Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Guiyang

For one person, living is cheaper in Guiyang: $716 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Guiyang
🇨🇳 China
$716
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Guiyang

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $716 in Guiyang, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Guiyang $716

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,134 in Guiyang, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Guiyang $1,134

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,553 in Guiyang, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Guiyang $1,553

Nosara costs about 157% more than Guiyang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Guiyang is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Guiyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$2.84 ¥18.97
334.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$21.82 ¥146
180.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$4.78 ¥31.98
57.32%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.95 ¥19.73
49.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.44 ¥2.92
295.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.29 ¥1.96
351.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$0.90 ¥6.01
264.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.07 ¥13.86
115.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Guiyang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.81 ¥12.10
-13.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.56 ¥10.43
93.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$0.97 ¥6.48
158.76%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$1.59 ¥10.65
124.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$12.62 ¥84.4
-41.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$3.28 ¥21.93
220.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$10.06 ¥67.3
38.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.82 ¥12.14
29.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.20 ¥8.00
34.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.49 ¥9.99
222.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.11 ¥7.39
45.05%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.69 ¥4.61
450.72%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$0.91 ¥6.06
305.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.56 ¥3.71
101.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.52 ¥3.48
411.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$3.16 ¥21.13
63.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$10.37 ¥69.3
91.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$0.81 ¥5.40
258.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.63 ¥10.90
122.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Guiyang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.29 ¥1.95
286.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$16.97 ¥113
328.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.35 ¥9.03
58.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$0.35 ¥2.36
348.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$6.60 ¥44.10
29.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.18 ¥7.90
28.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$19.2K ¥128.1K
12.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$17.1K ¥114.6K
101.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Guiyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$45.97 ¥307
109.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$9.69 ¥64.8
270.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$11.79 ¥78.8
354.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Guiyang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$41.04 ¥274
74.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$13.92 ¥93.1
150.79%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$6.08 ¥40.65
29.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Guiyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$331 ¥2,211
49.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$16.7K ¥111.6K
-28.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Guiyang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$44.28 ¥296
21.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$30.65 ¥205
80.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$72.0 ¥481
8.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$70.7 ¥473
12.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Guiyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$278 ¥1,862
183.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$195 ¥1,307
306.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$581 ¥3,888
577.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$367 ¥2,451
287.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$3,040 ¥20.3K
127.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$2,022 ¥13.5K
-39.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Guiyang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
3.89
121.59%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Guiyang: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Guiyang
$195 75.4% $599
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Guiyang
$197 44.2% $156
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Guiyang
$84 60.3% $128
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Guiyang
$67 63.7% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Guiyang
$98 18.5% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Guiyang
$53 39.1% $34
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Guiyang
$21 75.6% $66

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $278 in Guiyang. 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 $61.0 in Nosara versus $22.00 in Guiyang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $197 – making Guiyang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇨🇳 Guiyang
🕒 Local time
03:06 3:06 AM
17:06 5:06 PM
14 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
4,324,561
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Guiyang 15,730 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Guiyang

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 Guiyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Guiyang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $716 in Guiyang – roughly 157% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Guiyang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,074 in Guiyang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Guiyang?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guiyang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Guiyang?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $331 in Guiyang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 79% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Guiyang, where all-in costs run around $716, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Guiyang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Guiyang?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $716 in Guiyang to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Guiyang safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Nosara and Guiyang?
If budget matters most, go with Guiyang. 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.

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