Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Casa Grande, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Casa Grande, AZ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,570
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Casa Grande, AZ

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 Casa Grande, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Casa Grande, AZ $2,570

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $3,734 in Casa Grande, AZ, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Casa Grande, AZ $3,734

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $4,897 in Casa Grande, AZ, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Casa Grande, AZ $4,897

Nosara is about 28% cheaper than Casa Grande, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Casa Grande, AZ sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Casa Grande, AZ by 90%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Casa Grande, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,556
$18.63 $18.63
-33.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.5K
$74.1 $74.1
-17.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,383
$11.02 $11.02
-31.76%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,984
$4.94 $4.94
-10.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡782
$2.56 $2.56
-32.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡589
$1.94 $1.94
-32.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,475
$5.88 $5.88
-44.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,010
$7.06 $7.06
-36.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Casa Grande, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡703
$1.00 $1.00
56.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,359
$3.60 $3.60
-16.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,129
$4.34 $4.34
-42.17%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,608
$4.18 $4.18
-14.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,344
$12.04 $12.04
-38.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,732
$11.38 $11.38
-7.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,284
$15.73 $15.73
-11.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,055
$4.78 $4.78
-50.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡722
$1.64 $1.64
-1.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,159
$4.14 $4.14
15.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡726
$4.74 $4.74
-66.03%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,708
$2.81 $2.81
35.23%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,662
$2.90 $2.90
27.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡508
$2.02 $2.02
-44.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,195
$2.13 $2.13
24.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,328
$9.80 $9.80
-47.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,944
$14.20 $14.20
40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,304
$1.83 $1.83
58.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,631
$3.38 $3.38
7.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Casa Grande, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡506
$2.02 $2.02
-44.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡961
$3.52 $3.52
-39.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡706
$1.61 $1.61
-2.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,835
$28.96 $28.96
-70.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡684
$0.89 $0.89
70.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$29.0K $29.0K
-25.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$25.2K $25.2K
37.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Casa Grande, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.3K
$189 $189
-49.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$52.4 $52.4
-31.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.1K
$67.3 $67.3
-20.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Casa Grande, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.2K
$42.23 $42.23
69.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,550
$13.69 $13.69
-42.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Casa Grande, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡222.3K
$1,318 $1,318
-62.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$23.1K $23.1K
-48.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Casa Grande, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.3K
$50.6 $50.6
6.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.9K
$39.84 $39.84
39.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡35.1K
$87.6 $87.6
-11.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.8K
$110 $110
-27.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Casa Grande, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡354.5K
$1,618 $1,618
-51.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡357.3K
$1,353 $1,353
-41.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$2,641 $2,641
49.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡638.4K
$2,197 $2,197
-35.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$2,822 $2,822
144.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡550.7K
$2,448 $2,448
-50.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Casa Grande, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡388.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.51
32.41%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Casa Grande, AZ: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Casa Grande, AZ
$1.4K 70.3% $558
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Casa Grande, AZ
$386 9.7% $34
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Casa Grande, AZ
$303 43% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Casa Grande, AZ
$309 66.4% $123
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Casa Grande, AZ
$130 8% $9.6
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Casa Grande, AZ
$70 20.3% $18
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Casa Grande, AZ
$20 * 77.5% $67

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $1,618 in Casa Grande, AZ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $74.0 in Casa Grande, AZ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $386 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇺🇸 Casa Grande, AZ
🕒 Local time
07:54 7:54 AM
06:54 6:54 AM
1 h behind Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
54,316
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Casa Grande, AZ 3,690 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Casa Grande, AZ

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 Casa Grande, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Casa Grande, AZ compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ – roughly 40% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Casa Grande, AZ?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $3,855 in Casa Grande, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Casa Grande, AZ?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nosara or Casa Grande, AZ?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ. That's a gap of about 40%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Casa Grande, AZ?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $1,318 in Casa Grande, AZ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,839, than in Casa Grande, AZ at $2,570. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Casa Grande, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Casa Grande, AZ?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,839 in Nosara to $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Casa Grande, AZ safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Nosara and Casa Grande, AZ?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Casa Grande, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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