Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Bakersfield, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $3,146 in Bakersfield, CA, rent and utilities included – about $15,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Bakersfield, CA
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Bakersfield, CA Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Bakersfield, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,146

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Bakersfield, CA

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Nosara versus $3,146 in Bakersfield, CA.

Nosara $1,837
Bakersfield, CA $3,146

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,775 in Nosara versus $4,361 in Bakersfield, CA.

Nosara $2,775
Bakersfield, CA $4,361

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,712 in Nosara versus $5,575 in Bakersfield, CA.

Nosara $3,712
Bakersfield, CA $5,575

Living in Nosara costs roughly 42% less than in Bakersfield, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 37% above, Bakersfield, CA 135% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 ₡5,509

$18.87 $18.87

-35.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ₡27.1K

$64.2 $64.2

-6.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 ₡3,399

$13.91 $13.91

-45.79%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,941

$6.05 $6.05

-28.76%

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

$1.72 ₡773

$2.67 $2.67

-35.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₡608

$2.04 $2.04

-33.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,459

$6.14 $6.14

-47.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,018

$5.89 $5.89

-23.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡707

$1.08 $1.08

45.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,429

$4.16 $4.16

-23.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,091

$5.30 $5.30

-54.34%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,609

$3.42 $3.42

4.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,349

$12.83 $12.83

-42.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.42 ₡4,697

$13.26 $13.26

-21.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 ₡6,156

$15.95 $15.95

-14.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ₡1,044

$4.14 $4.14

-43.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡728

$2.07 $2.07

-22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 ₡2,138

$3.96 $3.96

19.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡747

$3.82 $3.82

-56.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 ₡1,679

$2.19 $2.19

69.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,611

$2.41 $2.41

48.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₡497

$2.13 $2.13

-48.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,149

$2.36 $2.36

8.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,232

$9.95 $9.95

-50.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 ₡9,020

$17.72 $17.72

12.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,256

$1.90 $1.90

46.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ₡1,589

$4.76 $4.76

-25.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 ₡537

$1.75 $1.75

-32.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 ₡32.5K

$57.5 $57.5

25.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₡1,011

$3.01 $3.01

-25.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ₡701

$2.08 $2.08

-25.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₡3,993

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡708

$1.51 $1.51

3.97%

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

$21.8K ₡9.8M

$37.4K $37.4K

-41.65%

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

$34.6K ₡15.6M

$26.3K $26.3K

31.60%

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

$93.5 ₡42.1K

$400 $400

-76.66%

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

$35.11 ₡15.8K

$60.0 $60.0

-41.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 ₡23.2K

$74.3 $74.3

-30.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 ₡32.2K

$38.76 $38.76

84.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.44 ₡16.0K

$24.77 $24.77

43.08%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 ₡3,535

$15.05 $15.05

-47.91%

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

$490 ₡220.7K

$1,482 $1,482

-66.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₡24.1K

$61.5 $61.5

-12.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.1K

$48.13 $48.13

15.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₡35.7K

$99.7 $99.7

-20.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 ₡35.6K

$123 $123

-35.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$786 ₡354.3K

$1,694 $1,694

-53.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ₡351.6K

$1,567 $1,567

-50.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,860 ₡1.7M

$2,401 $2,401

60.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 ₡634.4K

$2,511 $2,511

-43.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,972 ₡3.1M

$2,496 $2,496

179.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡541.3K

$2,464 $2,464

-51.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$876 ₡395.0K

$3,646 $3,646

-75.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.43

34.06%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$780 43%

Bakersfield, CA

$1.6K 50% 101% $788

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.3%

Bakersfield, CA

$411 13.1% 17.5% $61

Eating Out

Nosara

$209 11.6%

Bakersfield, CA

$327 10.4% 55.9% $117

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$180 9.9%

Bakersfield, CA

$535 17.1% 197% $355

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.6%

Bakersfield, CA

$150 4.8% 24.3% $29

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Bakersfield, CA

$69 2.2% 20.9% $18

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Bakersfield, CA

$78 2.5% 10.3% $9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $786 in Nosara and $1,694 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bakersfield, CA pays 316% 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: $60.0 in Nosara vs $64.0 in Bakersfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $411 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Bakersfield, CA

🕒 Local time

23:10 11:10 PM

22:10 10:10 PM

1 h behind Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

373,640

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Nosara Bakersfield, CA 4,400 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Bakersfield, CA

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 Bakersfield, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 316% lower in Bakersfield, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $786 in Nosara versus $1,694 in Bakersfield, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $64.0 in Bakersfield, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,837 per month in Nosara versus $3,146 in Bakersfield, CA – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,837 in Nosara versus $3,146 in Bakersfield, CA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Bakersfield, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bakersfield, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Nosara and Bakersfield, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Bakersfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.