Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ahvaz

For one person, living is cheaper in Ahvaz: $573 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Ahvaz
🇮🇷 Iran
$573
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ahvaz

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 Ahvaz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $573 in Ahvaz, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Ahvaz $573

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $875 in Ahvaz, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Ahvaz $875

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,176 in Ahvaz, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Ahvaz $1,176

Nosara costs about 221% more than Ahvaz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Ahvaz is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Ahvaz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$1.97 $1.97
526.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$12.01 $12.01
409.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$3.73 $3.73
101.61%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.89 $0.89
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.05 $1.05
-
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$1.19 $1.19
270.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.52 $0.52
234.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.96 $0.96
36.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Ahvaz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$0.90 $0.90
73.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$0.61 $0.61
395.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.85 $1.85
35.68%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$1.30 $1.30
174.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$4.09 $4.09
81.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$3.74 $3.74
181.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$9.73 $9.73
43.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$0.80 $0.80
193.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.39 $1.39
15.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$0.77 $0.77
523.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$0.56 $0.56
187.50%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.54 $0.54
603.70%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$0.51 $0.51
623.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.44 $0.44
156.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.29 $0.29
817.24%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.98 $0.98
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.48 $0.48
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.20 $1.20
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$2.23 $2.23
132.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Ahvaz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.15 $0.15
646.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$9.46 $9.46
667.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$0.52 $0.52
311.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$0.48 $0.48
227.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$2.94 $2.94
189.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$0.10 $0.10
1420.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$118.2K $118.2K
-81.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$63.9K $63.9K
-45.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Ahvaz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$14.21 $14.21
577.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$1.56 $1.56
2200.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$7.06 $7.06
659.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Ahvaz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$18.01 $18.01
297.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$5.95 $5.95
486.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$1.23 $1.23
541.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Ahvaz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$105 $105
371.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$624 $624
1801.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Ahvaz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$52.2 $52.2
3.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$47.41 $47.41
16.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$97.0 $97.0
-19.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$103 $103
-22.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Ahvaz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$318 $318
148.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$221 $221
259.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$521 $521
656.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$348 $348
307.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$1,282 $1,282
439.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$743 $743
64.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Ahvaz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$537 $537
60.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
23.67
-63.58%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ahvaz: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Ahvaz
$221 72.2% $573
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Ahvaz
$114 67.7% $238
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Ahvaz
$47 77.7% $165
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Ahvaz
$23 87.7% $163
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Ahvaz
$135 12.2% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Ahvaz
$20 76.6% $67
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Ahvaz
$13 85.1% $74

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $318 in Ahvaz. 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 61% higher in Nosara, 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 $61.0 in Nosara versus $12.00 in Ahvaz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $114 – making Ahvaz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇮🇷 Ahvaz
🕒 Local time
02:17 2:17 AM
11:47 11:47 AM
9 h 30 min ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
1,184,788
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR 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).

USD exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Ahvaz 13,330 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Ahvaz

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 Ahvaz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ahvaz cheaper than Nosara?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 221%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $859 in Ahvaz. 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 Ahvaz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Ahvaz?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $12.00 in Ahvaz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nosara and in Ahvaz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $573 in Ahvaz. That's a gap of about 221%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Ahvaz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ahvaz, where all-in costs run around $573, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Ahvaz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nosara or Ahvaz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ahvaz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Ahvaz?
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 Ahvaz. 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.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?