Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Bijelo Polje

For one person, living is cheaper in Bijelo Polje: $1,289 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Bijelo Polje
🇲🇪 Montenegro
$1,289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Bijelo Polje

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

A single person spends $1,835 per month in Nosara vs $1,289 in Bijelo Polje, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Bijelo Polje $1,289

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Nosara vs $2,011 in Bijelo Polje, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Bijelo Polje $2,011

A family of three spends $3,814 per month in Nosara vs $2,733 in Bijelo Polje, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Bijelo Polje $2,733

Nosara costs about 42% more than Bijelo Polje, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 35% above the global median, while Bijelo Polje is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$11.02 €9.80
11.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$36.35 €32.33
68.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$9.06 €8.06
-14.35%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$2.64 €2.34
68.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$2.48 €2.21
-27.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$1.58 €1.40
-18.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$2.85 €2.54
13.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$3.40 €3.03
30.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.19 €1.06
30.25%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$0.97 €0.86
217.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$2.89 €2.57
-12.46%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$3.07 €2.73
12.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$9.14 €8.13
-19.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$7.19 €6.40
42.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$12.62 €11.22
11.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$1.32 €1.18
73.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.56 €1.39
5.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$1.56 €1.39
207.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$2.99 €2.66
-45.15%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$0.93 €0.83
313.98%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$1.27 €1.13
195.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$1.52 €1.36
-28.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$0.89 €0.79
191.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$3.89 €3.46
31.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$4.59 €4.08
333.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$1.27 €1.13
120.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$1.72 €1.53
104.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Bijelo Polje
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$1.64 €1.46
-25.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
$38.93 €34.63
89.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$1.15 €1.02
88.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$1.14 €1.01
36.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$16.71 €14.86
-48.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$1.76 €1.56
-11.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$32.6K €29.0K
5.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$21.2K €18.8K
82.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$132 €118
-28.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$12.88 €11.46
180.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$34.04 €30.28
55.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$46.82 €41.65
57.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
$14.36 €12.77
148.12%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$8.01 €7.13
-1.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$56.3 €50.1
770.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$6,950 €6,182
71.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$84.9 €75.5
-35.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$33.21 €29.54
68.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$72.3 €64.3
11.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$95.8 €85.2
-18.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Bijelo Polje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$633 €563
26.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$456 €406
73.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$1,292 €1,149
209.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$930 €827
51.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$3,396 €3,021
107.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$2,291 €2,038
-46.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Bijelo Polje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
$848 €754
4.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
5.45
58.17%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Bijelo Polje: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Bijelo Polje
$456 42.2% $333
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Bijelo Polje
$225 35.7% $125
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Bijelo Polje
$184 13.4% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Bijelo Polje
$179 2.6% $4.8
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Bijelo Polje
$129 6.4% $7.8
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Bijelo Polje
$63 29.9% $27
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Bijelo Polje
$52 41% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $801 in Nosara versus $633 in Bijelo Polje. 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 5% 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 $36.00 in Bijelo Polje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $225 – making Bijelo Polje the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇲🇪 Bijelo Polje
🕒 Local time
23:15 11:15 PM
06:15 6:15 AM
7 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
13,117
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Bijelo Polje 10,470 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Bijelo Polje

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 Bijelo Polje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bijelo Polje cheaper than Nosara?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 42%, 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 $2,753 per month in Nosara and $1,933 in Bijelo Polje. 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 Bijelo Polje, 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 Bijelo Polje?
Groceries cost about 55% 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 Bijelo Polje?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $36.00 in Bijelo Polje. 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 Bijelo Polje?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bijelo Polje, where all-in costs run around $1,289, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Bijelo Polje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nosara or Bijelo Polje more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bijelo Polje – 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 Bijelo Polje?
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 Bijelo Polje. 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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