Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ambert

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $1,956 in Ambert, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Ambert
🇫🇷 France
$1,956
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ambert

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $1,956 in Ambert.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Ambert $1,956

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $2,871 in Ambert.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Ambert $2,871

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $3,785 in Ambert.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Ambert $3,785

Living in Nosara costs roughly 6% less than in Ambert, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 36% above, Ambert 45% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Ambert
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$16.79 €14.94
-26.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$72.6 €64.5
-15.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$15.92 €14.16
-52.76%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$3.63 €3.23
21.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$2.98 €2.65
-41.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$2.01 €1.79
-34.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$5.74 €5.10
-42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$4.37 €3.88
2.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Ambert
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.35 €1.20
15.56%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$2.25 €2.00
34.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$2.62 €2.33
-4.20%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$3.71 €3.30
-3.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$18.56 €16.51
-59.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$14.02 €12.47
-24.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$24.98 €22.22
-44.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.96 €2.63
-20.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$2.47 €2.20
-34.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$2.84 €2.52
69.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$3.78 €3.37
-57.41%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$2.45 €2.18
55.10%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$2.94 €2.61
25.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.75 €1.56
-35.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.65 €0.58
309.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$14.05 €12.50
-63.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$7.67 €6.82
159.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$3.82 €3.39
-24.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.83 €2.51
28.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Ambert
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.76 €1.57
-36.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$42.78 €38.05
69.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$5.13 €4.56
-58.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.63 €1.45
-3.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$33.42 €29.72
-74.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$2.20 €1.95
-30.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$34.7K €30.9K
-37.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$35.0K €31.1K
-1.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Ambert
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$219 €195
-56.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$16.86 €15.00
112.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$32.50 €28.91
64.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Ambert
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$35.52 €31.59
101.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$14.08 €12.52
-43.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Ambert
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$740 €658
-33.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$12.9K €11.5K
-8.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Ambert
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$89.0 €79.2
-39.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$63.8 €56.7
-13.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$104 €92.6
-25.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$176 €157
-54.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Ambert
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$856 €762
-7.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$693 €616
14.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,345 €1,196
192.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$967 €860
46.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$3,832 €3,408
80.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$2,648 €2,355
-53.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Ambert
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
3.81
126.25%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ambert: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Ambert
$693 12.8% $101
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Ambert
$390 10.7% $38
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Ambert
$283 33.6% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Ambert
$268 44.5% $83
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Ambert
$195 62.2% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Ambert
$64 27.1% $24
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Ambert
$63 27.5% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $856 in Ambert. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $73.0 in Ambert for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $390 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇫🇷 Ambert
🕒 Local time
10:13 10:13 AM
18:13 6:13 PM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
6,700
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 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 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Ambert 9,170 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Ambert

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 Ambert: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nosara and in Ambert?
Nosara and Ambert differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($1,839 vs $1,956 including rent). Nosara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Ambert?
You'd need roughly $2,758 in Nosara and $2,934 in Ambert to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Nosara and in Ambert?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $856 in Ambert. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Ambert. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $73.0 in Ambert. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $1,956 in Ambert, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Ambert. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Ambert?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Nosara or Ambert safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Ambert are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Nosara or Ambert?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Ambert. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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