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

😐 Solo nomad: Nosara is 25.2% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nosara is 20.6% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 29.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Cartago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.04 ₡5,062
$8.09 ₡3,712
36.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 ₡27.8K
$31.71 ₡14.5K
91.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.84 ₡3,136
$8.87 ₡4,066
-22.89%
Cappuccino
$3.79 ₡1,736
$3.79 ₡1,738
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₡721
$1.98 ₡908
-20.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 ₡536
$1.29 ₡591
-9.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 ₡1,334
$2.00 ₡918
45.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 ₡2,122
$4.53 ₡2,079
2.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Cartago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 ₡643
$2.04 ₡935
-31.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 ₡1,309
$2.14 ₡979
33.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡979
$2.17 ₡997
-1.84%
Eggs
$3.02 ₡1,385
$2.93 ₡1,345
3.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.70 ₡3,075
$8.00 ₡3,670
-16.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.86 ₡4,066
$9.22 ₡4,231
-3.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.51 ₡6,197
$13.92 ₡6,387
-2.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 ₡981
$4.63 ₡2,126
-53.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 ₡650
$1.22 ₡557
16.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 ₡2,000
$4.04 ₡1,855
7.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₡689
$2.65 ₡1,215
-43.40%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,627
$1.97 ₡905
80.20%
Onion (1kg)
$3.21 ₡1,473
$1.94 ₡888
65.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡464
$1.03 ₡471
-1.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 ₡1,066
$1.95 ₡895
18.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.47 ₡2,049
$5.43 ₡2,489
-17.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.37 ₡9,346
$14.92 ₡6,842
36.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 ₡1,145
$2.50 ₡1,146
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₡1,323
$1.82 ₡835
58.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Cartago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ₡467
$1.02 ₡467
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.8 ₡31.1K
$70.0 ₡32.1K
-3.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 ₡834
$1.40 ₡643
30.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 ₡820
$1.77 ₡814
1.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 ₡3,711
$8.03 ₡3,685
0.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ₡615
$1.39 ₡639
-3.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K ₡14.7M
$38.0K ₡17.4M
-15.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K ₡14.7M
$32.8K ₡15.0M
-1.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Cartago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.2 ₡43.7K
$47.57 ₡21.8K
100.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.17 ₡12.0K
$25.60 ₡11.7K
2.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.04 ₡22.0K
$57.5 ₡26.4K
-16.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Cartago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 ₡26.5K
$56.2 ₡25.8K
2.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.79 ₡10.9K
$23.98 ₡11.0K
-0.79%
Cinema Ticket
$9.67 ₡4,436
$6.54 ₡3,002
47.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Cartago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$450 ₡206.4K
$494 ₡226.6K
-8.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₡4.9M
$7,231 ₡3.3M
48.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Cartago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.98 ₡22.9K
$62.4 ₡28.6K
-19.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.3 ₡24.0K
$51.1 ₡23.5K
2.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.7 ₡32.4K
$108 ₡49.7K
-34.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.5 ₡33.3K
$79.8 ₡36.6K
-9.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Cartago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$758 ₡347.6K
$759 ₡348.2K
-0.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 ₡344.4K
$591 ₡271.3K
26.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,517 ₡695.7K
$735 ₡337.4K
106.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,326 ₡608.1K
$778 ₡357.0K
70.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,907 ₡3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,213 ₡556.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Cartago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$881 ₡404.1K
$1,295 ₡594.0K
-31.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10
1.70%

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

Last update for Nosara: April 12, 2026

Last update for Cartago: April 14, 2026

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

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