Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Denton, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,350 in Denton, TX, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Denton, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,350
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Denton, TX

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,350 in Denton, TX.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Denton, TX $2,350

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $3,547 in Denton, TX.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Denton, TX $3,547

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $4,745 in Denton, TX.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Denton, TX $4,745

Living in Nosara costs roughly 22% less than in Denton, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 36% above, Denton, TX 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Denton, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$17.78 $17.78
-30.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$75.2 $75.2
-18.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$11.21 $11.21
-32.92%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$5.03 $5.03
-12.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$2.60 $2.60
-33.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$1.60 $1.60
-18.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$5.90 $5.90
-44.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$6.94 $6.94
-35.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Denton, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$0.78 $0.78
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$2.89 $2.89
4.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$2.96 $2.96
-15.20%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.73 $2.73
30.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$10.07 $10.07
-26.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$10.07 $10.07
4.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$16.51 $16.51
-15.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$4.59 $4.59
-48.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.53 $1.53
5.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$3.34 $3.34
43.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$4.21 $4.21
-61.76%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.87 $1.87
103.21%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$2.93 $2.93
25.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.54 $1.54
-26.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$2.67 $2.67
-0.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$10.19 $10.19
-49.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$11.69 $11.69
70.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$2.34 $2.34
23.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$3.84 $3.84
-5.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Denton, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.53 $1.53
-26.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$48.29 $48.29
50.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$3.28 $3.28
-34.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.54 $1.54
1.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$29.91 $29.91
-71.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$0.98 $0.98
55.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$27.4K $27.4K
-21.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$27.2K $27.2K
26.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Denton, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$223 $223
-56.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$67.4 $67.4
-46.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$75.2 $75.2
-28.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Denton, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$32.67 $32.67
119.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$32.26 $32.26
8.21%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$16.00 $16.00
-50.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Denton, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$1,796 $1,796
-72.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$20.0K $20.0K
-40.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Denton, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$50.8 $50.8
6.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$50.2 $50.2
10.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$99.6 $99.6
-21.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$129 $129
-38.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Denton, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$1,267 $1,267
-37.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$1,061 $1,061
-25.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$2,322 $2,322
69.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,918 $1,918
-26.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$2,712 $2,712
154.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$2,175 $2,175
-43.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Denton, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$3,782 $3,782
-77.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.78
27.14%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Denton, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Denton, TX
$1.1K 33.6% $267
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Denton, TX
$348 1.1% $3.8
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Denton, TX
$296 39.9% $84
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Denton, TX
$366 97% $180
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Denton, TX
$148 23.5% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Denton, TX
$65 26% $23
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Denton, TX
$65 24.9% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $1,267 in Denton, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denton, TX pays 338% 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 $75.0 in Denton, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $352 vs $348, with Denton, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇺🇸 Denton, TX
🕒 Local time
21:24 9:24 PM
22:24 10:24 PM
1 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
109,561
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 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 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Denton, TX 2,840 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Denton, TX

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 Denton, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Denton, TX?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Denton, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nosara or in Denton, TX?
On paper, salaries run 338% lower in Denton, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nosara compared to Denton, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $1,267 in Denton, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in Denton, TX?
Shoppers in Denton, TX pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Denton, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $75.0 in Denton, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Nosara or in Denton, TX?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,350 in Denton, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Denton, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Denton, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,839 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Nosara compared to Denton, TX?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Denton, TX 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Denton, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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