Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Duque de Caxias

For one person, living is cheaper in Duque de Caxias: $806 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Duque de Caxias
🇧🇷 Brazil
$806
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Duque de Caxias

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 Duque de Caxias actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,835 per month in Nosara vs $806 in Duque de Caxias, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Duque de Caxias $806

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Nosara vs $1,390 in Duque de Caxias, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Duque de Caxias $1,390

A family of three spends $3,814 per month in Nosara vs $1,974 in Duque de Caxias, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Duque de Caxias $1,974

Nosara costs about 128% more than Duque de Caxias, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 35% above the global median, while Duque de Caxias is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$7.07 R$35.82
74.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$39.30 R$199
56.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$8.26 R$41.90
-6.05%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$2.26 R$11.44
96.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$1.52 R$7.70
17.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$1.04 R$5.26
24.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$2.17 R$10.99
49.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$3.58 R$18.16
23.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.18 R$5.96
31.36%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$2.06 R$10.46
49.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$1.14 R$5.76
121.93%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$2.24 R$11.37
54.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$9.06 R$45.91
-19.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$4.51 R$22.87
127.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$9.98 R$50.6
41.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$2.83 R$14.37
-19.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.76 R$8.94
-6.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$1.58 R$8.00
203.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$1.79 R$9.07
-8.38%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$1.20 R$6.06
220.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$1.06 R$5.38
253.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$0.76 R$3.85
43.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$0.64 R$3.25
304.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$2.83 R$14.32
80.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$8.10 R$41.07
145.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$1.18 R$5.96
137.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$2.49 R$12.61
41.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Duque de Caxias
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$0.98 R$4.97
24.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
$43.44 R$220
70.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$1.27 R$6.43
70.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$1.41 R$7.14
10.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$9.23 R$46.81
-6.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$1.26 R$6.38
23.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$23.4K R$118.8K
47.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$34.1K R$172.8K
13.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$42.43 R$215
123.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$10.65 R$54.0
239.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$18.29 R$92.7
190.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$25.58 R$130
188.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
$27.88 R$141
27.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$7.91 R$40.12
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$424 R$2,150
15.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$7,540 R$38.2K
57.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$41.79 R$212
31.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$49.66 R$252
12.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$95.7 R$485
-16.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$85.4 R$433
-8.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Duque de Caxias
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$297 R$1,505
169.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$169 R$857
366.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$789 R$4,000
407.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$443 R$2,248
217.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$1,286 R$6,519
449.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$570 R$2,891
116.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
$302 R$1,530
193.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
11.12
-22.48%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Duque de Caxias: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Duque de Caxias
$169 78.6% $620
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Duque de Caxias
$209 40.2% $141
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Duque de Caxias
$137 35.8% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Duque de Caxias
$71 61.2% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Duque de Caxias
$123 1.4% $1.6
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Duque de Caxias
$41 53.8% $48
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Duque de Caxias
$56 37.3% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $801 in Nosara versus $297 in Duque de Caxias. 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 194% 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 $61.0 in Nosara versus $39.00 in Duque de Caxias. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $209 – making Duque de Caxias the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇧🇷 Duque de Caxias
🕒 Local time
16:41 4:41 PM
19:41 7:41 PM
3 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
808,161
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Duque de Caxias 5,870 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Duque de Caxias

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 Duque de Caxias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Duque de Caxias?
Nosara costs about 128% more than Duque de Caxias, 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 Duque de Caxias?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,753 per month in Nosara and $1,209 in Duque de Caxias. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nosara or Duque de Caxias?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Duque de Caxias, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in Duque de Caxias?
Groceries cost about 67% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Duque de Caxias?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $39.00 in Duque de Caxias. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Duque de Caxias?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Duque de Caxias, where all-in costs run around $806, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Duque de Caxias 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 Duque de Caxias?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Duque de Caxias costs $806 versus $1,835 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 Duque de Caxias?
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 Duque de Caxias?
If budget matters most, go with Duque de Caxias. 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.

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