Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Arta

For one person, living is cheaper in Arta: $1,356 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Arta
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,356
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Arta

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,356 in Arta, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Arta $1,356

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,017 in Arta, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Arta $2,017

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,678 in Arta, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Arta $2,678

Nosara costs about 36% more than Arta, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Arta sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Arta by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Arta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,547
$11.26 €10.04
9.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.5K
$44.58 €39.75
37.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,377
$9.88 €8.81
-23.89%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,981
$4.08 €3.64
8.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡781
$2.91 €2.60
-40.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡588
$0.58 €0.52
125.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,473
$5.35 €4.77
-38.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,007
$6.32 €5.64
-29.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Arta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡702
$1.25 €1.11
24.80%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,357
$1.09 €0.97
177.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,127
$0.93 €0.83
169.89%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,605
$3.36 €3.00
6.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,338
$13.49 €12.02
-44.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,724
$11.37 €10.14
-7.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,274
$11.11 €9.90
25.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,054
$1.02 €0.91
130.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡721
$1.24 €1.11
29.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,155
$1.26 €1.12
280.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡725
$1.02 €0.91
57.84%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,706
$1.24 €1.11
206.45%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,659
$1.10 €0.98
235.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.75 €0.67
50.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,193
$0.19 €0.17
1300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,324
$5.00 €4.46
3.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,929
$4.39 €3.92
352.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,302
$0.92 €0.82
215.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,628
$2.21 €1.97
64.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Arta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡505
$1.22 €1.09
-8.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$49.83 €44.43
45.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡959
$4.09 €3.64
-47.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡704
$1.09 €0.97
44.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,828
$16.83 €15.00
-49.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡683
$2.00 €1.78
-24.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$28.2K €25.1K
-23.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$31.1K €27.8K
10.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Arta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$214 €191
-54.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$22.88 €20.40
56.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.1K
$24.68 €22.00
117.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Arta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.2K
$46.74 €41.67
53.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$25.30 €22.56
37.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,544
$10.15 €9.05
-22.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Arta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.9K
$481 €429
2.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$9,156 €8,163
29.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Arta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$90.1 €80.3
-40.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.9K
$27.47 €24.49
101.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡35.0K
$77.9 €69.4
0.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.8K
$90.8 €81.0
-12.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Arta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.9K
$479 €427
64.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.7K
$389 €347
104.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$741 €660
431.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡637.4K
$622 €555
128.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$2,655 €2,367
160.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.8K
$1,922 €1,713
-36.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Arta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.8K
$892 €795
-3.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
5.34
61.42%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Arta: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Arta
$389 51% $405
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Arta
$223 36.7% $129
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Arta
$222 4.9% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Arta
$261 40.7% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Arta
$129 7.2% $8.7
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Arta
$67 23.3% $20
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Arta
$64 26.2% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $479 in Arta. 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 3% higher in Arta, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $45.00 in Arta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $223 – making Arta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇬🇷 Arta
🕒 Local time
06:53 6:53 AM
15:53 3:53 PM
9 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
19,435
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 449 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Arta 10,700 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Arta

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 Arta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arta cheaper than Nosara?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 36%, 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 $2,033 in Arta. 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 Arta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $481 in Arta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Nosara and in Arta?
Groceries cost about 58% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Arta?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Arta, where all-in costs run around $1,356, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Arta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nosara or Arta more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Arta – 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 Arta?
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 Arta. 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.

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