in Neum
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Neum Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

Jump to prices

Neum

🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina

$955

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $955 in Neum versus $1,839 in Nosara.

Neum $955
Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,410 in Neum versus $2,828 in Nosara.

Neum $1,410
Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Neum versus $3,818 in Nosara.

Neum $1,866
Nosara $3,818

Living in Neum costs roughly 48% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Neum is 29% below, Nosara is 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 BAM 9.24

$12.35 ₡5,556

-57.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.98 BAM 54.1

$61.2 ₡27.5K

-49.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 BAM 9.91

$7.52 ₡3,383

-24.60%

Cappuccino

$1.90 BAM 3.32

$4.41 ₡1,984

-56.92%

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

$1.90 BAM 3.33

$1.74 ₡782

9.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 BAM 2.07

$1.31 ₡589

-9.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 BAM 4.41

$3.28 ₡1,475

-23.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 BAM 3.83

$4.47 ₡2,010

-51.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 BAM 1.96

$1.56 ₡703

-28.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BAM 1.65

$3.02 ₡1,359

-68.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 BAM 3.62

$2.51 ₡1,129

-17.53%

Eggs

$2.57 BAM 4.48

$3.57 ₡1,608

-28.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.88 BAM 13.77

$7.43 ₡3,344

6.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.37 BAM 12.87

$10.52 ₡4,732

-29.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 BAM 18.15

$13.97 ₡6,284

-25.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.96

$2.35 ₡1,055

-52.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 BAM 2.83

$1.61 ₡722

0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 BAM 2.37

$4.80 ₡2,159

-71.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.09

$1.61 ₡726

-25.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 BAM 1.72

$3.80 ₡1,708

-74.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 BAM 1.72

$3.69 ₡1,662

-73.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 BAM 1.32

$1.13 ₡508

-32.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.24

$2.66 ₡1,195

-73.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 BAM 6.86

$5.18 ₡2,328

-24.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.99 BAM 6.96

$19.88 ₡8,944

-79.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BAM 1.36

$2.90 ₡1,304

-73.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 BAM 1.55

$3.63 ₡1,631

-75.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 BAM 2.21

$1.12 ₡506

13.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.4 BAM 100

$72.6 ₡32.7K

-20.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 BAM 3.05

$2.14 ₡961

-18.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 BAM 1.04

$1.57 ₡706

-61.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.79 BAM 10.11

$8.52 ₡3,835

-32.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 BAM 2.70

$1.52 ₡684

1.97%

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

$29.9K BAM 52.2K

$21.6K ₡9.7M

38.19%

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

$21.3K BAM 37.3K

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-38.22%

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

$135 BAM 237

$96.3 ₡43.3K

40.63%

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

$17.64 BAM 30.82

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-50.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.86 BAM 45.18

$53.6 ₡24.1K

-51.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.47 BAM 56.7

$71.6 ₡32.2K

-54.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.52 BAM 20.13

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-67.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 BAM 10.02

$7.89 ₡3,550

-27.25%

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

$198 BAM 346

$494 ₡222.3K

-59.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,317 BAM 4,048

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-80.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 BAM 104

$53.9 ₡24.3K

10.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.42 BAM 58.4

$55.4 ₡24.9K

-39.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 BAM 150

$77.9 ₡35.1K

10.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 BAM 146

$79.6 ₡35.8K

4.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 BAM 603

$788 ₡354.5K

-56.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 BAM 433

$794 ₡357.3K

-68.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 BAM 884

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-87.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 BAM 620

$1,419 ₡638.4K

-74.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,410 BAM 4,210

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-65.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,786 BAM 3,120

$1,224 ₡550.7K

45.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$847 BAM 1,480

$864 ₡388.5K

-1.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

8.62

-66.36%

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

Last update for Neum: 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

Neum

$248 25.9%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 221% $547

Groceries & Markets

Neum

$188 19.7%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 87.7% $165

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Neum

$179 18.7%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 3.8% $6.8

Clothing & Footwear

Neum

$118 12.4%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 1.9% $2.2

Eating Out

Neum

$112 11.7%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 89.9% $100

Getting Around

Neum

$67 7%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 29.6% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Neum

$44 4.6%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 98.8% $43

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $345 in Neum and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 2% 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: $31.00 in Neum vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $352 per month, with Neum cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇧🇦 Neum

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

10:48 10:48 AM

02:48 2:48 AM

8 h behind Neum

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,200

4,912

💱 Currency

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark BAM KM

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

1 BAM = 0.572 USD

1 BAM = 0.511 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to BAM – Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark (KM)

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BAM (1 BAM = 0.572 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BAM (1 BAM = 0.511 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

USD to BAM in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Neum Nosara 10,310 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Neum
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

Neum vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Neum and Nosara differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($955 vs $1,839 including rent). Neum is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 2% 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: $345 in Neum versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Neum runs roughly 27% less than in Nosara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $198 in Neum versus $494 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $955 in Neum versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Neum but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Neum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Neum 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 Neum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.