Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Cerro de Pasco

For one person, living is cheaper in Cerro de Pasco: $555 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $15,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Cerro de Pasco
🇵🇪 Peru
$555
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Cerro de Pasco

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 Cerro de Pasco actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $555 in Cerro de Pasco, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Cerro de Pasco $555

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $891 in Cerro de Pasco, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Cerro de Pasco $891

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,227 in Cerro de Pasco, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Cerro de Pasco $1,227

Nosara costs about 231% more than Cerro de Pasco, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Cerro de Pasco is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$2.83 PEN 9.70
336.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$29.34 PEN 101
108.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$6.74 PEN 23.16
11.57%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.05 PEN 7.03
115.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.76 PEN 2.61
128.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.45 PEN 1.55
191.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.69 PEN 9.22
21.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$4.44 PEN 15.27
0.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.52 PEN 5.23
2.63%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$2.35 PEN 8.07
28.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.26 PEN 4.34
99.21%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.47 PEN 8.47
44.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$9.18 PEN 31.53
-19.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$6.04 PEN 20.74
74.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$7.92 PEN 27.20
76.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.00 PEN 6.86
17.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$0.76 PEN 2.61
111.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$0.43 PEN 1.46
1016.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.14 PEN 3.91
41.23%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.70 PEN 2.41
442.86%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$0.54 PEN 1.87
583.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.83 PEN 2.85
36.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.84 PEN 2.88
216.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$5.78 PEN 19.84
-10.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$7.19 PEN 24.68
176.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.92 PEN 6.60
51.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.65 PEN 9.11
36.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$3.98 PEN 13.68
-46.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.99 PEN 6.84
-21.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$7.46 PEN 25.62
14.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.67 PEN 5.74
-8.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$22.2K PEN 76.4K
-2.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$26.2K PEN 89.9K
31.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$72.8 PEN 250
32.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$16.46 PEN 56.5
118.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$27.53 PEN 94.6
94.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$7.15 PEN 24.56
10.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$176 PEN 606
180.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$12.9K PEN 44.4K
-8.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$53.3 PEN 183
1.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$35.36 PEN 121
56.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$83.2 PEN 286
-6.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$77.6 PEN 267
2.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$408 PEN 1,400
866.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Cerro de Pasco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$470 PEN 1,616
83.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
8.94
-3.58%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Cerro de Pasco
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Cerro de Pasco
$203 42.4% $149
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Cerro de Pasco
$95 55.4% $117
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Cerro de Pasco
$117 37.1% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Cerro de Pasco
$112 6.5% $7.9
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Cerro de Pasco
$14 * 83.6% $73
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Cerro de Pasco
$14 * 84% $73

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 84% 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 $29.00 in Cerro de Pasco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $203 – making Cerro de Pasco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇵🇪 Cerro de Pasco
🕒 Local time
13:56 1:56 PM
14:56 2:56 PM
1 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
58,899
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Cerro de Pasco 2,520 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Cerro de Pasco

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 Cerro de Pasco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cerro de Pasco cheaper than Nosara?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 231%, 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 $2,758 per month in Nosara and $832 in Cerro de Pasco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Cerro de Pasco?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $29.00 in Cerro de Pasco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Nosara and in Cerro de Pasco?
Groceries cost about 74% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Cerro de Pasco?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cerro de Pasco, where all-in costs run around $555, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Cerro de Pasco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nosara or Cerro de Pasco more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cerro de Pasco – 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 Cerro de Pasco?
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 Cerro de Pasco. 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.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

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