Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Island Garden City of Samal

For one person, living is cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal: $747 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
35

Cost of Living Index in Island Garden City of Samal
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Island Garden City of Samal Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Island Garden City of Samal

🇵🇭 Philippines

$747

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Island Garden City of Samal

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 Island Garden City of Samal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $747 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Nosara $1,839
Island Garden City of Samal $747

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,102 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Nosara $2,828
Island Garden City of Samal $1,102

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,457 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Nosara $3,818
Island Garden City of Samal $1,457

Nosara costs about 146% more than Island Garden City of Samal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Island Garden City of Samal is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.35 ₡5,539

$1.22 ₱76.6

912.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$17.02 ₱1,072

259.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₡3,373

$4.07 ₱256

84.77%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,978

$2.18 ₱137

102.29%

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

$1.74 ₡780

$1.04 ₱65.8

67.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡587

$0.64 ₱40.35

104.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$1.18 ₱74.5

177.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡2,004

$1.98 ₱125

125.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$2.03 ₱128

-23.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₡1,355

$1.14 ₱71.5

164.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,125

$0.88 ₱55.2

185.23%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,603

$1.87 ₱118

90.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,333

$6.26 ₱394

18.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,717

$4.64 ₱292

126.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,265

$9.10 ₱573

53.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$2.73 ₱172

-13.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$1.12 ₱70.5

43.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 ₡2,152

$2.38 ₱150

101.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡724

$1.14 ₱71.8

41.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₡1,703

$1.98 ₱125

91.92%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,657

$3.41 ₱215

8.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$1.21 ₱76.1

-6.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$0.72 ₱45.49

269.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,321

$2.49 ₱157

108.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ₡8,916

$7.76 ₱489

156.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$1.23 ₱77.6

135.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,626

$1.68 ₱106

116.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

$0.29 ₱18.10

286.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$11.62 ₱732

525.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₡958

$0.83 ₱52.0

157.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡703

$0.25 ₱15.83

528.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 ₡3,823

$1.92 ₱121

343.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.24 ₱78.0

22.58%

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

$21.6K ₡9.7M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

1.92%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

82.93%

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

$96.3 ₡43.2K

$98.4 ₱6,199

-2.15%

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

$35.89 ₡16.1K

$19.24 ₱1,212

86.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$31.01 ₱1,953

72.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$29.89 ₱1,883

139.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 ₡15.7K

$4.57 ₱288

663.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₡3,539

$4.87 ₱307

62.01%

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

$494 ₡221.6K

$107 ₱6,732

362.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$7,691 ₱484.5K

54.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₡24.2K

$33.60 ₱2,116

60.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$19.67 ₱1,239

181.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$70.4 ₱4,435

10.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₡35.7K

$62.4 ₱3,931

27.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₡353.4K

$250 ₱15.7K

215.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡356.2K

$197 ₱12.4K

303.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,939 ₡1.8M

$504 ₱31.8K

681.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 ₡636.5K

$315 ₱19.8K

350.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,912 ₡3.1M

$2,056 ₱129.5K

236.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 ₡549.0K

$1,083 ₱68.2K

13.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

8.31

3.73%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$794 43.2%

Island Garden City of Samal

$197 26.3% 75.2% $598

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$352 19.2%

Island Garden City of Samal

$199 26.6% 43.6% $153

Eating Out

Nosara

$212 11.5%

Island Garden City of Samal

$65 8.7% 69.5% $147

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$186 10.1%

Island Garden City of Samal

$149 19.9% 20% $37

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.5%

Island Garden City of Samal

$84 11.2% 30.3% $36

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Island Garden City of Samal

$40 5.3% 54.6% $48

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.7%

Island Garden City of Samal

$15 2% 83% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $250 in Island Garden City of Samal. 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 $17.00 in Island Garden City of Samal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $199 – making Island Garden City of Samal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇵🇭 Island Garden City of Samal

🕒 Local time

15:31 3:31 PM

05:31 5:31 AM

14 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

116,771

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.82 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Island Garden City of Samal 16,060 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Island Garden City of Samal

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 Island Garden City of Samal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara costs about 146% more than Island Garden City of Samal, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,121 in Island Garden City of Samal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal, 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 $1,839 in Nosara and $747 in Island Garden City of Samal. That's a gap of about 146%.

Public transport costs about 525% less in Island Garden City of Samal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Island Garden City of Samal, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Island Garden City of Samal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Island Garden City of Samal costs $747 versus $1,839 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Island Garden City of Samal. 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.