Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ashkelon

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,394 in Ashkelon, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Ashkelon
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,394
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ashkelon

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,394 in Ashkelon.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Ashkelon $2,394

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $3,551 in Ashkelon.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Ashkelon $3,551

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $4,708 in Ashkelon.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Ashkelon $4,708

Living in Nosara costs roughly 23% less than in Ashkelon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 36% above, Ashkelon 77% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Ashkelon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$23.07 ₪71.8
-46.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$81.0 ₪252
-24.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$17.60 ₪54.8
-57.27%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$4.58 ₪14.25
-3.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$3.26 ₪10.15
-46.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$2.80 ₪8.71
-53.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$12.10 ₪37.63
-72.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$7.69 ₪23.93
-41.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Ashkelon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$2.35 ₪7.32
-33.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$2.68 ₪8.34
12.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$3.01 ₪9.35
-16.61%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$4.57 ₪14.21
-21.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$21.56 ₪67.1
-65.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$12.94 ₪40.26
-18.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$25.38 ₪79.0
-44.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$4.13 ₪12.86
-43.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$3.18 ₪9.91
-49.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$2.27 ₪7.05
111.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$3.22 ₪10.03
-50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.60 ₪4.99
137.50%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.99 ₪6.20
85.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$2.66 ₪8.27
-57.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.94 ₪2.93
182.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$13.77 ₪42.84
-62.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$11.65 ₪36.23
70.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$2.58 ₪8.02
12.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.97 ₪6.12
84.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Ashkelon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$2.53 ₪7.88
-55.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$44.33 ₪138
63.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$11.17 ₪34.76
-80.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.67 ₪5.20
-5.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$39.23 ₪122
-78.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$2.64 ₪8.20
-42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$57.8K ₪179.8K
-62.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$56.8K ₪176.7K
-39.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Ashkelon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$214 ₪667
-55.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$11.73 ₪36.49
205.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$41.41 ₪129
29.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Ashkelon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$45.93 ₪143
55.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$32.25 ₪100
8.25%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$16.56 ₪51.5
-52.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Ashkelon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$1,220 ₪3,797
-59.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Ashkelon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$107 ₪334
-49.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$75.6 ₪235
-26.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$113 ₪352
-31.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$146 ₪453
-45.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Ashkelon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$1,144 ₪3,560
-31.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$961 ₪2,989
-17.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,798 ₪5,595
119.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,470 ₪4,575
-3.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$5,741 ₪17.9K
20.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$5,602 ₪17.4K
-78.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Ashkelon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$2,977 ₪9,263
-70.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
4.98
73.09%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ashkelon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Ashkelon
$961 21% $167
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Ashkelon
$422 19.8% $70
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Ashkelon
$392 85.3% $181
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Ashkelon
$267 43.9% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Ashkelon
$199 65.4% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Ashkelon
$79 9.5% $8.3
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Ashkelon
$74 15.1% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $1,144 in Ashkelon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashkelon pays 245% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $81.0 in Ashkelon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $422 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇮🇱 Ashkelon
🕒 Local time
03:31 3:31 AM
12:31 12:31 PM
9 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
152,439
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ILS, USD, EUR 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).

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3.11 ILS (1 ILS = 0.321 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.286 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Ashkelon 12,160 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Ashkelon

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 Ashkelon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Ashkelon?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Ashkelon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nosara or in Ashkelon?
On paper, salaries run 245% lower in Ashkelon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nosara compared to Ashkelon?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $1,144 in Ashkelon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Ashkelon?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $81.0 in Ashkelon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to Ashkelon?
All in, you'll spend $1,839 per month in Nosara versus $2,394 in Ashkelon – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Nosara or in Ashkelon?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,394 in Ashkelon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Ashkelon. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Ashkelon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,839 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Nosara compared to Ashkelon?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Ashkelon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Ashkelon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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