For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,452 in Ede, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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 Ede actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $2,452 in Ede, rent included.
Nosara $1,839
Ede $2,452
A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $3,500 in Ede, rent included.
Nosara $2,828
Ede $3,500
A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $4,549 in Ede, rent included.
Nosara $3,818
Ede $4,549
🙂
Nosara is about 25% cheaper than Ede, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both Nosara and Ede sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Ede by 82%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Ede
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35₡5,539
$22.18€19.73
-44.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2₡27.4K
$73.8€65.6
-17.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.52₡3,373
$14.94€13.29
-49.67%
Cappuccino
$4.41₡1,978
$4.32€3.84
2.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74₡780
$3.24€2.88
-46.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31₡587
$2.82€2.51
-53.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28₡1,471
$6.83€6.08
-51.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47₡2,004
$5.13€4.57
-12.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Ede
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56₡701
$1.44€1.28
8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02₡1,355
$2.31€2.05
30.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.51₡1,125
$2.72€2.42
-7.72%
Eggs
$3.57₡1,603
$5.33€4.74
-33.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₡3,333
$14.29€12.71
-48.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.52₡4,717
$14.47€12.87
-27.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.97₡6,265
$16.88€15.01
-17.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35₡1,052
$2.59€2.30
-9.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61₡720
$2.38€2.12
-32.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.80₡2,152
$1.87€1.66
156.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61₡724
$4.37€3.89
-63.16%
Potato(1kg)
$3.80₡1,703
$1.80€1.60
111.11%
Onion(1kg)
$3.69₡1,657
$2.24€1.99
64.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13₡507
$1.19€1.06
-5.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66₡1,191
$1.09€0.97
144.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18₡2,321
$14.08€12.52
-63.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.88₡8,916
$6.96€6.19
185.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90₡1,300
$1.26€1.12
130.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63₡1,626
$2.64€2.35
37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Ede
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12₡504
$3.42€3.04
-67.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.6₡32.6K
$54.8€48.76
32.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14₡958
$5.26€4.68
-59.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57₡703
$2.00€1.78
-21.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52₡3,823
$66.5€59.1
-87.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52₡682
$2.39€2.13
-36.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K₡9.7M
$41.3K€36.8K
-47.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K₡15.5M
$38.3K€34.1K
-9.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Ede
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.3₡43.2K
$310€275
-68.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89₡16.1K
$27.37€24.35
31.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6₡24.0K
$54.9€48.87
-2.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Ede
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.6₡32.1K
$47.29€42.06
51.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91₡15.7K
$33.20€29.53
5.15%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89₡3,539
$16.50€14.68
-52.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Ede
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494₡221.6K
$2,489€2,214
-80.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K₡5.3M
$5,866€5,218
102.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Ede
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9₡24.2K
$74.6€66.3
-27.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4₡24.8K
$39.89€35.48
38.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9₡34.9K
$89.5€79.6
-12.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6₡35.7K
$101€90.0
-21.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Ede
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$788₡353.4K
$1,347€1,198
-41.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$794₡356.2K
$1,071€953
-25.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,939₡1.8M
$2,069€1,840
90.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,419₡636.5K
$1,578€1,403
-10.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,912₡3.1M
$5,120€4,554
35.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,224₡549.0K
$4,769€4,242
-74.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Ede
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$864₡387.3K
$3,439€3,059
-74.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.62
3.95
118.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026
Last update for Ede: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794 43.2%
Ede
$1.1K 43.7% ↑ 34.8%$277
🛒Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352 19.2%
Ede
$345 14.1% ↓ 2%$7
🍽Eating Out
Nosara
$212 11.5%
Ede
$343 14% ↑ 61.8%$131
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186 10.1%
Ede
$392 16% ↑ 111%$206
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120 6.5%
Ede
$137 5.6% ↑ 14.3%$17
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87 4.8%
Ede
$80 3.3% ↓ 8.1%$7.1
🚌Getting Around
Nosara
$87 4.7%
Ede
$84 3.4% ↓ 3.9%$3.4
🏠Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$1.4K 37.2%
Ede
$1.6K 34.7% ↑ 11.2%$158
🛒Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$790 20.7%
Ede
$821 18.1% ↑ 3.9%$31
🍽Eating Out
Nosara
$734 19.2%
Ede
$1.1K 23.3% ↑ 44.1%$324
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$222 5.8%
Ede
$419 9.2% ↑ 89.1%$198
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$267 7%
Ede
$305 6.7% ↑ 14.3%$38
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$210 5.5%
Ede
$194 4.3% ↓ 7.6%$16
🚌Getting Around
Nosara
$176 4.6%
Ede
$174 3.8% ↓ 1.2%$2.2
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $1,347 in Ede. 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 298% higher in Ede, 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 $74.0 in Ede. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Nosara vs $345 in Ede – so Ede wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Ede: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Ede compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $2,452 in Ede – roughly 33% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Ede?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $3,678 in Ede. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Ede?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Ede?
Public transport costs about 33% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Ede?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $2,489 in Ede. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,839, than in Ede at $2,452. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ede it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Ede?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,839 in Nosara to $2,452 in Ede. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Ede safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Nosara and Ede?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ede makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.