Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Hiratsuka

For one person, living is cheaper in Hiratsuka: $1,267 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Hiratsuka
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,267
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Hiratsuka

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,267 in Hiratsuka, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Hiratsuka $1,267

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,003 in Hiratsuka, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Hiratsuka $2,003

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,738 in Hiratsuka, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Hiratsuka $2,738

Nosara costs about 45% more than Hiratsuka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Hiratsuka is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Hiratsuka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$6.20 ¥979
99.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$28.45 ¥4,494
115.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$4.89 ¥773
53.78%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.49 ¥393
77.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.12 ¥176
55.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.61 ¥96.2
114.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.48 ¥392
32.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.74 ¥433
63.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Hiratsuka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.42 ¥224
9.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.50 ¥236
101.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$4.10 ¥648
-38.78%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.22 ¥351
60.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$15.81 ¥2,498
-53.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$6.83 ¥1,080
54.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$17.22 ¥2,721
-18.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$8.47 ¥1,338
-72.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$3.04 ¥480
-47.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$5.12 ¥808
-6.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$7.57 ¥1,195
-78.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$3.87 ¥612
-1.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$4.67 ¥738
-20.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.18 ¥186
-4.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.93 ¥148
186.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$3.82 ¥604
35.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$9.61 ¥1,518
106.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$2.44 ¥385
18.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.16 ¥341
68.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Hiratsuka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.64 ¥259
-31.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$51.0 ¥8,050
42.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$3.10 ¥490
-30.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$2.90 ¥458
-45.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$15.88 ¥2,508
-46.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.02 ¥161
49.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$21.8K ¥3.4M
-0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$14.9K ¥2.4M
131.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Hiratsuka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$117 ¥18.5K
-17.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$23.06 ¥3,643
55.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$31.40 ¥4,961
70.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Hiratsuka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$51.1 ¥8,067
40.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$11.56 ¥1,827
-31.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Hiratsuka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$328 ¥51.7K
50.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$14.8K ¥2.3M
-19.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Hiratsuka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$49.15 ¥7,765
9.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$36.28 ¥5,733
52.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$60.1 ¥9,489
29.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$99.4 ¥15.7K
-19.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Hiratsuka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$530 ¥83.7K
48.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$338 ¥53.3K
135.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,245 ¥196.7K
216.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$722 ¥114.1K
96.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$4,684 ¥739.9K
47.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$1,984 ¥313.4K
-38.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Hiratsuka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
2.02
326.73%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Hiratsuka: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Hiratsuka
$338 57.5% $457
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Hiratsuka
$379 7.6% $27
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Hiratsuka
$119 43.9% $93
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Hiratsuka
$172 7.6% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Hiratsuka
$110 8.2% $9.9
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Hiratsuka
$74 15.1% $13
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Hiratsuka
$75 13.8% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $530 in Hiratsuka. 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 $28.00 in Hiratsuka. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Nosara vs $379 in Hiratsuka – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇯🇵 Hiratsuka
🕒 Local time
23:26 11:26 PM
14:26 2:26 PM
15 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
258,422
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Hiratsuka 13,110 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Hiratsuka

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 Hiratsuka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Hiratsuka compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,267 in Hiratsuka – roughly 45% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Hiratsuka?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,900 in Hiratsuka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Hiratsuka?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hiratsuka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $28.00 in Hiratsuka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nosara or Hiratsuka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $1,267 in Hiratsuka. That's a gap of about 45%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hiratsuka, where all-in costs run around $1,267, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Hiratsuka 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 Hiratsuka?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,267 in Hiratsuka to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Hiratsuka 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 Hiratsuka?
If budget matters most, go with Hiratsuka. 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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