Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Bacoor

For one person, living is cheaper in Bacoor: $727 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Bacoor
🇵🇭 Philippines
$727
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Bacoor

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $727 in Bacoor, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Bacoor $727

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,103 in Bacoor, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Bacoor $1,103

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,479 in Bacoor, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Bacoor $1,479

Nosara costs about 153% more than Bacoor, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Bacoor is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Bacoor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$4.43 ₱279
178.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$16.51 ₱1,039
270.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$2.84 ₱179
164.79%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.35 ₱148
87.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.60 ₱38.08
190.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.27 ₱16.94
385.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$1.02 ₱64.3
221.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.38 ₱150
87.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Bacoor
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.60 ₱101
-2.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.13 ₱71.0
167.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$0.90 ₱56.6
178.89%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$1.82 ₱115
96.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$5.14 ₱324
44.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$3.51 ₱221
199.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$6.93 ₱436
101.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.23 ₱140
5.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.38 ₱87.2
16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$2.30 ₱145
108.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.03 ₱64.8
56.31%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.72 ₱108
120.93%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.73 ₱109
113.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.65 ₱41.13
73.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.49 ₱31.05
442.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$2.80 ₱176
85.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$7.61 ₱479
161.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$0.91 ₱57.4
218.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.84 ₱116
97.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Bacoor
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.24 ₱14.97
366.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$10.22 ₱644
610.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$0.83 ₱52.3
157.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$0.23 ₱14.50
582.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$1.93 ₱121
341.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.20 ₱75.4
26.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$21.5K ₱1.4M
0.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
80.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Bacoor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$138 ₱8,667
-30.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$14.35 ₱903
150.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$23.69 ₱1,491
126.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Bacoor
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$28.45 ₱1,791
151.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$3.99 ₱251
774.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$5.14 ₱324
53.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Bacoor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$73.7 ₱4,642
570.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$2,532 ₱159.4K
368.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Bacoor
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$28.94 ₱1,822
86.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$19.65 ₱1,237
181.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$71.1 ₱4,475
9.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$56.1 ₱3,534
41.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Bacoor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$244 ₱15.4K
222.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$169 ₱10.6K
371.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$556 ₱35.0K
609.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$361 ₱22.7K
293.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$2,422 ₱152.5K
185.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$933 ₱58.8K
31.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Bacoor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$294 ₱18.5K
193.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.75
27.70%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Bacoor: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Bacoor
$169 78.8% $626
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Bacoor
$166 52.8% $186
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Bacoor
$86 59.6% $126
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Bacoor
$176 5.4% $10
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Bacoor
$79 34.1% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Bacoor
$39 55.7% $49
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Bacoor
$13 84.9% $74

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $244 in Bacoor. 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 194% higher in Nosara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $17.00 in Bacoor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $166 – making Bacoor the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇵🇭 Bacoor
🕒 Local time
12:40 12:40 PM
02:40 2:40 AM
14 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
600,609
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, 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).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Bacoor 16,020 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Bacoor

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 Bacoor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bacoor cheaper than Nosara?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 153%, 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 $1,091 in Bacoor. 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 Bacoor, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Nosara and in Bacoor?
Groceries cost about 112% 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 eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Bacoor?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $17.00 in Bacoor. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Bacoor?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacoor, where all-in costs run around $727, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Bacoor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nosara or Bacoor more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bacoor – 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 Bacoor?
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 Bacoor. 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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