Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Fairfax, VA

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $3,409 in Fairfax, VA, rent and utilities included – about $18,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
168

Cost of Living Index in Fairfax, VA
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Fairfax, VA Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Fairfax, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,409

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Fairfax, VA

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $3,409 in Fairfax, VA.

Nosara $1,839
Fairfax, VA $3,409

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $4,871 in Fairfax, VA.

Nosara $2,828
Fairfax, VA $4,871

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $6,333 in Fairfax, VA.

Nosara $3,818
Fairfax, VA $6,333

Living in Nosara costs roughly 46% less than in Fairfax, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 36% above, Fairfax, VA 153% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.35 ₡5,539

$18.62 $18.62

-33.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$94.7 $94.7

-35.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₡3,373

$11.88 $11.88

-36.70%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,978

$6.07 $6.07

-27.35%

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

$1.74 ₡780

$3.14 $3.14

-44.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡587

$2.67 $2.67

-50.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$6.84 $6.84

-52.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡2,004

$8.01 $8.01

-44.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$1.15 $1.15

35.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₡1,355

$4.22 $4.22

-28.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,125

$5.18 $5.18

-51.54%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,603

$5.44 $5.44

-34.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,333

$17.00 $17.00

-56.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,717

$14.50 $14.50

-27.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,265

$18.78 $18.78

-25.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$5.97 $5.97

-60.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$2.29 $2.29

-29.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 ₡2,152

$5.80 $5.80

-17.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡724

$5.65 $5.65

-71.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₡1,703

$2.87 $2.87

32.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,657

$3.86 $3.86

-4.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$2.37 $2.37

-52.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$2.64 $2.64

0.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,321

$14.17 $14.17

-63.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ₡8,916

$15.38 $15.38

29.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$2.62 $2.62

10.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,626

$4.54 $4.54

-20.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

$5.03 $5.03

-77.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$70.1 $70.1

3.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₡958

$2.98 $2.98

-28.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡703

$1.44 $1.44

9.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 ₡3,823

$23.92 $23.92

-64.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.04 $1.04

46.15%

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

$21.6K ₡9.7M

$36.4K $36.4K

-40.62%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$25.7K $25.7K

34.57%

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

$96.3 ₡43.2K

$207 $207

-53.55%

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

$35.89 ₡16.1K

$67.0 $67.0

-46.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$76.9 $76.9

-30.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$73.8 $73.8

-3.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 ₡15.7K

$25.45 $25.45

37.17%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₡3,539

$18.15 $18.15

-56.53%

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

$494 ₡221.6K

$1,946 $1,946

-74.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$34.4K $34.4K

-65.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₡24.2K

$53.3 $53.3

1.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$54.6 $54.6

1.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$92.2 $92.2

-15.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₡35.7K

$112 $112

-28.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₡353.4K

$2,439 $2,439

-67.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡356.2K

$1,895 $1,895

-58.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,939 ₡1.8M

$3,506 $3,506

12.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 ₡636.5K

$2,903 $2,903

-51.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,912 ₡3.1M

$5,545 $5,545

24.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 ₡549.0K

$4,018 $4,018

-69.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

$5,577 $5,577

-84.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.72

28.27%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Fairfax, VA: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$794 43.2%

Fairfax, VA

$1.9K 55.6% 139% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$352 19.2%

Fairfax, VA

$481 14.1% 36.6% $129

Eating Out

Nosara

$212 11.5%

Fairfax, VA

$331 9.7% 56.2% $119

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$186 10.1%

Fairfax, VA

$351 10.3% 89.1% $165

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.5%

Fairfax, VA

$140 4.1% 17% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Fairfax, VA

$110 3.2% 26% $23

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.7%

Fairfax, VA

$100 2.9% 15.2% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $2,439 in Fairfax, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fairfax, VA pays 546% 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: $61.0 in Nosara vs $95.0 in Fairfax, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $481 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Fairfax, VA

🕒 Local time

03:55 3:55 AM

05:55 5:55 AM

2 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

24,146

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Fairfax, VA 3,320 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Fairfax, VA

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 Fairfax, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 85% lower than in Fairfax, VA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 546% lower in Fairfax, VA. 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: $788 in Nosara versus $2,439 in Fairfax, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Fairfax, VA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $95.0 in Fairfax, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,839 in Nosara versus $3,409 in Fairfax, VA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Fairfax, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,839 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Nosara and Fairfax, VA 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 85% less than in Fairfax, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.