Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Adra

For one person, living is cheaper in Adra: $1,442 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Adra
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,442
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Adra

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nosara and in Adra actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,442 in Adra, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Adra $1,442

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,084 in Adra, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Adra $2,084

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,725 in Adra, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Adra $2,725

Nosara costs about 28% more than Adra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Adra sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Adra by 7%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Adra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$14.91 €13.27
-17.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$45.41 €40.39
34.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$10.03 €8.92
-25.02%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.32 €2.06
90.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$2.22 €1.98
-21.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$1.92 €1.71
-31.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$3.28 €2.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.77 €2.47
61.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Adra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.16 €1.03
34.48%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.36 €1.21
122.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$0.81 €0.72
209.88%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.68 €2.38
33.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$12.22 €10.87
-39.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$2.73 €2.43
285.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$11.24 €9.99
24.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.06 €1.84
14.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.10 €0.97
46.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.27 €1.13
277.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$2.11 €1.88
-23.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.07 €0.95
255.14%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.20 €1.07
207.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.29 €1.15
-12.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.45 €0.40
491.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$6.03 €5.37
-14.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$4.60 €4.09
332.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$0.69 €0.61
320.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.31 €1.17
177.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Adra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.60 €1.42
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$32.99 €29.35
120.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$4.09 €3.63
-47.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$3.06 €2.72
-48.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$33.60 €29.89
-74.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.71 €1.52
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$19.1K €17.0K
13.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$29.2K €25.9K
18.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Adra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$114 €101
-15.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$9.23 €8.21
288.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$22.32 €19.86
140.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Adra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$44.03 €39.17
62.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$15.95 €14.19
118.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$8.80 €7.83
-10.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Adra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$490 €435
0.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$8,570 €7,623
38.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Adra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$38.87 €34.57
38.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$33.14 €29.48
67.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$51.5 €45.77
51.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$68.2 €60.7
16.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Adra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$916 €814
-13.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$687 €611
15.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,365 €1,214
188.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,011 €899
40.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$3,346 €2,976
106.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$2,211 €1,967
-44.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Adra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$2,284 €2,032
-62.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
2.9
197.24%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Adra: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Adra
$687 13.5% $107
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Adra
$187 46.9% $165
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Adra
$216 1.8% $3.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Adra
$145 21.8% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Adra
$86 28.2% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Adra
$62 29.5% $26
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Adra
$59 32.5% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $916 in Adra. 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 164% higher in Adra, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $45.00 in Adra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $187 – making Adra the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇪🇸 Adra
🕒 Local time
23:47 11:47 PM
07:47 7:47 AM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
25,195
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Adra 8,690 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Adra

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
Nosara vs Adra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Adra?
Nosara costs about 28% more than Adra, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nosara and in Adra?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $2,162 in Adra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nosara or Adra?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Adra, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Adra?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $45.00 in Adra. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to Adra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $1,442 in Adra. That's a gap of about 28%.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Adra?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Adra, where all-in costs run around $1,442, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Adra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Adra?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Adra costs $1,442 versus $1,839 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nosara compared to Adra?
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.
Should I move to Nosara or to Adra?
If budget matters most, go with Adra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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