Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ikeja

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,415 in Ikeja, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ikeja outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Ikeja
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$2,415
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ikeja

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $2,415 in Ikeja, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Ikeja $2,415

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $4,119 in Ikeja, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Ikeja $4,119

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $5,822 in Ikeja, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Ikeja $5,822

Nosara is about 24% cheaper than Ikeja, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Ikeja sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Ikeja by 79%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Ikeja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$0.50 ₦670
2370.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$11.16 ₦14.8K
448.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$7.69 ₦10.2K
-2.21%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.87 ₦3,815
53.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.13 ₦168
1238.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.07 ₦91.8
1771.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$0.29 ₦382
1031.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.05 ₦2,731
118.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Ikeja
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$0.77 ₦1,027
102.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$0.73 ₦975
313.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.26 ₦1,675
99.21%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.28 ₦3,026
56.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$3.45 ₦4,591
115.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$3.93 ₦5,226
167.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$4.56 ₦6,067
206.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.71 ₦2,276
37.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.28 ₦1,709
25.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.14 ₦1,521
321.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.27 ₦1,692
26.77%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.37 ₦1,824
177.37%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.35 ₦1,792
173.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.90 ₦1,194
25.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.37 ₦491
618.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$0.59 ₦788
777.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$2.43 ₦3,227
718.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$0.54 ₦725
437.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$0.46 ₦617
689.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Ikeja
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.11 ₦141
918.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$3.41 ₦4,533
2030.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$0.71 ₦942
201.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$0.97 ₦1,292
61.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$2.16 ₦2,873
294.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$0.16 ₦206
850.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$11.1K ₦14.8M
94.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$13.5K ₦17.9M
156.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Ikeja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$112 ₦149.5K
-14.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$14.52 ₦19.3K
147.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$33.03 ₦43.9K
62.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Ikeja
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$6.33 ₦8,413
24.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Ikeja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$679 ₦902.6K
-27.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$20.2K ₦26.9M
-41.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Ikeja
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$14.93 ₦19.9K
261.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$18.29 ₦24.3K
202.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$36.31 ₦48.3K
114.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$48.50 ₦64.5K
64.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Ikeja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$3,485 ₦4.6M
-77.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$1,989 ₦2.6M
-60.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$6,487 ₦8.6M
-39.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$5,007 ₦6.7M
-71.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Ikeja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$74.2 ₦98.7K
1063.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
18.39
-53.13%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Ikeja
$2K 150% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Ikeja
$123 65% $229
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Ikeja
$68 68% $144
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Ikeja
$160 13.9% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Ikeja
$53 55.8% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Ikeja
$13 * 85.5% $75
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Ikeja
$9.4 89.2% $78

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $3,485 in Ikeja. 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 1063% higher in Nosara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $11.00 in Ikeja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $123 – making Ikeja the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇳🇬 Ikeja
🕒 Local time
09:10 9:10 AM
16:10 4:10 PM
7 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
861,300
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, 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).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Ikeja 9,770 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Ikeja

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 Ikeja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Ikeja?
Ikeja costs about 31% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nosara and in Ikeja?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $3,623 in Ikeja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nosara or Ikeja?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in Ikeja?
Interestingly, groceries are about 185% cheaper in Ikeja – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Ikeja?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $11.00 in Ikeja. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Nosara or in Ikeja?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,839, than in Ikeja at $2,415. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ikeja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Ikeja?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nosara costs $1,839 versus $2,415 in Ikeja. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nosara compared to Ikeja?
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.
Should I move to Nosara or to Ikeja?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ikeja makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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