Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Fukuoka

For one person, living is cheaper in Fukuoka: $1,259 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 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
61

Cost of Living Index in Fukuoka
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Fukuoka Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Fukuoka

🇯🇵 Japan

$1,259

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Fukuoka

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,259 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Nosara $1,839
Fukuoka $1,259

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,001 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Nosara $2,828
Fukuoka $2,001

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,743 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Nosara $3,818
Fukuoka $2,743

Nosara costs about 46% more than Fukuoka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Fukuoka is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.35 ₡5,539

$7.20 ¥1,138

71.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$42.93 ¥6,783

42.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₡3,373

$5.84 ¥922

28.77%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,978

$3.77 ¥596

16.98%

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

$1.74 ₡780

$1.03 ¥163

68.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡587

$0.70 ¥111

87.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$3.79 ¥599

-13.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡2,004

$2.18 ¥344

105.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$1.54 ¥243

1.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₡1,355

$1.91 ¥302

58.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,125

$6.64 ¥1,050

-62.20%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,603

$2.29 ¥362

55.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,333

$18.31 ¥2,893

-59.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,717

$5.40 ¥853

94.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,265

$19.00 ¥3,002

-26.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$3.54 ¥560

-33.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$1.81 ¥287

-11.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 ₡2,152

$2.87 ¥453

67.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡724

$3.36 ¥531

-52.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₡1,703

$2.15 ¥340

76.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,657

$2.59 ¥409

42.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$1.02 ¥161

10.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$0.93 ¥147

186.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,321

$3.79 ¥599

36.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ₡8,916

$6.49 ¥1,025

206.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$1.71 ¥270

69.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,626

$1.81 ¥286

100.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

$1.47 ¥232

-23.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$41.37 ¥6,537

75.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₡958

$3.91 ¥618

-45.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡703

$2.09 ¥331

-24.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 ₡3,823

$17.67 ¥2,792

-51.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.11 ¥175

36.94%

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

$21.6K ₡9.7M

$21.5K ¥3.4M

0.36%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$17.6K ¥2.8M

95.95%

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

$96.3 ₡43.2K

$207 ¥32.8K

-53.56%

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

$35.89 ₡16.1K

$25.04 ¥3,955

43.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$32.65 ¥5,159

64.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$53.8 ¥8,506

32.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 ₡15.7K

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₡3,539

$10.91 ¥1,724

-27.68%

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

$494 ₡221.6K

$126 ¥19.8K

293.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$12.4K ¥2.0M

-4.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₡24.2K

$49.44 ¥7,811

9.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$25.89 ¥4,090

114.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$67.1 ¥10.6K

16.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₡35.7K

$48.07 ¥7,594

65.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₡353.4K

$486 ¥76.8K

62.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡356.2K

$303 ¥47.8K

162.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,939 ₡1.8M

$1,233 ¥194.8K

219.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 ₡636.5K

$730 ¥115.4K

94.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,912 ₡3.1M

$6,329 ¥1.0M

9.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 ₡549.0K

$2,696 ¥425.9K

-54.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

$1,657 ¥261.8K

-47.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

1.97

337.56%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Fukuoka: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$794 43.2%

Fukuoka

$303 24% 61.9% $492

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$352 19.2%

Fukuoka

$318 25.3% 9.7% $34

Eating Out

Nosara

$212 11.5%

Fukuoka

$151 12% 28.9% $61

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$186 10.1%

Fukuoka

$265 21.1% 42.7% $79

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.5%

Fukuoka

$86 6.8% 28.6% $34

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Fukuoka

$76 6% 13.4% $12

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.7%

Fukuoka

$62 4.9% 29.3% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $486 in Fukuoka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 92% higher in Fukuoka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $43.00 in Fukuoka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $318 – making Fukuoka the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇯🇵 Fukuoka

🕒 Local time

02:02 2:02 AM

17:02 5:02 PM

15 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

1,612,392

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

Japanese Yen JPY ¥

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD

1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Nosara Fukuoka 13,850 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Fukuoka

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 Fukuoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,259 in Fukuoka – roughly 46% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,889 in Fukuoka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fukuoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $126 in Fukuoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,259 in Fukuoka to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Fukuoka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.