Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ambositra

For one person, living is cheaper in Ambositra: $476 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $16,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
23

Cost of Living Index in Ambositra
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Ambositra Living Index

Jump to prices

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Ambositra

🇲🇬 Madagascar

$476

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ambositra

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $476 in Ambositra, rent included.

Nosara $1,839
Ambositra $476

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $727 in Ambositra, rent included.

Nosara $2,828
Ambositra $727

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $979 in Ambositra, rent included.

Nosara $3,818
Ambositra $979

Nosara costs about 287% more than Ambositra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Ambositra is 65% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.35 ₡5,539

$2.72 MGA 12.4K

354.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$19.95 MGA 91.0K

206.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₡3,373

$5.41 MGA 24.7K

39.00%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,978

$1.64 MGA 7,496

168.90%

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

$1.74 ₡780

$0.81 MGA 3,701

114.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡587

$0.44 MGA 2,017

197.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$1.02 MGA 4,654

221.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡2,004

$2.28 MGA 10.4K

96.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$0.99 MGA 4,517

57.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₡1,355

$0.98 MGA 4,477

208.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,125

$0.77 MGA 3,494

225.97%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,603

$1.96 MGA 8,938

82.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,333

$8.50 MGA 38.8K

-12.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,717

$4.44 MGA 20.2K

136.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,265

$4.71 MGA 21.5K

196.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$1.08 MGA 4,943

117.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$0.57 MGA 2,581

182.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 ₡2,152

$1.04 MGA 4,733

361.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡724

$0.87 MGA 3,990

85.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₡1,703

$0.58 MGA 2,646

555.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,657

$0.98 MGA 4,468

276.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$0.35 MGA 1,576

222.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$0.68 MGA 3,101

291.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,321

$1.54 MGA 7,013

236.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ₡8,916

$4.92 MGA 22.5K

304.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$1.03 MGA 4,702

181.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,626

$1.85 MGA 8,455

96.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₡958

$3.26 MGA 14.9K

-34.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡703

$2.05 MGA 9,333

-23.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 ₡3,823

$4.48 MGA 20.4K

90.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.13 MGA 5,134

34.51%

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

$21.6K ₡9.7M

$11.7K MGA 53.6M

83.91%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$25.5K MGA 116.2M

35.49%

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

$96.3 ₡43.2K

$73.8 MGA 336.6K

30.49%

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

$35.89 ₡16.1K

$16.64 MGA 75.9K

115.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$56.4 MGA 257.1K

-4.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 ₡32.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 ₡15.7K

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₡3,539

$5.55 MGA 25.3K

42.16%

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

$494 ₡221.6K

$24.84 MGA 113.3K

1889.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$14.9K MGA 67.8M

-20.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₡24.2K

$28.27 MGA 128.9K

90.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$27.51 MGA 125.5K

101.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$75.3 MGA 343.5K

3.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₡35.7K

$69.3 MGA 315.9K

14.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₡353.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡356.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,939 ₡1.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 ₡636.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,912 ₡3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 ₡549.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

15.75

-45.27%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ambositra: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$794 43.2%

Ambositra

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$352 19.2%

Ambositra

$142 29.8% 59.8% $211

Eating Out

Nosara

$212 11.5%

Ambositra

$72 15.2% 65.8% $139

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$186 10.1%

Ambositra

$147 30.9% 21% $39

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.5%

Ambositra

$90 19% 24.9% $30

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Ambositra

$11 * 2.3% 87.3% $76

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.7%

Ambositra

$13 * 2.8% 84.5% $74

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $20.00 in Ambositra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $142 – making Ambositra the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇲🇬 Ambositra

🕒 Local time

20:55 8:55 PM

05:55 5:55 AM

9 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

41,078

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

Malagasy Ariary MGA Ar

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

10,000 MGA = 2.19 USD

10,000 MGA = 1.95 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MGA, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

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).

Malagasy Ariary exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 4,562 MGA (10,000 MGA = 2.19 USD). 1 EUR = 5,128 MGA (10,000 MGA = 1.95 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Ambositra 14,850 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Ambositra

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 Ambositra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 287%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $713 in Ambositra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $476 in Ambositra. That's a gap of about 287%.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $24.84 in Ambositra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ambositra, where all-in costs run around $476, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Ambositra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ambositra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ambositra. 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.