Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ichinomiya

For one person, living is cheaper in Ichinomiya: $1,141 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Ichinomiya
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,141
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ichinomiya

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,141 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Ichinomiya $1,141

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,891 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Ichinomiya $1,891

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,640 in Ichinomiya, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Ichinomiya $2,640

Nosara costs about 61% more than Ichinomiya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Ichinomiya is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$5.96 ¥941
107.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$31.97 ¥5,051
91.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$4.51 ¥712
66.74%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$3.33 ¥527
32.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.35 ¥214
28.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.82 ¥129
59.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.45 ¥388
33.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$3.08 ¥486
45.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.43 ¥225
9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.72 ¥272
75.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$4.64 ¥733
-45.91%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.01 ¥318
77.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$11.03 ¥1,743
-32.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$6.91 ¥1,092
52.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$15.14 ¥2,392
-7.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$3.52 ¥556
-33.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$2.53 ¥400
-36.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$3.14 ¥495
52.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$4.03 ¥637
-60.05%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$2.74 ¥434
38.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$2.46 ¥389
50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.37 ¥217
-17.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.80 ¥126
232.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$4.24 ¥669
22.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$6.26 ¥989
217.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.67 ¥263
73.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.95 ¥308
86.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.40 ¥221
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$46.94 ¥7,416
54.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$3.62 ¥572
-40.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$3.10 ¥490
-49.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$18.36 ¥2,900
-53.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.14 ¥180
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$22.1K ¥3.5M
-2.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$14.9K ¥2.4M
131.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$115 ¥18.2K
-16.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$20.66 ¥3,265
73.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$27.00 ¥4,265
98.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$56.2 ¥8,883
27.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$12.04 ¥1,903
-34.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$537 ¥84.8K
-7.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$11.5K ¥1.8M
2.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$42.65 ¥6,739
26.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$29.32 ¥4,632
88.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$67.7 ¥10.7K
15.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$79.0 ¥12.5K
0.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$490 ¥77.4K
60.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$310 ¥49.0K
155.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$997 ¥157.5K
295.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$840 ¥132.6K
69.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$4,161 ¥657.4K
66.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$1,986 ¥313.8K
-38.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
2.21
290.05%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ichinomiya: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Ichinomiya
$310 60.9% $484
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Ichinomiya
$290 17.8% $63
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Ichinomiya
$128 39.4% $84
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Ichinomiya
$163 12.4% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Ichinomiya
$98 18.1% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Ichinomiya
$80 8.1% $7.1
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Ichinomiya
$72 17.8% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $490 in Ichinomiya. 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 $32.00 in Ichinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $290 – making Ichinomiya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇯🇵 Ichinomiya
🕒 Local time
06:27 6:27 AM
21:27 9:27 PM
15 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
379,728
💱 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 Ichinomiya 13,290 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Ichinomiya

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 Ichinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ichinomiya cheaper than Nosara?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 61%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,712 in Ichinomiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ichinomiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Ichinomiya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $32.00 in Ichinomiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nosara and in Ichinomiya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $1,141 in Ichinomiya. That's a gap of about 61%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Ichinomiya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ichinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,141, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Ichinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nosara or Ichinomiya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ichinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Ichinomiya?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ichinomiya. 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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