Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ekibastuz

For one person, living is cheaper in Ekibastuz: $837 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Ekibastuz
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ekibastuz

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $837 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Ekibastuz $837

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,347 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Ekibastuz $1,347

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,856 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Ekibastuz $1,856

Nosara costs about 120% more than Ekibastuz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Ekibastuz is 38% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Ekibastuz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$10.86 ₸4,910
13.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$37.29 ₸16.9K
64.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$7.95 ₸3,595
-5.41%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$1.53 ₸692
188.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.12 ₸507
55.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.63 ₸285
107.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$1.30 ₸590
152.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.20 ₸997
103.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Ekibastuz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.32 ₸599
18.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$0.61 ₸275
395.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.62 ₸732
54.94%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.16 ₸976
65.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$12.31 ₸5,564
-39.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$5.94 ₸2,687
77.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$10.76 ₸4,865
29.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.80 ₸814
30.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$2.26 ₸1,023
-28.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$2.22 ₸1,006
116.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$2.22 ₸1,001
-27.48%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.65 ₸296
484.62%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$0.46 ₸209
702.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.54 ₸695
-26.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.95 ₸429
180.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$2.18 ₸984
137.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$11.16 ₸5,047
78.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.31 ₸592
121.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.33 ₸1,054
55.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Ekibastuz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.25 ₸114
348.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.13 ₸510
89.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.14 ₸514
37.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$6.48 ₸2,930
31.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$0.60 ₸272
153.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$24.5K ₸11.1M
-11.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$30.1K ₸13.6M
14.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Ekibastuz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$68.3 ₸30.9K
41.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$10.31 ₸4,659
248.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$17.78 ₸8,036
201.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Ekibastuz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$6.29 ₸2,844
25.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Ekibastuz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$378 ₸170.9K
30.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$11.6K ₸5.3M
1.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Ekibastuz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$64.3 ₸29.1K
-16.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$47.03 ₸21.3K
17.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$120 ₸54.0K
-34.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$131 ₸59.2K
-39.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Ekibastuz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$247 ₸111.8K
218.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$181 ₸81.7K
339.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$450 ₸203.4K
775.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$332 ₸150.2K
327.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Ekibastuz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$337 ₸152.3K
156.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
15.5
-44.39%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ekibastuz: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Ekibastuz
$181 77.3% $614
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Ekibastuz
$230 34.7% $122
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Ekibastuz
$147 30.6% $65
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Ekibastuz
$96 48.1% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Ekibastuz
$163 35.6% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Ekibastuz
$13 * 85.6% $75
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Ekibastuz
$7.8 * 91% $79

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $247 in Ekibastuz. 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 156% 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 $37.00 in Ekibastuz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $230 – making Ekibastuz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇰🇿 Ekibastuz
🕒 Local time
02:35 2:35 AM
14:35 2:35 PM
12 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
159,760
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, 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).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Ekibastuz 12,910 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Ekibastuz

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 Ekibastuz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Ekibastuz compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $837 in Ekibastuz – roughly 120% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Ekibastuz?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,256 in Ekibastuz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Ekibastuz?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ekibastuz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nosara or Ekibastuz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $837 in Ekibastuz. That's a gap of about 120%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Ekibastuz?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $378 in Ekibastuz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ekibastuz, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Ekibastuz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Ekibastuz?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $837 in Ekibastuz to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Ekibastuz 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 Ekibastuz?
If budget matters most, go with Ekibastuz. 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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