Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Kabwe

For one person, living is cheaper in Kabwe: $573 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Kabwe
🇿🇲 Zambia
$573
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Kabwe

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $573 in Kabwe, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Kabwe $573

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $907 in Kabwe, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Kabwe $907

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,242 in Kabwe, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Kabwe $1,242

Nosara costs about 221% more than Kabwe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Kabwe is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Kabwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$5.47 ZMW 109
125.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$30.30 ZMW 603
101.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$5.06 ZMW 101
48.62%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.88 ZMW 57.2
53.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.73 ZMW 14.60
138.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.45 ZMW 9.03
191.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$1.28 ZMW 25.49
156.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.31 ZMW 46.03
93.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Kabwe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.67 ZMW 33.24
-6.59%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.23 ZMW 24.42
145.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$2.03 ZMW 40.41
23.65%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$1.17 ZMW 23.21
205.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$10.30 ZMW 205
-27.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$6.35 ZMW 126
65.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$6.46 ZMW 128
116.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$3.42 ZMW 68.1
-31.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.04 ZMW 20.66
54.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$3.63 ZMW 72.2
32.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.52 ZMW 30.18
5.92%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$2.51 ZMW 49.92
51.39%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.78 ZMW 35.43
107.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.15 ZMW 22.95
-1.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.76 ZMW 15.09
250.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$3.03 ZMW 60.3
70.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$10.01 ZMW 199
98.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.48 ZMW 29.47
95.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.36 ZMW 47.02
53.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Kabwe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$2.59 ZMW 51.5
-17.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.54 ZMW 30.53
1.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$4.89 ZMW 97.3
74.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.35 ZMW 26.81
12.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$7,588 ZMW 150.9K
184.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$27.1K ZMW 539.4K
27.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Kabwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$79.2 ZMW 1,576
21.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$10.24 ZMW 204
250.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$56.0 ZMW 1,115
-4.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Kabwe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$5.86 ZMW 117
34.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Kabwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$137 ZMW 2,719
261.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$16.9K ZMW 335.9K
-29.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Kabwe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$22.99 ZMW 457
134.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$15.34 ZMW 305
261.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$44.92 ZMW 893
73.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$72.2 ZMW 1,437
10.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Kabwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Kabwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
29
-70.28%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Kabwe: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Kabwe
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Kabwe
$226 35.8% $126
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Kabwe
$109 48.4% $103
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Kabwe
$146 21.7% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Kabwe
$70 41.7% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Kabwe
$12 * 86.6% $76
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Kabwe
$10 * 88.2% $77

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

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $30.00 in Kabwe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $226 – making Kabwe the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇿🇲 Kabwe
🕒 Local time
13:25 1:25 PM
21:25 9:25 PM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
117,517
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 19.89 ZMW (100 ZMW = 5.03 USD). 1 EUR = 22.36 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.47 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Kabwe 12,860 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Kabwe

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 Kabwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Kabwe?
Nosara costs about 221% more than Kabwe, 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 Kabwe?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $859 in Kabwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Kabwe?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $30.00 in Kabwe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in Kabwe?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Kabwe?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kabwe, where all-in costs run around $573, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Kabwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Kabwe?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kabwe costs $573 versus $1,839 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nosara compared to Kabwe?
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 Kabwe?
If budget matters most, go with Kabwe. 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.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

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