Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Daule

For one person, living is cheaper in Daule: $855 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Daule
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Daule

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $855 in Daule.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Daule $855

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $1,415 in Daule.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Daule $1,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $1,976 in Daule.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Daule $1,976

Living in Nosara is roughly 115% more expensive than in Daule, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nosara is 36% above, Daule is 37% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Daule
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$5.90 $5.90
109.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$54.4 $54.4
12.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$7.52 $7.52
-
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$3.43 $3.43
28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.39 $1.39
25.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$1.14 $1.14
14.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$3.41 $3.41
-3.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$6.02 $6.02
-25.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Daule
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.15 $1.15
35.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.60 $1.60
88.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.52 $1.52
65.13%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.09 $2.09
70.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$6.30 $6.30
17.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$5.46 $5.46
92.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$7.50 $7.50
86.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.33 $2.33
0.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.18 $1.18
36.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.32 $1.32
263.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.09 $1.09
47.71%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.25 $1.25
204.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.03 $1.03
258.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.91 $0.91
24.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.02 $1.02
160.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$5.92 $5.92
-12.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$10.19 $10.19
95.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.51 $1.51
92.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$3.19 $3.19
13.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Daule
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.38 $0.38
194.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$16.38 $16.38
343.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.52 $1.52
40.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.52 $1.52
3.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$10.02 $10.02
-14.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$0.86 $0.86
76.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$20.8K $20.8K
4.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$27.9K $27.9K
23.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Daule
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$28.96 $28.96
232.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$18.12 $18.12
98.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$28.72 $28.72
86.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Daule
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$25.86 $25.86
176.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$17.36 $17.36
101.09%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$6.26 $6.26
26.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Daule
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$231 $231
113.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$8,779 $8,779
35.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Daule
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$70.5 $70.5
-23.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$49.15 $49.15
12.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$118 $118
-33.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$109 $109
-26.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Daule
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$269 $269
193.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$211 $211
275.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$668 $668
489.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$381 $381
272.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$1,216 $1,216
468.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$755 $755
62.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Daule
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
10.12
-14.82%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Daule: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Daule
$211 73.4% $583
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Daule
$196 44.3% $156
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Daule
$150 29.1% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Daule
$76 59.2% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Daule
$156 29.8% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Daule
$38 56.1% $49
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Daule
$27 68.9% $60

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $269 in Daule. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $54.0 in Daule for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $196 per month, with Daule cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇪🇨 Daule
🕒 Local time
16:29 4:29 PM
17:29 5:29 PM
1 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
173,684
Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Daule 1,460 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Daule

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 Daule: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Daule cheaper than Nosara?
Daule is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,758 in Nosara and $1,282 in Daule to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Nosara and Daule?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $269 in Daule. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Daule?
Dining out is cheaper in Daule – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Nosara and in Daule?
All in, you'll spend $1,839 per month in Nosara versus $855 in Daule – a 115% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Daule?
At $855 in Daule versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Daule but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Daule the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nosara or Daule more family-friendly?
For families, Daule 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.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Daule?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Daule are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Daule gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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