Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Bella Vista

For one person, living is cheaper in Bella Vista: $189 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $19,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Bella Vista
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$189
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Bella Vista

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $189 in Bella Vista, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Bella Vista $189

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $307 in Bella Vista, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Bella Vista $307

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $425 in Bella Vista, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Bella Vista $425

Nosara costs about 873% more than Bella Vista, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Bella Vista is 86% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Bella Vista
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$1.97 ₲11.2K
526.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$13.31 ₲75.7K
359.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$1.94 ₲11.0K
127.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.99 ₲5,611
75.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$1.51 ₲8,613
196.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Bella Vista
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$0.83 ₲4,737
87.95%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$0.49 ₲2,760
516.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$0.99 ₲5,611
153.54%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.14 ₲12.2K
66.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$5.99 ₲34.0K
24.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$2.98 ₲16.9K
253.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$0.72 ₲4,087
123.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.02 ₲5,775
160.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$1.02 ₲5,801
407.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$4.90 ₲27.8K
305.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$0.78 ₲4,423
271.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.75 ₲9,962
107.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Bella Vista
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Bella Vista
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$18.27 ₲103.9K
427.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$12.15 ₲69.1K
195.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$20.19 ₲114.8K
165.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Bella Vista
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Bella Vista
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Bella Vista
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Bella Vista
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Bella Vista
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$375 ₲2.1M
130.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
0
-

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Bella Vista: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Bella Vista
–
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Bella Vista
–
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Bella Vista
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Bella Vista
–
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Bella Vista
–
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Bella Vista
–
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Bella Vista
–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 131% 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 $13.00 in Bella Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $92.0 – making Bella Vista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇵🇾 Bella Vista
🕒 Local time
21:37 9:37 PM
00:37 12:37 AM
3 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
5,653
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 5,686 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,393 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Bella Vista 4,780 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Bella Vista

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 Bella Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Bella Vista?
Nosara costs about 873% more than Bella Vista, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nosara and in Bella Vista?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $283 in Bella Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to Bella Vista?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $189 in Bella Vista. That's a gap of about 873%.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in Bella Vista?
Groceries cost about 282% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Bella Vista?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bella Vista, where all-in costs run around $189, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Bella Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Bella Vista?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bella Vista costs $189 versus $1,839 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nosara compared to Bella Vista?
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.
Should I move to Nosara or to Bella Vista?
If budget matters most, go with Bella Vista. 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.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?