Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Envigado

For one person, living is cheaper in Envigado: $1,298 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Envigado
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,298
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Envigado

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Nosara versus $1,298 in Envigado.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Envigado $1,298

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Nosara versus $2,060 in Envigado.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Envigado $2,060

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,814 in Nosara versus $2,823 in Envigado.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Envigado $2,823

Living in Nosara is roughly 41% more expensive than in Envigado, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nosara is 35% above, Envigado is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Envigado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$7.12 COP 22.6K
73.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$47.77 COP 151.5K
28.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$9.56 COP 30.3K
-18.83%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$2.70 COP 8,571
64.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$1.38 COP 4,388
29.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$1.01 COP 3,209
27.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$3.17 COP 10.0K
2.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$3.67 COP 11.6K
20.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Envigado
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.34 COP 4,237
15.67%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$2.59 COP 8,224
18.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$1.52 COP 4,827
66.45%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$3.24 COP 10.3K
6.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$9.01 COP 28.6K
-18.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$8.59 COP 27.2K
19.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$11.80 COP 37.4K
19.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$4.08 COP 12.9K
-43.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.67 COP 5,298
-1.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$2.10 COP 6,672
128.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$1.98 COP 6,293
-17.17%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$1.37 COP 4,330
181.02%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$1.69 COP 5,355
121.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$1.18 COP 3,738
-7.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$1.16 COP 3,693
123.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$4.22 COP 13.4K
21.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$12.97 COP 41.1K
53.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$1.39 COP 4,420
101.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$2.41 COP 7,635
46.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Envigado
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$1.13 COP 3,597
7.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$1.59 COP 5,051
36.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$1.99 COP 6,311
-21.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$7.34 COP 23.3K
18.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$1.34 COP 4,249
15.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$34.4K COP 109.1M
0.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$34.9K COP 110.8M
10.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Envigado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$126 COP 399.5K
-24.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$13.19 COP 41.8K
174.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$30.90 COP 98.0K
71.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Envigado
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$32.68 COP 103.6K
125.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$6.41 COP 20.3K
23.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Envigado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$568 COP 1.8M
-13.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$8,403 COP 26.6M
41.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Envigado
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$83.6 COP 264.9K
-34.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$49.32 COP 156.4K
13.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$153 COP 485.3K
-47.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$106 COP 334.7K
-26.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Envigado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$558 COP 1.8M
43.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$463 COP 1.5M
70.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$1,079 COP 3.4M
271.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$951 COP 3.0M
48.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$1,895 COP 6.0M
272.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$1,739 COP 5.5M
-28.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Envigado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
12
-28.17%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Envigado: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Envigado
$463 41.4% $327
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Envigado
$276 21% $73
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Envigado
$151 29.1% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Envigado
$170 7.6% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Envigado
$176 45.6% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Envigado
$45 49.2% $44
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Envigado
$16 * 81.9% $73

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $801 in Nosara and $558 in Envigado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $48.00 in Envigado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $276 per month, with Envigado cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇨🇴 Envigado
🕒 Local time
12:46 12:46 PM
13:46 1:46 PM
1 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
204,399
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Envigado 1,190 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Envigado

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 Envigado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Envigado?
Envigado wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Nosara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Envigado the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nosara and in Envigado?
You'd need roughly $2,753 in Nosara and $1,946 in Envigado 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nosara compared to Envigado?
Rent for a central apartment: $801 in Nosara versus $558 in Envigado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Nosara and in Envigado?
Childcare runs $490 in Nosara versus $568 in Envigado. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Envigado?
Dining out is cheaper in Envigado – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Envigado?
At $1,298 in Envigado versus $1,835 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Envigado but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Envigado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Envigado?
Both work as nomad bases, but Envigado delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,298 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Envigado hard to pass up.
How safe is Nosara compared to Envigado?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Envigado 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Envigado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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