Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Croydon

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $3,041 in Croydon, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Croydon
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$3,041
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Croydon

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $3,041 in Croydon, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Croydon $3,041

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $4,216 in Croydon, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Croydon $4,216

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $5,391 in Croydon, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Croydon $5,391

Nosara is about 40% cheaper than Croydon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Croydon sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Croydon by 127%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Croydon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$26.15 £19.76
-53.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$92.8 £70.1
-35.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$10.06 £7.60
-25.05%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$4.78 £3.61
-9.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$2.84 £2.14
-39.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$2.15 £1.62
-37.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$8.81 £6.66
-63.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$6.49 £4.91
-30.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Croydon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$1.69 £1.28
-7.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$1.44 £1.09
120.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$2.97 £2.25
-18.52%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$3.97 £3.00
-10.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$11.26 £8.51
-34.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$7.91 £5.98
31.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$12.49 £9.44
9.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$2.98 £2.26
-22.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$1.42 £1.08
13.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$2.97 £2.25
59.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$3.17 £2.40
-47.63%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$1.61 £1.22
131.06%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$1.35 £1.02
164.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$1.47 £1.11
-25.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$1.63 £1.23
56.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$23.32 £17.62
-78.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$11.74 £8.87
70.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$2.36 £1.78
18.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$3.28 £2.48
7.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Croydon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$3.37 £2.55
-64.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
$134 £101
-46.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$6.79 £5.13
-67.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$3.26 £2.46
-52.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$53.5 £40.42
-83.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$2.04 £1.54
-23.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$38.5K £29.1K
-43.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$40.6K £30.6K
-14.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Croydon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$331 £250
-71.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$18.18 £13.74
93.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$40.47 £30.59
27.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Croydon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$34.89 £26.37
104.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
$13.24 £10.01
167.67%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$12.97 £9.80
-39.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Croydon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$1,787 £1,351
-72.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$29.4K £22.2K
-59.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Croydon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$75.9 £57.4
-29.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$54.3 £41.02
2.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$90.4 £68.3
-12.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$150 £113
-47.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Croydon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$1,837 £1,388
-57.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$1,609 £1,216
-51.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$2,517 £1,902
53.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$2,255 £1,704
-37.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$8,691 £6,568
-19.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$6,838 £5,167
-82.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Croydon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$4,413 £3,335
-80.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
5
72.40%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Croydon: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Croydon
$1.6K 106% $829
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Croydon
$296 15.3% $54
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Croydon
$374 78.4% $164
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Croydon
$389 116% $209
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Croydon
$167 38.6% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Croydon
$61 30.1% $26
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Croydon
$171 96.4% $84

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $1,837 in Croydon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 404% higher in Croydon, 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 $60.0 in Nosara versus $93.0 in Croydon. Groceries tell a different story – $350 in Nosara vs $296 in Croydon – so Croydon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇬🇧 Croydon
🕒 Local time
21:09 9:09 PM
04:09 4:09 AM
7 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
173,314
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.756 GBP (1 GBP = 1.32 USD). 1 EUR = 0.848 GBP (1 GBP = 1.18 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Croydon 8,830 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Croydon

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 Croydon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Croydon cheaper than Nosara?
Yes – Croydon is pricier by about 65%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $4,561 in Croydon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Nosara and in Croydon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,837 in Nosara and $3,041 in Croydon. That's a gap of about 65%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 86% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Croydon?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Croydon at $3,041. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Croydon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nosara or Croydon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nosara – 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 Croydon?
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 Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Croydon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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