Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Alajuela Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Alajuela

😐 Solo nomad: Nosara is 12.3% more expensive than Alajuela without rent, and 4.8% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Nosara is 2.8% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 13% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.02 ₡5,210

$10.08 ₡4,768

9.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.3 ₡28.5K

$40.17 ₡19.0K

50.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 ₡3,264

$9.68 ₡4,577

-28.72%

Cappuccino

$3.89 ₡1,841

$3.75 ₡1,773

3.73%

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

$1.56 ₡737

$1.96 ₡927

-20.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₡557

$1.29 ₡610

-8.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 ₡1,424

$2.21 ₡1,044

36.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 ₡2,241

$3.65 ₡1,726

29.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡689

$1.86 ₡880

-21.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 ₡1,314

$2.47 ₡1,166

12.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,006

$2.22 ₡1,048

-4.05%

Eggs

$2.98 ₡1,410

$2.25 ₡1,063

32.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.59 ₡3,116

$9.67 ₡4,570

-31.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 ₡4,346

$9.04 ₡4,273

1.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 ₡6,490

$13.90 ₡6,572

-1.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ₡960

$3.85 ₡1,822

-47.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ₡666

$1.45 ₡686

-2.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 ₡2,061

$4.14 ₡1,958

5.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 ₡713

$2.86 ₡1,350

-47.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 ₡1,667

$2.88 ₡1,360

22.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 ₡1,509

$2.64 ₡1,247

20.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡456

$1.00 ₡474

-3.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,134

$2.51 ₡1,187

-4.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ₡2,137

$4.95 ₡2,338

-8.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.94 ₡9,426

$20.49 ₡9,689

-2.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,133

$2.14 ₡1,012

12.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,337

$2.42 ₡1,145

16.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡456

$0.83 ₡394

15.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.2 ₡31.3K

$112 ₡53.0K

-40.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡858

$1.38 ₡652

31.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡881

$1.32 ₡622

40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 ₡3,696

$8.05 ₡3,804

-2.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ₡616

$1.40 ₡662

-7.14%

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

$31.7K ₡15.0M

$37.7K ₡17.8M

-15.83%

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

$33.2K ₡15.7M

$32.8K ₡15.5M

0.94%

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

$94.2 ₡44.5K

$44.80 ₡21.2K

110.18%

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

$25.83 ₡12.2K

$19.66 ₡9,297

31.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.52 ₡22.5K

$33.13 ₡15.7K

43.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₡26.5K

$65.7 ₡31.1K

-14.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.82 ₡11.3K

$43.81 ₡20.7K

-45.63%

Cinema Ticket

$9.91 ₡4,685

$9.13 ₡4,315

8.54%

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

$452 ₡213.8K

$303 ₡143.3K

49.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₡5.1M

$2,356 ₡1.1M

359.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.00 ₡23.2K

$62.9 ₡29.7K

-22.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡24.0K

$52.3 ₡24.7K

-2.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 ₡33.9K

$121 ₡57.2K

-40.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 ₡34.5K

$100 ₡47.4K

-27.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₡366.9K

$704 ₡332.9K

10.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$742 ₡350.8K

$607 ₡286.8K

22.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 ₡727.1K

$1,013 ₡479.1K

51.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 ₡631.2K

$934 ₡441.6K

42.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,726 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 ₡546.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$835 ₡394.7K

$2,039 ₡964.1K

-59.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Nosara: March 2, 2026

Last update for Alajuela: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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