Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New Britain, CT and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,541 in New Britain, CT, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New Britain, CT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,541
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,541 per month in New Britain, CT vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • New Britain, CT $2,541
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $3,946 per month in New Britain, CT vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • New Britain, CT $3,946
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $5,351 per month in New Britain, CT vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • New Britain, CT $5,351
  • Nosara $3,814

New Britain, CT costs about 38% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both New Britain, CT and Nosara sit above the global median – New Britain, CT by 88%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Britain, CT
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.99 $17.99
$12.34 ₡5,535
45.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.5 $94.5
$61.3 ₡27.5K
54.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.67 $13.67
$7.76 ₡3,481
76.16%
Cappuccino
$5.58 $5.58
$4.44 ₡1,992
25.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.79 ₡803
59.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.29 ₡580
112.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.96 $4.96
$3.24 ₡1,451
53.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98 $7.98
$4.43 ₡1,985
80.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Britain, CT
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.55 ₡696
-30.97%
White Bread (500g)
$3.90 $3.90
$3.08 ₡1,380
26.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.29 $5.29
$2.53 ₡1,133
109.09%
Eggs
$4.88 $4.88
$3.45 ₡1,546
41.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.40 $11.40
$7.32 ₡3,284
55.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$10.24 ₡4,594
40.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.45 $17.45
$14.10 ₡6,326
23.76%
Apples (1kg)
$6.86 $6.86
$2.29 ₡1,027
199.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.64 ₡737
10.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$4.79 ₡2,149
38.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.62 $5.62
$1.64 ₡735
242.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.85 ₡1,727
-29.35%
Onion (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$3.75 ₡1,681
18.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.09 ₡488
179.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.59 ₡1,160
-25.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.75 $13.75
$5.12 ₡2,295
168.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.54 $13.54
$19.92 ₡8,931
-32.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.80 ₡1,255
-23.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 $4.27
$3.52 ₡1,580
21.31%
🚌 Getting Around
New Britain, CT
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.22 ₡549
43.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.17 ₡973
30.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.56 ₡698
20.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.54 $29.54
$8.67 ₡3,886
240.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.55 ₡697
-33.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-19.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-30.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Britain, CT
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$318 $318
$94.8 ₡42.5K
235.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$104 $104
$36.15 ₡16.2K
187.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2 $54.2
$53.1 ₡23.8K
2.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Britain, CT
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.15 $41.15
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-44.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 $14.74
$7.91 ₡3,548
86.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Britain, CT
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,014 $1,014
$490 ₡219.9K
106.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K $30.5K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
156.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Britain, CT
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 $57.5
$54.8 ₡24.6K
4.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.53 $38.53
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-31.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.4 $81.4
$80.4 ₡36.0K
1.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.4 $98.4
$77.9 ₡34.9K
26.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Britain, CT
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,119 $1,119
$801 ₡359.1K
39.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,088 $1,088
$790 ₡354.1K
37.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,522 $2,522
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-37.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,172 $2,172
$1,409 ₡632.0K
54.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,664 $2,664
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-62.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,617 $2,617
$1,236 ₡554.3K
111.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Britain, CT
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,980 $3,980
$887 ₡397.6K
348.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.62
-42.00%

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

Last update for New Britain, CT: October 18, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New Britain, CT
$1.1K
Nosara
$790 27.4% $299
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Britain, CT
$476
Nosara
$184 61.3% $292
Groceries & Markets
New Britain, CT
$448
Nosara
$350 21.9% $98
Eating Out
New Britain, CT
$315
Nosara
$213 32.5% $102
Clothing & Footwear
New Britain, CT
$124
Nosara
$121 2.5% $3.1
Sport & Entertainment
New Britain, CT
$71
Nosara
$90 26.9% $19
Getting Around
New Britain, CT
$19 *
Nosara
$89 362% $70

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,119 in New Britain, CT versus $801 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 349% higher in New Britain, CT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in New Britain, CT versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $350 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New Britain, CT
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
04:31 4:31 AM
02:31 2:31 AM
2 h behind New Britain, CT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,206
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 23, 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
  • New Britain, CT Nosara 3,740 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New Britain, CT
  • 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
New Britain, CT vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than New Britain, CT?
Yes – New Britain, CT is pricier by about 38%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,811 per month in New Britain, CT and $2,753 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 Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in New Britain, CT and in Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,541 in New Britain, CT and $1,835 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 38%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,014 per month in New Britain, CT and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in New Britain, CT or in Nosara?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,835, than in New Britain, CT at $2,541. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Britain, CT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is New Britain, CT or Nosara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nosara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, New Britain, CT 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 Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New Britain, CT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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