Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Cartago Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Cartago

🙂 Solo nomad: Nosara is 4.3% cheaper than Cartago without rent, and 11.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Nosara is 23.9% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.02 ₡5,204

$8.12 ₡3,832

35.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.3 ₡28.5K

$32.23 ₡15.2K

86.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 ₡3,260

$9.11 ₡4,303

-24.26%

Cappuccino

$3.89 ₡1,839

$3.82 ₡1,803

1.83%

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

$1.56 ₡736

$2.03 ₡960

-23.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₡557

$1.24 ₡584

-4.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 ₡1,423

$2.00 ₡945

50.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 ₡2,239

$4.59 ₡2,166

3.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡688

$2.06 ₡973

-29.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 ₡1,312

$2.15 ₡1,015

29.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,005

$2.25 ₡1,065

-5.33%

Eggs

$2.98 ₡1,408

$2.94 ₡1,389

1.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.59 ₡3,112

$8.15 ₡3,847

-19.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 ₡4,341

$8.98 ₡4,240

2.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 ₡6,482

$13.47 ₡6,363

1.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ₡959

$4.42 ₡2,088

-54.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ₡665

$1.21 ₡572

16.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 ₡2,058

$4.08 ₡1,928

6.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 ₡712

$2.61 ₡1,233

-42.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 ₡1,665

$1.94 ₡914

81.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 ₡1,507

$1.95 ₡921

63.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡456

$0.96 ₡453

1.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,133

$2.03 ₡957

18.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ₡2,135

$5.41 ₡2,554

-16.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.94 ₡9,415

$14.90 ₡7,035

33.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,132

$2.48 ₡1,172

-3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,335

$1.80 ₡851

57.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡455

$1.05 ₡496

-8.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.2 ₡31.2K

$69.6 ₡32.9K

-4.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡857

$1.37 ₡648

32.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡880

$1.80 ₡849

3.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 ₡3,692

$8.06 ₡3,808

-2.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ₡615

$1.47 ₡694

-11.56%

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

$31.7K ₡15.0M

$38.2K ₡18.0M

-16.89%

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

$33.2K ₡15.7M

$32.4K ₡15.3M

2.48%

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

$94.2 ₡44.5K

$49.17 ₡23.2K

91.50%

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

$25.83 ₡12.2K

$26.22 ₡12.4K

-1.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.52 ₡22.4K

$57.7 ₡27.3K

-17.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₡26.4K

$56.9 ₡26.9K

-1.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.82 ₡11.3K

$24.07 ₡11.4K

-1.04%

Cinema Ticket

$9.91 ₡4,680

$6.58 ₡3,107

50.61%

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

$452 ₡213.5K

$488 ₡230.4K

-7.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₡5.1M

$7,079 ₡3.3M

52.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.00 ₡23.1K

$61.9 ₡29.2K

-20.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡24.0K

$52.1 ₡24.6K

-2.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 ₡33.9K

$108 ₡51.1K

-33.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 ₡34.5K

$78.6 ₡37.1K

-7.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₡366.5K

$763 ₡360.3K

1.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$742 ₡350.4K

$589 ₡278.3K

25.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 ₡726.2K

$728 ₡343.8K

111.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 ₡630.4K

$776 ₡366.2K

72.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,726 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 ₡545.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$835 ₡394.3K

$1,269 ₡599.4K

-34.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

1.70%

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

Last update for Nosara: March 2, 2026

Last update for Cartago: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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