Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Elliot Lake, ON

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,324 in Elliot Lake, ON, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Elliot Lake, ON
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,324
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Elliot Lake, ON

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 Elliot Lake, ON actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,324 in Elliot Lake, ON.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Elliot Lake, ON $2,324

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Nosara versus $3,241 in Elliot Lake, ON.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Elliot Lake, ON $3,241

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,814 in Nosara versus $4,158 in Elliot Lake, ON.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Elliot Lake, ON $4,158

Living in Nosara costs roughly 21% less than in Elliot Lake, ON, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 35% above, Elliot Lake, ON 72% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$17.76 CA$25.11
-30.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$64.8 CA$91.7
-5.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$10.57 CA$14.94
-26.58%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$3.70 CA$5.23
20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$1.98 CA$2.80
-9.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$1.62 CA$2.29
-20.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$5.21 CA$7.36
-37.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$5.65 CA$7.98
-21.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$2.30 CA$3.25
-32.61%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$2.55 CA$3.60
20.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$3.04 CA$4.30
-16.78%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$3.17 CA$4.48
8.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$10.28 CA$14.53
-28.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$12.93 CA$18.28
-20.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$16.33 CA$23.08
-13.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$3.87 CA$5.47
-40.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.26 CA$1.78
30.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$3.51 CA$4.97
36.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$3.92 CA$5.54
-58.16%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$2.73 CA$3.86
41.03%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$1.99 CA$2.81
88.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$2.43 CA$3.43
-55.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$1.79 CA$2.53
44.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$14.18 CA$20.04
-63.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$12.80 CA$18.10
55.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$2.42 CA$3.42
15.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$2.91 CA$4.12
20.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$2.25 CA$3.18
-45.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
$64.7 CA$91.4
14.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$2.95 CA$4.17
-26.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$1.40 CA$1.98
11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$23.73 CA$33.55
-63.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$1.07 CA$1.52
44.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$25.8K CA$36.4K
34.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$23.2K CA$32.8K
66.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$150 CA$212
-36.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$32.88 CA$46.48
9.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$55.6 CA$78.6
-4.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$44.30 CA$62.6
66.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
$20.25 CA$28.63
75.95%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$10.01 CA$14.15
-20.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$628 CA$887
-21.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$11.6K CA$16.4K
2.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$56.7 CA$80.2
-3.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$40.46 CA$57.2
38.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$92.9 CA$131
-13.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$107 CA$151
-27.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$1,394 CA$1,971
-42.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$1,169 CA$1,652
-32.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$2,224 CA$3,145
80.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$1,560 CA$2,206
-9.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$4,250 CA$6,009
66.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$3,892 CA$5,502
-68.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
4.67
84.58%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Elliot Lake, ON: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Elliot Lake, ON
$1.2K 48% $379
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Elliot Lake, ON
$365 4.5% $16
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Elliot Lake, ON
$270 26.9% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Elliot Lake, ON
$239 29.7% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Elliot Lake, ON
$134 10.5% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Elliot Lake, ON
$64 28.2% $25
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Elliot Lake, ON
$84 5.8% $5.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $801 in Nosara and $1,394 in Elliot Lake, ON. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $65.0 in Elliot Lake, ON for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $365 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇨🇦 Elliot Lake, ON
🕒 Local time
09:32 9:32 AM
11:32 11:32 AM
2 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
10,741
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Elliot Lake, ON 4,060 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Elliot Lake, ON

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 Elliot Lake, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elliot Lake, ON cheaper than Nosara?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,753 in Nosara and $3,487 in Elliot Lake, ON to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Nosara and Elliot Lake, ON?
Rent for a central apartment: $801 in Nosara versus $1,394 in Elliot Lake, ON. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Nosara and in Elliot Lake, ON?
All in, you'll spend $1,835 per month in Nosara versus $2,324 in Elliot Lake, ON – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Nosara runs roughly 14% less than in Elliot Lake, ON. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Elliot Lake, ON?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,324 in Elliot Lake, ON, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Elliot Lake, ON. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nosara or Elliot Lake, ON more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Elliot Lake, ON, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Elliot Lake, ON?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Elliot Lake, ON 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Elliot Lake, ON. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

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