Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Fredrikstad

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,983 in Fredrikstad, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Fredrikstad
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,983
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Fredrikstad

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,983 in Fredrikstad.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Fredrikstad $2,983

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $4,345 in Fredrikstad.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Fredrikstad $4,345

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $5,707 in Fredrikstad.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Fredrikstad $5,707

Living in Nosara costs roughly 38% less than in Fredrikstad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 36% above, Fredrikstad 121% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Fredrikstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$26.28 NOK 247
-53.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$124 NOK 1,170
-50.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$12.65 NOK 119
-40.55%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$6.77 NOK 63.7
-34.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$5.55 NOK 52.3
-68.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$4.39 NOK 41.36
-70.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$11.55 NOK 109
-71.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$9.57 NOK 90.1
-53.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Fredrikstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$2.34 NOK 22.00
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$4.31 NOK 40.56
-29.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$3.43 NOK 32.31
-26.82%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$5.82 NOK 54.8
-38.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$13.06 NOK 123
-43.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$17.96 NOK 169
-41.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$34.38 NOK 324
-59.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$3.37 NOK 31.71
-30.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$3.64 NOK 34.24
-55.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$4.30 NOK 40.49
11.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$5.00 NOK 47.06
-67.80%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$2.63 NOK 24.74
44.49%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$2.71 NOK 25.53
36.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$2.82 NOK 26.50
-59.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$2.33 NOK 21.95
14.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$15.51 NOK 146
-66.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$22.16 NOK 209
-10.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$3.49 NOK 32.81
-16.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$4.39 NOK 41.34
-17.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Fredrikstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$4.11 NOK 38.71
-72.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$64.5 NOK 607
12.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$12.56 NOK 118
-82.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$2.00 NOK 18.79
-21.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$70.1 NOK 660
-87.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$2.30 NOK 21.64
-33.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$49.8K NOK 468.4K
-56.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$46.9K NOK 441.1K
-26.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Fredrikstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$331 NOK 3,118
-70.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$45.60 NOK 429
-21.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$66.9 NOK 630
-19.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Fredrikstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$58.3 NOK 549
22.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$40.86 NOK 385
-14.56%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$20.19 NOK 190
-60.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Fredrikstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$168 NOK 1,579
194.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$12.5K NOK 117.8K
-5.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Fredrikstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$155 NOK 1,459
-65.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$78.7 NOK 741
-29.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$144 NOK 1,358
-46.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$112 NOK 1,051
-28.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Fredrikstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$1,329 NOK 12.5K
-40.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$1,131 NOK 10.6K
-29.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,822 NOK 17.1K
116.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,516 NOK 14.3K
-6.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$6,022 NOK 56.7K
14.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$4,131 NOK 38.9K
-70.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Fredrikstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$3,372 NOK 31.7K
-74.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
4.95
74.14%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Fredrikstad: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Fredrikstad
$1.1K 42.4% $337
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Fredrikstad
$540 53.2% $187
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Fredrikstad
$446 111% $234
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Fredrikstad
$444 139% $258
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Fredrikstad
$220 83.5% $100
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Fredrikstad
$99 13% $11
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Fredrikstad
$103 18.7% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $1,329 in Fredrikstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fredrikstad pays 290% 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 $124 in Fredrikstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $540 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇳🇴 Fredrikstad
🕒 Local time
09:37 9:37 AM
17:37 5:37 PM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
85,267
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Fredrikstad 9,420 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Fredrikstad

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 Fredrikstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fredrikstad cheaper than Nosara?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Nosara or Fredrikstad?
On paper, salaries run 290% lower in Fredrikstad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Nosara and Fredrikstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $1,329 in Fredrikstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $494 in Nosara versus $168 in Fredrikstad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Nosara and in Fredrikstad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Fredrikstad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Fredrikstad?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,983 in Fredrikstad, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Fredrikstad. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nosara or Fredrikstad more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fredrikstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Fredrikstad?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Fredrikstad 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 62% less than in Fredrikstad. 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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