Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Jhelum

For one person, living is cheaper in Jhelum: $382 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $17,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Jhelum
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$382
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Jhelum

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $382 in Jhelum.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Jhelum $382

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $584 in Jhelum.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Jhelum $584

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $785 in Jhelum.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Jhelum $785

Living in Nosara is roughly 382% more expensive than in Jhelum, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nosara is 36% above, Jhelum is 72% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Jhelum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$1.79 PKR 496
589.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$10.87 PKR 3,007
462.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$5.30 PKR 1,468
41.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.56 PKR 710
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.14 PKR 593
-
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$1.51 PKR 418
192.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.47 PKR 129
270.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.30 PKR 82.0
336.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Jhelum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$0.68 PKR 187
129.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$0.62 PKR 170
387.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.25 PKR 347
100.80%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$1.25 PKR 346
185.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$2.72 PKR 753
173.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$2.38 PKR 659
342.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$2.61 PKR 721
435.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.11 PKR 307
111.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$0.35 PKR 96.8
360.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$0.62 PKR 171
674.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$0.59 PKR 162
172.88%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.30 PKR 83.3
1166.67%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$0.35 PKR 96.4
954.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.42 PKR 116
169.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.43 PKR 120
518.60%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.87 PKR 517
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.52 PKR 143
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38 PKR 658
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$1.42 PKR 392
264.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Jhelum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.18 PKR 49.26
522.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$9.15 PKR 2,534
693.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.05 PKR 291
103.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.10 PKR 305
42.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$2.82 PKR 781
202.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.18 PKR 326
28.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$23.1K PKR 6.4M
-6.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$23.1K PKR 6.4M
49.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Jhelum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$66.5 PKR 18.4K
44.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$5.75 PKR 1,592
524.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$14.71 PKR 4,071
264.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Jhelum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$15.14 PKR 4,191
372.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$8.50 PKR 2,354
310.71%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$7.07 PKR 1,956
11.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Jhelum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$26.62 PKR 7,367
1756.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$1,986 PKR 549.7K
497.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Jhelum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$18.84 PKR 5,214
186.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$26.91 PKR 7,449
105.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$54.4 PKR 15.1K
43.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$30.21 PKR 8,362
163.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Jhelum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$114 PKR 31.6K
590.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$66.7 PKR 18.5K
1090.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$263 PKR 72.9K
1396.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$135 PKR 37.4K
949.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$956 PKR 264.7K
622.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$551 PKR 152.5K
122.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Jhelum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
11.83
-27.13%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Jhelum: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Jhelum
$67 91.6% $728
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Jhelum
$72 79.5% $280
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Jhelum
$51 75.7% $160
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Jhelum
$87 53.2% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Jhelum
$59 51.1% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Jhelum
$29 66.5% $58
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Jhelum
$16 81.1% $71

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $114 in Jhelum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $11.00 in Jhelum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $72.0 per month, with Jhelum cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇵🇰 Jhelum
🕒 Local time
10:16 10:16 AM
21:16 9:16 PM
11 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
190,425
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

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).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Jhelum 14,770 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Jhelum

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 Jhelum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jhelum cheaper than Nosara?
Jhelum is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 382% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,758 in Nosara and $573 in Jhelum to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Nosara and Jhelum?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $114 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Nosara and in Jhelum?
Supermarket bills run roughly 387% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Jhelum?
Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Jhelum?
At $382 in Jhelum versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jhelum but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Jhelum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nosara or Jhelum more family-friendly?
For families, Jhelum is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nosara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Jhelum?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Jhelum are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jhelum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 382% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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