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

🙂 Solo nomad: Nosara is 10.7% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 5.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Nosara is 12.4% more expensive than Alajuela without rent, and 10.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.79 ₡5,350

$9.65 ₡4,786

11.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡29.8K

$39.43 ₡19.5K

52.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 ₡3,510

$9.41 ₡4,668

-24.76%

Cappuccino

$3.85 ₡1,910

$3.60 ₡1,783

6.94%

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

$1.58 ₡783

$1.96 ₡972

-19.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₡604

$1.34 ₡662

-8.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,499

$2.17 ₡1,078

39.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 ₡2,347

$3.64 ₡1,802

29.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡699

$1.85 ₡915

-23.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,413

$2.50 ₡1,241

14.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡1,063

Eggs

$2.91 ₡1,443

$2.24 ₡1,110

29.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 ₡3,384

$10.17 ₡5,040

-32.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.27 ₡4,596

$9.37 ₡4,643

-1.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 ₡6,858

$13.92 ₡6,899

-0.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ₡1,018

$4.07 ₡2,017

-49.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡729

$1.52 ₡755

-3.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 ₡2,064

$4.19 ₡2,079

-0.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ₡753

$2.86 ₡1,416

-46.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.51 ₡1,738

$2.78 ₡1,376

26.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 ₡1,528

$2.58 ₡1,277

19.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡471

$0.96 ₡475

-1.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₡1,172

$2.58 ₡1,277

-8.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 ₡2,210

$5.01 ₡2,485

-10.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.82 ₡8,834

$17.79 ₡8,822

0.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₡1,215

$2.12 ₡1,050

15.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,432

$2.44 ₡1,209

18.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 ₡483

$0.87 ₡429

11.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.6 ₡33.5K

$110 ₡54.5K

-38.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡896

$1.43 ₡710

26.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 ₡894

$1.37 ₡677

31.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 ₡3,823

$8.02 ₡3,974

-3.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₡639

$1.41 ₡699

-8.51%

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

$32.6K ₡16.2M

$38.3K ₡19.0M

-14.77%

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

$32.5K ₡16.1M

$32.8K ₡16.3M

-1.08%

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

$95.3 ₡47.2K

$45.49 ₡22.6K

109.41%

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

$25.57 ₡12.7K

$19.69 ₡9,763

29.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.54 ₡23.6K

$33.41 ₡16.6K

42.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.0 ₡28.3K

$65.6 ₡32.5K

-13.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.56 ₡11.7K

$42.96 ₡21.3K

-45.16%

Cinema Ticket

$9.65 ₡4,786

$9.11 ₡4,516

5.93%

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

$444 ₡220.2K

$297 ₡147.1K

49.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡5.2M

$2,310 ₡1.1M

354.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.96 ₡24.3K

$63.1 ₡31.3K

-22.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.2K

$52.3 ₡26.0K

-2.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.9 ₡35.2K

$120 ₡59.5K

-40.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 ₡35.1K

$98.1 ₡48.7K

-27.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ₡374.6K

$696 ₡344.9K

8.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$736 ₡364.7K

$600 ₡297.3K

22.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,521 ₡754.3K

$978 ₡484.7K

55.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,305 ₡646.8K

$955 ₡473.7K

36.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,453 ₡3.2M

$2,004 ₡993.3K

222.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,099 ₡545.1K

$1,520 ₡753.4K

-27.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$817 ₡405.1K

$1,216 ₡602.8K

-32.81%

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for Alajuela: January 11, 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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