Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Funchal

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,087 in Funchal, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Funchal outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Funchal
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,087
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Funchal

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,087 in Funchal.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Funchal $2,087

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,775 in Nosara versus $3,066 in Funchal.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Funchal $3,066

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,712 in Nosara versus $4,046 in Funchal.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Funchal $4,046

Living in Nosara costs roughly 12% less than in Funchal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 37% above, Funchal 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Funchal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$15.03 €13.41
-18.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$65.0 €58.0
-7.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$13.30 €11.87
-43.31%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$1.95 €1.74
121.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$1.67 €1.49
2.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$1.40 €1.25
-3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$2.75 €2.46
17.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$3.82 €3.41
17.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Funchal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$1.07 €0.95
46.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$1.76 €1.57
80.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$1.62 €1.44
49.38%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$3.79 €3.38
-5.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$10.19 €9.09
-27.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$7.26 €6.48
43.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$11.93 €10.64
14.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$1.78 €1.59
30.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$1.79 €1.60
-10.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$1.76 €1.57
169.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$2.45 €2.18
-32.24%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$1.92 €1.72
93.75%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$1.99 €1.78
79.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$1.64 €1.47
-32.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$0.81 €0.73
214.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$5.44 €4.86
-9.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$6.69 €5.97
199.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$1.28 €1.14
117.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$2.59 €2.31
36.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Funchal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$2.19 €1.96
-45.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
$33.23 €29.66
116.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$4.00 €3.57
-44.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$1.42 €1.27
9.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$18.31 €16.34
-51.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$2.11 €1.88
-25.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$33.1K €29.6K
-34.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$38.9K €34.7K
-10.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Funchal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$123 €110
-24.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$17.01 €15.18
106.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$48.63 €43.40
5.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Funchal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$40.45 €36.09
76.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
$8.23 €7.34
330.62%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$8.61 €7.68
-8.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Funchal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$423 €377
15.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$8,385 €7,483
41.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Funchal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$63.7 €56.8
-15.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$33.28 €29.70
67.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$89.2 €79.6
-11.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$76.5 €68.3
3.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Funchal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$1,483 €1,323
-47.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$1,245 €1,111
-37.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$2,516 €2,245
53.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$1,964 €1,753
-28.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$4,842 €4,321
44.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$3,344 €2,984
-64.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Funchal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$1,427 €1,274
-38.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
3.59
140.11%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Funchal: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Funchal
$1.2K 59.6% $465
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Funchal
$243 30.6% $107
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Funchal
$217 3.7% $7.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Funchal
$189 5% $9
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Funchal
$118 1.8% $2.2
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Funchal
$58 33.8% $29
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Funchal
$53 38.9% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $786 in Nosara and $1,483 in Funchal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Funchal pays 63% 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: $60.0 in Nosara vs $65.0 in Funchal. Groceries flip the comparison at $350 vs $243, with Funchal cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇵🇹 Funchal
🕒 Local time
02:11 2:11 AM
09:11 9:11 AM
7 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
105,795
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Funchal 7,430 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Funchal

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 Funchal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nosara and in Funchal?
Nosara and Funchal differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($1,837 vs $2,087 including rent). Nosara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 63% lower in Funchal. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Nosara and in Funchal?
Rent for a central apartment: $786 in Nosara versus $1,483 in Funchal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nosara or Funchal?
All in, you'll spend $1,837 per month in Nosara versus $2,087 in Funchal – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Funchal?
A monthly transit pass in Nosara runs roughly 117% less than in Funchal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,087 in Funchal, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Funchal. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Funchal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Nosara or Funchal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Funchal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Nosara or Funchal?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Funchal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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