Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Derna

For one person, living is cheaper in Derna: $171 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $20,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Derna
🇱🇾 Libya
$171
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Derna

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $171 in Derna, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Derna $171

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $337 in Derna, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Derna $337

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $503 in Derna, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Derna $503

Nosara costs about 977% more than Derna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 37% above the global median, while Derna is 87% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Derna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$4.01 LYD 25.66
204.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$7.85 LYD 50.2
666.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$3.20 LYD 20.46
135.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.48 LYD 3.08
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.65 LYD 4.15
-
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$0.45 LYD 2.88
857.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$0.29 LYD 1.89
493.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Derna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$0.72 LYD 4.63
118.06%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$2.29 LYD 14.68
5.68%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$0.93 LYD 5.95
283.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$3.15 LYD 20.18
230.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$0.75 LYD 4.82
114.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$0.96 LYD 6.14
393.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Derna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$0.80 LYD 5.15
180.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Derna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$14.23 LYD 91.1
261.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Derna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Derna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Derna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$31.11 LYD 199
72.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$39.65 LYD 254
40.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$38.36 LYD 245
106.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$39.17 LYD 251
101.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Derna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$159 LYD 1,017
2329.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$95.5 LYD 611
1373.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$196 LYD 1,255
3455.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$78.0 LYD 499
1440.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Derna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$169 LYD 1,080
419.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
0
-

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Derna: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Derna
–
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Derna
–
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Derna
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Derna
–
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Derna
–
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Derna
–
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Derna
–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 419% higher in Nosara, 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 $8.00 in Derna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $44.00 – making Derna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇱🇾 Derna
🕒 Local time
04:24 4:24 AM
12:24 12:24 PM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
50,000
💱 Currency
Libyan Dinar LYD ل.د
Exchange rates and currency converter

LYD, 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 = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Libyan Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 6.4 LYD (1 LYD = 0.156 USD). 1 EUR = 7.17 LYD (1 LYD = 0.139 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Derna 11,070 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Derna

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 Derna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Derna?
Nosara costs about 977% more than Derna, 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 Derna?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $256 in Derna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to Derna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,837 in Nosara and $171 in Derna. That's a gap of about 977%.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in Derna?
Groceries cost about 690% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Derna?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Derna, where all-in costs run around $171, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Derna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Derna?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $171 versus $1,837 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nosara compared to Derna?
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 Derna?
If budget matters most, go with Derna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?