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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,703 in Nosara versus $1,479 in Cartago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,623 in Nosara versus $2,112 in Cartago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,543 in Nosara versus $2,744 in Cartago.

Living in Nosara is roughly 15% more expensive than in Cartago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 27% above, Cartago 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₡4,853

$8.04 ₡3,595

34.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.4 ₡27.0K

$32.05 ₡14.3K

88.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 ₡3,192

$8.83 ₡3,951

-19.14%

Cappuccino

$3.79 ₡1,697

$3.95 ₡1,765

-4.05%

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

$1.57 ₡700

$2.04 ₡911

-23.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₡546

$1.23 ₡550

-0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,362

$2.02 ₡905

50.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ₡2,138

$4.63 ₡2,072

3.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₡663

$2.06 ₡923

-28.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,292

$2.15 ₡963

34.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡987

$2.13 ₡953

3.76%

Eggs

$3.00 ₡1,342

$2.97 ₡1,329

1.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ₡3,012

$8.02 ₡3,587

-16.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.99 ₡4,023

$8.95 ₡4,002

0.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 ₡6,048

$13.53 ₡6,051

-0.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 ₡945

$4.38 ₡1,957

-51.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 ₡635

$1.17 ₡522

21.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ₡1,915

$3.92 ₡1,753

9.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ₡679

$2.63 ₡1,176

-42.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 ₡1,506

$1.96 ₡876

71.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 ₡1,376

$2.03 ₡906

51.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡452

$1.01 ₡453

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₡1,064

$2.02 ₡904

17.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ₡2,074

$5.40 ₡2,417

-14.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.02 ₡9,404

$15.54 ₡6,951

35.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₡1,095

$2.52 ₡1,129

-2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,295

$1.76 ₡785

64.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₡436

$1.07 ₡477

-8.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ₡30.5K

$70.3 ₡31.4K

-3.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₡797

$1.36 ₡607

30.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 ₡804

$1.86 ₡834

-3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 ₡3,445

$8.12 ₡3,631

-5.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₡586

$1.45 ₡647

-9.66%

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

$32.6K ₡14.6M

$37.7K ₡16.9M

-13.58%

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

$32.4K ₡14.5M

$32.6K ₡14.6M

-0.48%

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

$94.4 ₡42.2K

$47.57 ₡21.3K

98.44%

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

$25.89 ₡11.6K

$25.51 ₡11.4K

1.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.27 ₡21.1K

$56.1 ₡25.1K

-15.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₡25.6K

$56.9 ₡25.5K

0.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.50 ₡10.5K

$23.47 ₡10.5K

0.13%

Cinema Ticket

$9.68 ₡4,332

$6.50 ₡2,910

48.92%

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

$446 ₡199.6K

$491 ₡219.8K

-9.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₡4.8M

$7,083 ₡3.2M

52.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.75 ₡22.3K

$63.1 ₡28.2K

-21.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 ₡23.3K

$51.9 ₡23.2K

0.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.9 ₡31.7K

$107 ₡48.0K

-33.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.2 ₡31.4K

$78.6 ₡35.2K

-10.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$772 ₡345.5K

$768 ₡343.6K

0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ₡328.9K

$605 ₡270.7K

21.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,506 ₡673.6K

$734 ₡328.3K

105.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,325 ₡592.6K

$761 ₡340.6K

73.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,053 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,215 ₡543.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$878 ₡392.6K

$1,319 ₡590.2K

-33.48%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cartago: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $772 in Nosara and $768 in Cartago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cartago pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in Nosara vs $32.00 in Cartago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $315 per month, with Cartago cheaper across the board.

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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Cartago. 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: $772 in Nosara versus $768 in Cartago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cartago runs roughly 3% less than in Nosara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $446 in Nosara versus $491 in Cartago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,479 in Cartago versus $1,703 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cartago but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Cartago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Nosara and Cartago 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 Cartago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.