Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Crans-Montana

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $3,440 in Crans-Montana, rent and utilities included – about $19,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Crans-Montana
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,440
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Crans-Montana

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 Crans-Montana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,835 per month in Nosara vs $3,440 in Crans-Montana, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Crans-Montana $3,440

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Nosara vs $5,216 in Crans-Montana, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Crans-Montana $5,216

A family of three spends $3,814 per month in Nosara vs $6,992 in Crans-Montana, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Crans-Montana $6,992

Nosara is about 47% cheaper than Crans-Montana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Crans-Montana sit above the global median – Nosara by 35%, Crans-Montana by 154%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Crans-Montana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$18.31 CHF 15.08
-32.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$102 CHF 83.7
-39.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$17.87 CHF 14.72
-56.58%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$3.53 CHF 2.90
25.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$4.64 CHF 3.82
-61.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$4.04 CHF 3.33
-68.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$9.85 CHF 8.11
-67.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$9.47 CHF 7.80
-53.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Crans-Montana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$2.37 CHF 1.95
-34.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$3.44 CHF 2.83
-10.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$3.28 CHF 2.70
-22.87%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$7.92 CHF 6.52
-56.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$25.04 CHF 20.62
-70.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$29.16 CHF 24.01
-64.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$42.65 CHF 35.13
-66.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$3.48 CHF 2.86
-34.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.70 CHF 1.40
-3.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$2.82 CHF 2.32
69.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$4.93 CHF 4.06
-66.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$1.61 CHF 1.32
139.13%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$2.26 CHF 1.87
65.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$2.24 CHF 1.85
-51.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$1.65 CHF 1.36
56.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$11.10 CHF 9.14
-53.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$11.88 CHF 9.78
67.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$3.15 CHF 2.59
-11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$3.45 CHF 2.84
2.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Crans-Montana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$4.79 CHF 3.95
-74.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
$112 CHF 92.0
-33.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$7.48 CHF 6.16
-70.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$3.01 CHF 2.48
-48.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$62.6 CHF 51.6
-86.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$2.44 CHF 2.01
-36.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$38.7K CHF 31.9K
-10.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$39.3K CHF 32.4K
-1.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Crans-Montana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$280 CHF 231
-66.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$37.45 CHF 30.84
-3.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$58.4 CHF 48.09
-9.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Crans-Montana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$99.8 CHF 82.2
-26.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
$41.00 CHF 33.77
-13.10%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$24.52 CHF 20.20
-67.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Crans-Montana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$2,350 CHF 1,936
-79.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$36.0K CHF 29.6K
-66.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Crans-Montana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$135 CHF 111
-59.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$79.9 CHF 65.8
-30.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$163 CHF 134
-50.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$187 CHF 154
-58.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Crans-Montana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$1,620 CHF 1,335
-50.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$1,562 CHF 1,287
-49.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$2,733 CHF 2,251
46.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$2,753 CHF 2,267
-48.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$17.5K CHF 14.4K
-59.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$12.1K CHF 9,973
-89.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Crans-Montana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
1.98
335.35%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Crans-Montana: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Crans-Montana
$1.6K 97.9% $773
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Crans-Montana
$600 71.5% $250
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Crans-Montana
$345 62.4% $133
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Crans-Montana
$376 104% $192
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Crans-Montana
$254 110% $133
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Crans-Montana
$149 66.1% $59
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Crans-Montana
$153 72.9% $65

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $801 in Nosara versus $1,620 in Crans-Montana. 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 $102 in Crans-Montana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $600 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇨🇭 Crans-Montana
🕒 Local time
16:02 4:02 PM
00:02 12:02 AM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
10,218
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Crans-Montana 9,450 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Crans-Montana

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 Crans-Montana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Crans-Montana?
Crans-Montana costs about 87% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nosara and in Crans-Montana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,753 per month in Nosara and $5,159 in Crans-Montana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nosara or Crans-Montana?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in Crans-Montana?
Groceries cost about 72% more in Crans-Montana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Crans-Montana?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $102 in Crans-Montana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Nosara or in Crans-Montana?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,835, than in Crans-Montana at $3,440. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Crans-Montana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Crans-Montana?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nosara costs $1,835 versus $3,440 in Crans-Montana. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nosara compared to Crans-Montana?
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.
Should I move to Nosara or to Crans-Montana?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Crans-Montana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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