Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Bainbridge Island, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,854 in Bainbridge Island, WA, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Bainbridge Island, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,854
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Bainbridge Island, WA

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 Bainbridge Island, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,835 per month in Nosara vs $2,854 in Bainbridge Island, WA, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Bainbridge Island, WA $2,854

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Nosara vs $4,988 in Bainbridge Island, WA, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Bainbridge Island, WA $4,988

A family of three spends $3,814 per month in Nosara vs $7,123 in Bainbridge Island, WA, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Bainbridge Island, WA $7,123

Nosara is about 36% cheaper than Bainbridge Island, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Bainbridge Island, WA sit above the global median – Nosara by 35%, Bainbridge Island, WA by 111%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Bainbridge Island, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$24.96 $24.96
-50.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$99.3 $99.3
-38.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$15.02 $15.02
-48.34%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$4.53 $4.53
-1.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$2.58 $2.58
-30.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$2.94 $2.94
-56.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$7.06 $7.06
-54.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$7.92 $7.92
-44.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Bainbridge Island, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.14 $1.14
35.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$5.21 $5.21
-40.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$6.36 $6.36
-60.22%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$3.20 $3.20
7.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$18.75 $18.75
-60.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$18.92 $18.92
-45.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$21.07 $21.07
-33.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$6.12 $6.12
-62.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.86 $1.86
-11.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$5.25 $5.25
-8.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$6.49 $6.49
-74.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$3.52 $3.52
9.38%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$3.16 $3.16
18.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$2.68 $2.68
-59.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$2.39 $2.39
8.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$12.42 $12.42
-58.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$14.97 $14.97
33.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$4.31 $4.31
-35.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$3.01 $3.01
16.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Bainbridge Island, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$2.03 $2.03
-39.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
$53.1 $53.1
39.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$2.54 $2.54
-14.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$1.29 $1.29
20.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$29.63 $29.63
-70.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$1.37 $1.37
13.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$35.6K $35.6K
-2.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$25.8K $25.8K
50.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Bainbridge Island, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$173 $173
-45.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$70.9 $70.9
-49.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$86.4 $86.4
-38.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Bainbridge Island, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$41.02 $41.02
79.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$14.22 $14.22
-44.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Bainbridge Island, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$3,003 $3,003
-83.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$30.7K $30.7K
-61.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Bainbridge Island, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$77.5 $77.5
-29.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$49.94 $49.94
11.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$100 $100
-19.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$163 $163
-52.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Bainbridge Island, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$1,576 $1,576
-49.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$1,310 $1,310
-39.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$3,720 $3,720
7.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$3,603 $3,603
-60.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$2,740 $2,740
157.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$2,332 $2,332
-46.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Bainbridge Island, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
$4,785 $4,785
-81.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6
43.67%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Bainbridge Island, WA: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Bainbridge Island, WA
$1.3K 65.9% $521
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Bainbridge Island, WA
$525 50.1% $175
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Bainbridge Island, WA
$372 75.1% $160
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Bainbridge Island, WA
$331 79.7% $147
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Bainbridge Island, WA
$176 45.2% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Bainbridge Island, WA
$69 22.5% $20
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Bainbridge Island, WA
$70 20.9% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $801 in Nosara versus $1,576 in Bainbridge Island, WA. 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 440% higher in Bainbridge Island, WA, 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 $99.0 in Bainbridge Island, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $525 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇺🇸 Bainbridge Island, WA
🕒 Local time
16:12 4:12 PM
15:12 3:12 PM
1 h behind Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
24,825
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Bainbridge Island, WA 5,420 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Bainbridge Island, WA

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 Bainbridge Island, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Bainbridge Island, WA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,835 in Nosara, $2,854 in Bainbridge Island, WA – roughly 55% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Bainbridge Island, WA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,753 per month in Nosara and $4,280 in Bainbridge Island, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Bainbridge Island, WA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Bainbridge Island, WA?
Public transport costs about 39% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Bainbridge Island, WA?
Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $3,003 in Bainbridge Island, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,835, than in Bainbridge Island, WA at $2,854. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bainbridge Island, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Bainbridge Island, WA?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,835 in Nosara to $2,854 in Bainbridge Island, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Bainbridge Island, WA safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Nosara and Bainbridge Island, WA?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bainbridge Island, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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