Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Curridabat Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Curridabat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,668 in Nosara versus $1,620 in Curridabat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,595 in Nosara versus $2,444 in Curridabat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,522 in Nosara versus $3,268 in Curridabat.

Living in Nosara is roughly 3% more expensive than Curridabat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 25% above, Curridabat 21% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.08 ₡5,037

$11.16 ₡5,074

-0.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡26.7K

$60.0 ₡27.3K

-2.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₡3,146

$8.77 ₡3,988

-21.09%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₡1,776

$3.64 ₡1,654

7.42%

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

$1.62 ₡736

$1.99 ₡905

-18.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₡554

$1.50 ₡683

-18.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 ₡1,350

$2.95 ₡1,342

0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 ₡2,060

$4.63 ₡2,107

-2.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡663

$1.96 ₡892

-25.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,253

$2.86 ₡1,302

-3.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡970

$2.14 ₡974

-0.47%

Eggs

$2.87 ₡1,307

$3.02 ₡1,374

-4.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 ₡3,100

$10.17 ₡4,625

-32.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.97 ₡4,080

$9.37 ₡4,259

-4.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ₡6,152

$13.77 ₡6,262

-1.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 ₡968

$4.40 ₡2,003

-51.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₡639

$1.46 ₡665

-4.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,988

$4.19 ₡1,904

4.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₡696

$3.43 ₡1,559

-55.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₡1,542

$3.54 ₡1,610

-4.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,455

$3.15 ₡1,434

1.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡457

$1.00 ₡456

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₡1,051

$2.81 ₡1,279

-17.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.66 ₡2,118

$5.24 ₡2,384

-11.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.81 ₡9,462

$22.12 ₡10.1K

-5.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,095

$2.48 ₡1,129

-2.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,287

$2.88 ₡1,311

-1.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡435

$0.98 ₡443

-2.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₡30.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡841

$1.88 ₡853

-1.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡839

$1.86 ₡844

-1.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 ₡3,578

$8.05 ₡3,662

-2.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₡585

$1.40 ₡638

-7.86%

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

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$38.4K ₡17.5M

-14.89%

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

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$32.2K ₡14.7M

1.41%

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

$95.3 ₡43.3K

$92.3 ₡42.0K

3.24%

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

$25.39 ₡11.5K

$26.04 ₡11.8K

-2.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.17 ₡21.9K

$59.4 ₡27.0K

-18.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 ₡25.6K

$57.8 ₡26.3K

-2.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.52 ₡10.7K

$24.22 ₡11.0K

-2.89%

Cinema Ticket

$10.19 ₡4,633

$10.13 ₡4,606

0.59%

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

$458 ₡208.1K

$562 ₡255.4K

-18.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.8M

$12.8K ₡5.8M

-17.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 ₡23.0K

$63.0 ₡28.6K

-19.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₡23.5K

$52.4 ₡23.8K

-1.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 ₡32.7K

$127 ₡57.9K

-43.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.4 ₡32.9K

$109 ₡49.8K

-33.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$769 ₡349.7K

$758 ₡344.5K

1.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 ₡337.0K

$589 ₡268.0K

25.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 ₡704.1K

$1,527 ₡694.3K

1.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 ₡609.8K

$954 ₡433.9K

40.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,153 ₡3.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡546.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$869 ₡395.4K

$500 ₡227.3K

73.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Nosara: April 27, 2026

Last update for Curridabat: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $769 in Nosara and $758 in Curridabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 74% 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: $59.0 in Nosara vs $60.0 in Curridabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $369 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

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 Curridabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Curridabat is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Nosara pays 74% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $769 in Nosara versus $758 in Curridabat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $458 in Nosara versus $562 in Curridabat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Curridabat – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $59.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,620 in Curridabat versus $1,668 in Nosara, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Curridabat but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Curridabat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Nosara and Curridabat 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 Curridabat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.