Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Garland, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,590 in Garland, TX, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
127

Cost of Living Index in Garland, TX
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Garland, TX Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Garland, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,590

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Garland, TX

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $2,590 in Garland, TX, rent included.

Nosara $1,837
Garland, TX $2,590

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $3,751 in Garland, TX, rent included.

Nosara $2,775
Garland, TX $3,751

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $4,912 in Garland, TX, rent included.

Nosara $3,712
Garland, TX $4,912

Nosara is about 29% cheaper than Garland, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Garland, TX sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Garland, TX by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 ₡5,509

$19.79 $19.79

-38.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ₡27.1K

$54.4 $54.4

10.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 ₡3,399

$10.02 $10.02

-24.75%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,941

$5.68 $5.68

-24.12%

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

$1.72 ₡773

$2.62 $2.62

-34.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₡608

$2.33 $2.33

-42.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,459

$5.53 $5.53

-41.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,018

$7.40 $7.40

-39.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡707

$0.92 $0.92

70.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,429

$3.80 $3.80

-16.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,091

$5.32 $5.32

-54.51%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,609

$4.53 $4.53

-21.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,349

$7.87 $7.87

-5.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.42 ₡4,697

$11.68 $11.68

-10.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 ₡6,156

$19.34 $19.34

-29.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ₡1,044

$5.31 $5.31

-56.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡728

$1.24 $1.24

29.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 ₡2,138

$5.23 $5.23

-9.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡747

$4.40 $4.40

-62.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 ₡1,679

$2.07 $2.07

79.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,611

$2.08 $2.08

71.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₡497

$2.13 $2.13

-48.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,149

$1.45 $1.45

75.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,232

$9.64 $9.64

-48.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 ₡9,020

$10.90 $10.90

83.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,256

$2.02 $2.02

38.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ₡1,589

$3.26 $3.26

8.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 ₡537

$2.95 $2.95

-59.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 ₡32.5K

$96.7 $96.7

-25.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₡1,011

$2.98 $2.98

-24.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ₡701

$1.72 $1.72

-9.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₡3,993

$24.18 $24.18

-63.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡708

$0.97 $0.97

61.86%

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

$21.8K ₡9.8M

$36.4K $36.4K

-40.16%

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

$34.6K ₡15.6M

$26.0K $26.0K

33.07%

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

$93.5 ₡42.1K

$202 $202

-53.85%

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

$35.11 ₡15.8K

$54.2 $54.2

-35.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 ₡23.2K

$80.7 $80.7

-36.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 ₡32.2K

$39.85 $39.85

79.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.44 ₡16.0K

$16.24 $16.24

118.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 ₡3,535

$15.13 $15.13

-48.18%

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

$490 ₡220.7K

$1,341 $1,341

-63.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.4M

$28.6K $28.6K

-58.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₡24.1K

$60.2 $60.2

-11.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.1K

$29.52 $29.52

88.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₡35.7K

$84.7 $84.7

-6.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 ₡35.6K

$120 $120

-34.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$786 ₡354.3K

$1,518 $1,518

-48.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ₡351.6K

$1,276 $1,276

-38.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,860 ₡1.7M

$2,344 $2,344

64.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 ₡634.4K

$2,077 $2,077

-32.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,972 ₡3.1M

$3,256 $3,256

114.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡541.3K

$1,953 $1,953

-38.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$876 ₡395.0K

$3,710 $3,710

-76.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.62

30.21%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Garland, TX: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$780 43%

Garland, TX

$1.3K 48.5% 63.6% $496

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.3%

Garland, TX

$378 14.4% 8.2% $29

Eating Out

Nosara

$209 11.6%

Garland, TX

$319 12.1% 52.2% $109

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$180 9.9%

Garland, TX

$337 12.8% 87.4% $157

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.6%

Garland, TX

$133 5% 10.1% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Garland, TX

$70 2.7% 19.5% $17

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Garland, TX

$120 4.6% 38.2% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $1,518 in Garland, TX. 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 323% higher in Garland, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara versus $54.0 in Garland, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $350 in Nosara vs $378 in Garland, TX – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Garland, TX

🕒 Local time

20:48 8:48 PM

21:48 9:48 PM

1 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

242,035

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 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 11, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Garland, TX 2,790 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Garland, TX

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 Garland, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $2,590 in Garland, TX – roughly 41% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $3,885 in Garland, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $1,341 in Garland, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Garland, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Garland, TX at $2,590. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Garland, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Nosara to $2,590 in Garland, TX. 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 Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Garland, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.