Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Atenas Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Atenas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,662 per month in Nosara vs $1,307 in Atenas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,597 per month in Nosara vs $2,274 in Atenas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,532 per month in Nosara vs $3,240 in Atenas, rent included.

Nosara costs about 27% more than Atenas, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Nosara sits 23% above the global median, while Atenas is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.04 ₡5,042

$8.97 ₡4,100

23.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 ₡27.7K

$52.4 ₡23.9K

15.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 ₡3,123

$10.01 ₡4,571

-31.67%

Cappuccino

$3.79 ₡1,729

$3.75 ₡1,714

1.07%

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

$1.57 ₡718

$1.98 ₡904

-20.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₡533

$1.57 ₡718

-25.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₡1,328

$3.06 ₡1,398

-4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 ₡2,113

$4.62 ₡2,111

0.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡640

$2.06 ₡939

-32.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,304

$2.86 ₡1,307

-0.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡975

$1.94 ₡888

9.79%

Eggs

$3.02 ₡1,379

$3.01 ₡1,374

0.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.70 ₡3,062

$9.73 ₡4,445

-31.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 ₡4,050

$8.74 ₡3,994

1.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.51 ₡6,172

$9.21 ₡4,205

46.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₡977

$3.88 ₡1,774

-44.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 ₡648

$1.45 ₡661

-2.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 ₡1,991

$2.45 ₡1,121

77.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ₡686

$2.15 ₡982

-30.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,620

$3.34 ₡1,525

6.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 ₡1,467

$2.42 ₡1,106

32.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡462

$1.01 ₡463

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₡1,062

$2.83 ₡1,293

-18.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.47 ₡2,041

$5.33 ₡2,434

-16.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.37 ₡9,308

$18.06 ₡8,250

12.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,140

$2.47 ₡1,129

1.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₡1,318

$2.38 ₡1,085

21.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ₡465

$2.03 ₡928

-49.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.8 ₡31.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 ₡831

$1.79 ₡817

1.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 ₡817

$1.78 ₡814

0.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ₡3,696

$8.02 ₡3,665

0.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₡613

$1.39 ₡635

-3.60%

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

$32.1K ₡14.7M

$38.2K ₡17.5M

-16.05%

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

$32.1K ₡14.7M

$32.5K ₡14.9M

-1.27%

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

$95.2 ₡43.5K

$92.7 ₡42.3K

2.69%

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

$26.17 ₡12.0K

$26.18 ₡12.0K

-0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.04 ₡21.9K

$47.67 ₡21.8K

0.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₡26.3K

$40.90 ₡18.7K

40.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.79 ₡10.9K

$9.86 ₡4,506

141.28%

Cinema Ticket

$9.67 ₡4,417

$8.30 ₡3,792

16.51%

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

$450 ₡205.6K

$562 ₡256.6K

-19.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₡4.9M

$6,050 ₡2.8M

77.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.98 ₡22.8K

$62.0 ₡28.3K

-19.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 ₡23.9K

$48.74 ₡22.3K

7.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 ₡32.3K

$119 ₡54.2K

-40.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.5 ₡33.1K

$108 ₡49.5K

-33.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 ₡346.2K

$548 ₡250.3K

38.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$751 ₡343.0K

$393 ₡179.6K

90.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,517 ₡692.8K

$1,363 ₡622.8K

11.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,326 ₡605.6K

$1,165 ₡532.2K

13.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,907 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,213 ₡554.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$881 ₡402.4K

$1,288 ₡588.6K

-31.63%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Atenas: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $758 in Nosara versus $548 in Atenas. 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 46% higher in Atenas, 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 in Nosara versus $52 in Atenas. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Nosara vs $324 in Atenas – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Atenas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,492 per month in Nosara and $1,960 in Atenas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Atenas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $52.0 in Atenas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Atenas, where all-in costs run around $1,307, than in Nosara at $1,662. In Atenas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Atenas – 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 Atenas. 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.