Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Escazu Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Escazu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,668 in Nosara versus $2,032 in Escazu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,595 in Nosara versus $2,800 in Escazu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,522 in Nosara versus $3,569 in Escazu.

Living in Nosara costs roughly 18% less than in Escazu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 25% above, Escazu 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.08 ₡5,037

$10.96 ₡4,984

1.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡26.7K

$59.7 ₡27.2K

-1.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₡3,146

$9.90 ₡4,504

-30.10%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₡1,776

$3.90 ₡1,773

0.26%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ₡736

$2.06 ₡935

-21.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₡554

$1.66 ₡757

-26.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 ₡1,350

$3.02 ₡1,372

-1.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 ₡2,060

$4.65 ₡2,117

-2.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡663

$2.06 ₡936

-29.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,253

$2.75 ₡1,250

0.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡970

$2.21 ₡1,006

-3.62%

Eggs

$2.87 ₡1,307

$2.94 ₡1,338

-2.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 ₡3,100

$9.86 ₡4,484

-30.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.97 ₡4,080

$9.28 ₡4,219

-3.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ₡6,152

$13.73 ₡6,243

-1.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 ₡968

$4.63 ₡2,106

-54.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₡639

$1.49 ₡678

-6.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,988

$4.21 ₡1,916

3.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₡696

$3.20 ₡1,456

-52.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₡1,542

$3.57 ₡1,624

-5.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,455

$3.24 ₡1,472

-1.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡457

$0.95 ₡430

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₡1,051

$2.96 ₡1,344

-21.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.66 ₡2,118

$4.83 ₡2,196

-3.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.81 ₡9,462

$18.74 ₡8,522

11.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,095

$1.76 ₡802

36.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,287

$2.73 ₡1,242

3.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡435

$0.96 ₡438

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₡30.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡841

$1.66 ₡757

11.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡839

$1.77 ₡805

3.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 ₡3,578

$8.10 ₡3,682

-2.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₡585

$1.39 ₡632

-7.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$31.4K ₡14.3M

4.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$32.5K ₡14.8M

0.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$95.3 ₡43.3K

$66.2 ₡30.1K

43.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.39 ₡11.5K

$25.87 ₡11.8K

-1.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.17 ₡21.9K

$50.1 ₡22.8K

-3.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 ₡25.6K

$108 ₡49.0K

-47.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.52 ₡10.7K

$10.16 ₡4,621

131.50%

Cinema Ticket

$10.19 ₡4,633

$9.78 ₡4,446

4.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$458 ₡208.1K

$580 ₡263.5K

-21.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.8M

$14.3K ₡6.5M

-26.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 ₡23.0K

$61.7 ₡28.1K

-18.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₡23.5K

$51.2 ₡23.3K

0.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 ₡32.7K

$126 ₡57.4K

-43.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.4 ₡32.9K

$105 ₡47.9K

-31.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$769 ₡349.7K

$1,065 ₡484.5K

-27.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 ₡337.0K

$1,059 ₡481.6K

-30.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 ₡704.1K

$1,681 ₡764.3K

-7.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 ₡609.8K

$1,312 ₡596.4K

2.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,153 ₡3.3M

$1,625 ₡738.7K

340.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡546.2K

$1,132 ₡514.9K

6.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$869 ₡395.4K

$1,759 ₡799.8K

-50.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Nosara: April 27, 2026

Last update for Escazu: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $769 in Nosara and $1,065 in Escazu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 102% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in Nosara vs $60.0 in Escazu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $359 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

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 Escazu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Escazu earns 102% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $769 in Nosara versus $1,065 in Escazu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Escazu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,668 per month in Nosara versus $2,032 in Escazu – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,668 in Nosara versus $2,032 in Escazu, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Escazu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Nosara and Escazu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.