Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Guanacaste Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Guanacaste

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,820 per month in Nosara vs $1,553 in Guanacaste, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,806 per month in Nosara vs $2,430 in Guanacaste, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,793 per month in Nosara vs $3,307 in Guanacaste, rent included.

Nosara costs about 17% more than Guanacaste, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nosara and Guanacaste sit above the global median – Nosara by 32%, Guanacaste by 13%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.32 ₡5,513

$11.01 ₡4,925

11.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 ₡26.5K

$48.88 ₡21.9K

21.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 ₡3,466

$11.81 ₡5,286

-34.46%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,974

$4.34 ₡1,944

1.61%

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

$1.71 ₡766

$2.59 ₡1,157

-33.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡585

$1.96 ₡877

-33.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₡1,437

$3.05 ₡1,366

5.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₡1,932

$4.43 ₡1,981

-2.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₡727

$2.07 ₡928

-21.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 ₡1,357

$3.07 ₡1,376

-1.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,083

$2.54 ₡1,136

-4.72%

Eggs

$3.48 ₡1,556

$3.65 ₡1,635

-4.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 ₡3,348

$5.45 ₡2,439

37.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.41 ₡4,658

$4.54 ₡2,033

129.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 ₡6,220

$11.24 ₡5,030

23.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$2.73 ₡1,220

-13.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ₡730

$1.66 ₡745

-1.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.68 ₡2,093

$4.57 ₡2,043

2.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 ₡733

$1.58 ₡707

3.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 ₡1,688

$3.97 ₡1,776

-5.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 ₡1,691

$2.17 ₡972

74.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡504

$0.93 ₡418

21.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₡1,193

$3.27 ₡1,465

-18.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.19 ₡2,323

$4.54 ₡2,032

14.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.16 ₡9,023

$20.10 ₡8,995

0.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₡1,284

$2.81 ₡1,259

2.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 ₡1,604

$2.75 ₡1,229

30.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 ₡668

$1.32 ₡589

12.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 ₡33.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₡977

$2.54 ₡1,137

-14.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 ₡732

$1.58 ₡707

3.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.69 ₡3,891

$8.56 ₡3,830

1.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡659

$1.49 ₡668

-1.34%

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

$22.1K ₡9.9M

0.02%

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

$35.2K ₡15.7M

$35.1K ₡15.7M

0.10%

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

$95.9 ₡42.9K

$95.1 ₡42.6K

0.86%

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

$36.76 ₡16.5K

$37.45 ₡16.8K

-1.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 ₡23.3K

$33.99 ₡15.2K

52.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.8 ₡32.6K

$74.9 ₡33.5K

-2.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.41 ₡16.3K

Cinema Ticket

$8.18 ₡3,660

$8.23 ₡3,684

-0.61%

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

$493 ₡220.8K

$985 ₡440.7K

-49.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$17.3K ₡7.8M

-31.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ₡24.5K

$66.0 ₡29.5K

-16.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.7 ₡24.9K

$44.89 ₡20.1K

24.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ₡35.1K

$88.2 ₡39.5K

-11.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 ₡34.9K

$79.0 ₡35.3K

-1.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ₡363.8K

$802 ₡358.8K

1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$807 ₡361.3K

$641 ₡286.7K

25.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,994 ₡1.8M

$1,904 ₡852.1K

109.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,400 ₡626.5K

$1,266 ₡566.6K

10.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,940 ₡3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 ₡541.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$874 ₡391.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Nosara: September 7, 2026

Last update for Guanacaste: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $813 in Nosara versus $802 in Guanacaste. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Nosara versus $49.00 in Guanacaste. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $318 – making Guanacaste the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Guanacaste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,729 per month in Nosara and $2,329 in Guanacaste. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,820 in Nosara and $1,553 in Guanacaste. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $493 per month in Nosara and $985 in Guanacaste. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guanacaste, where all-in costs run around $1,553, than in Nosara at $1,820. In Guanacaste it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Guanacaste – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Guanacaste. 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.