Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Clearwater, FL

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,958 in Clearwater, FL, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
145

Cost of Living Index in Clearwater, FL
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Clearwater, FL Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Clearwater, FL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,958

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Clearwater, FL

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 Clearwater, FL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,958 in Clearwater, FL.

Nosara $1,839
Clearwater, FL $2,958

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $4,448 in Clearwater, FL.

Nosara $2,828
Clearwater, FL $4,448

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $5,938 in Clearwater, FL.

Nosara $3,818
Clearwater, FL $5,938

Living in Nosara costs roughly 38% less than in Clearwater, FL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 36% above, Clearwater, FL 119% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.35 ₡5,539

$16.87 $16.87

-26.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$68.6 $68.6

-10.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₡3,373

$11.49 $11.49

-34.55%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,978

$4.84 $4.84

-8.88%

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

$1.74 ₡780

$2.36 $2.36

-26.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡587

$1.85 $1.85

-29.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$5.53 $5.53

-40.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡2,004

$8.03 $8.03

-44.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$0.99 $0.99

57.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₡1,355

$3.67 $3.67

-17.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,125

$4.38 $4.38

-42.69%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,603

$4.10 $4.10

-12.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,333

$11.19 $11.19

-33.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,717

$14.42 $14.42

-27.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,265

$19.46 $19.46

-28.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$6.44 $6.44

-63.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$1.51 $1.51

6.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 ₡2,152

$5.80 $5.80

-17.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡724

$6.10 $6.10

-73.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₡1,703

$4.43 $4.43

-14.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,657

$3.91 $3.91

-5.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$2.66 $2.66

-57.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$2.59 $2.59

2.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,321

$10.84 $10.84

-52.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ₡8,916

$16.80 $16.80

18.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$1.84 $1.84

57.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,626

$4.64 $4.64

-21.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

$2.96 $2.96

-62.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$44.47 $44.47

63.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₡958

$3.35 $3.35

-36.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡703

$0.66 $0.66

137.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 ₡3,823

$60.4 $60.4

-85.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.01 $1.01

50.50%

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

$21.6K ₡9.7M

$37.4K $37.4K

-42.29%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$25.0K $25.0K

37.87%

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

$96.3 ₡43.2K

$250 $250

-61.47%

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

$35.89 ₡16.1K

$57.1 $57.1

-37.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$75.4 $75.4

-28.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$39.80 $39.80

79.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 ₡15.7K

$24.58 $24.58

42.03%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₡3,539

$15.76 $15.76

-49.94%

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

$494 ₡221.6K

$1,258 $1,258

-60.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$25.5K $25.5K

-53.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₡24.2K

$76.1 $76.1

-29.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$54.0 $54.0

2.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$110 $110

-29.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₡35.7K

$141 $141

-43.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₡353.4K

$2,100 $2,100

-62.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡356.2K

$1,527 $1,527

-48.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,939 ₡1.8M

$3,576 $3,576

10.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 ₡636.5K

$2,850 $2,850

-50.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,912 ₡3.1M

$2,991 $2,991

131.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 ₡549.0K

$2,744 $2,744

-55.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

$3,685 $3,685

-76.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.59

30.80%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Clearwater, FL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$794 43.2%

Clearwater, FL

$1.5K 51.6% 92.3% $733

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$352 19.2%

Clearwater, FL

$454 15.4% 29% $102

Eating Out

Nosara

$212 11.5%

Clearwater, FL

$288 9.7% 36% $76

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$186 10.1%

Clearwater, FL

$382 12.9% 106% $197

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.5%

Clearwater, FL

$172 5.8% 43% $52

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Clearwater, FL

$71 2.4% 18.4% $16

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.7%

Clearwater, FL

$63 2.1% 27.7% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $2,100 in Clearwater, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Clearwater, FL pays 327% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $69.0 in Clearwater, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $454 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Clearwater, FL

🕒 Local time

07:38 7:38 AM

09:38 9:38 AM

2 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

107,742

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

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Between locations

Nosara Clearwater, FL 2,020 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Clearwater, FL

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 Clearwater, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 327% lower in Clearwater, FL. 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: $788 in Nosara versus $2,100 in Clearwater, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,839 per month in Nosara versus $2,958 in Clearwater, FL – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nosara runs roughly 63% less than in Clearwater, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,958 in Clearwater, FL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Clearwater, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Nosara and Clearwater, FL 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 Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Clearwater, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.