Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Jonesboro, AR

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,154 in Jonesboro, AR, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
103

Cost of Living Index in Jonesboro, AR
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Jonesboro, AR Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Jonesboro, AR

🇺🇸 United States

$2,154

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Jonesboro, AR

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,154 in Jonesboro, AR.

Nosara $1,837
Jonesboro, AR $2,154

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,775 in Nosara versus $2,995 in Jonesboro, AR.

Nosara $2,775
Jonesboro, AR $2,995

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,712 in Nosara versus $3,836 in Jonesboro, AR.

Nosara $3,712
Jonesboro, AR $3,836

Living in Nosara costs roughly 15% less than in Jonesboro, AR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 37% above, Jonesboro, AR 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 ₡5,509

$27.74 $27.74

-55.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ₡27.1K

$59.9 $59.9

0.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 ₡3,399

$10.48 $10.48

-28.05%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,941

$4.98 $4.98

-13.45%

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

$1.72 ₡773

$2.29 $2.29

-24.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₡608

$1.81 $1.81

-25.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,459

$4.42 $4.42

-26.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,018

$6.66 $6.66

-32.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡707

$1.09 $1.09

44.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,429

$3.40 $3.40

-6.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,091

$2.17 $2.17

11.52%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,609

$3.71 $3.71

-3.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,349

$8.69 $8.69

-14.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.42 ₡4,697

$8.73 $8.73

19.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 ₡6,156

$11.27 $11.27

21.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ₡1,044

$4.38 $4.38

-47.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡728

$1.14 $1.14

41.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 ₡2,138

$3.00 $3.00

58.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡747

$3.80 $3.80

-56.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 ₡1,679

$1.64 $1.64

126.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,611

$2.45 $2.45

45.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₡497

$1.77 $1.77

-37.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,149

$1.99 $1.99

28.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,232

$8.09 $8.09

-38.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 ₡9,020

$13.38 $13.38

49.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,256

$1.81 $1.81

54.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ₡1,589

$3.88 $3.88

-9.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 ₡537

$1.11 $1.11

7.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 ₡32.5K

$30.35 $30.35

137.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₡1,011

$3.04 $3.04

-26.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ₡701

$1.39 $1.39

11.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₡3,993

$27.60 $27.60

-67.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡708

$0.86 $0.86

82.56%

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

$21.8K ₡9.8M

$32.2K $32.2K

-32.32%

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

$34.6K ₡15.6M

$26.5K $26.5K

30.66%

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

$93.5 ₡42.1K

$226 $226

-58.63%

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

$35.11 ₡15.8K

$46.16 $46.16

-23.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 ₡23.2K

$73.5 $73.5

-29.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 ₡32.2K

$39.95 $39.95

78.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.44 ₡16.0K

$10.76 $10.76

229.37%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 ₡3,535

$11.86 $11.86

-33.90%

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

$490 ₡220.7K

$758 $758

-35.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.4M

$8,352 $8,352

42.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₡24.1K

$62.3 $62.3

-14.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.1K

$37.27 $37.27

49.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₡35.7K

$77.3 $77.3

2.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 ₡35.6K

$106 $106

-25.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$786 ₡354.3K

$1,131 $1,131

-30.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ₡351.6K

$856 $856

-8.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,860 ₡1.7M

$1,387 $1,387

178.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 ₡634.4K

$1,169 $1,169

20.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,972 ₡3.1M

$1,558 $1,558

347.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡541.3K

$1,547 $1,547

-22.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$876 ₡395.0K

$3,335 $3,335

-73.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.36

35.53%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Jonesboro, AR: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$780 43%

Jonesboro, AR

$856 40.4% 9.7% $76

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.3%

Jonesboro, AR

$316 14.9% 9.6% $33

Eating Out

Nosara

$209 11.6%

Jonesboro, AR

$365 17.2% 74.2% $155

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$180 9.9%

Jonesboro, AR

$346 16.3% 91.9% $166

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.6%

Jonesboro, AR

$127 6% 5.9% $7.1

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Jonesboro, AR

$64 3% 26.9% $23

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Jonesboro, AR

$45 2.1% 48.4% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $786 in Nosara and $1,131 in Jonesboro, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jonesboro, AR pays 281% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in Nosara vs $60.0 in Jonesboro, AR. Groceries flip the comparison at $350 vs $316, with Jonesboro, AR cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Jonesboro, AR

🕒 Local time

01:56 1:56 AM

02:56 2:56 AM

1 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

78,576

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Jonesboro, AR 2,920 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Jonesboro, AR

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 Jonesboro, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and utilities. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 281% lower in Jonesboro, AR. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $786 in Nosara versus $1,131 in Jonesboro, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,837 per month in Nosara versus $2,154 in Jonesboro, AR – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nosara runs roughly 137% less than in Jonesboro, AR. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,154 in Jonesboro, AR, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Jonesboro, AR. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jonesboro, AR, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Nosara and Jonesboro, AR are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Jonesboro, AR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.