Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Kayfan

For one person, living is cheaper in Kayfan: $1,345 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Kayfan
🇰🇼 Kuwait
$1,345
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Kayfan

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,345 in Kayfan, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Kayfan $1,345

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,358 in Kayfan, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Kayfan $2,358

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $3,370 in Kayfan, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Kayfan $3,370

Nosara costs about 37% more than Kayfan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Kayfan sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Kayfan by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Kayfan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$13.09 KWD 4.03
-5.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$63.0 KWD 19.39
-2.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$8.95 KWD 2.76
-15.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.28 KWD 1.01
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.79 KWD 1.48
-
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$5.33 KWD 1.64
-17.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.73 KWD 0.23
138.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.29 KWD 0.09
351.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Kayfan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.63 KWD 0.50
-4.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.51 KWD 0.47
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.97 KWD 0.61
27.41%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.10 KWD 0.65
70.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$4.31 KWD 1.33
72.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$6.81 KWD 2.10
54.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$10.09 KWD 3.11
38.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.47 KWD 0.76
-4.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.90 KWD 0.59
-15.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.83 KWD 0.56
162.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.53 KWD 0.47
5.23%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.33 KWD 0.41
185.71%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.42 KWD 0.44
159.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$2.24 KWD 0.69
-49.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.58 KWD 0.18
358.62%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$3.25 KWD 1.00
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 KWD 0.33
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 KWD 0.42
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$2.67 KWD 0.82
94.01%
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
Kayfan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.89 KWD 0.28
25.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$4.84 KWD 1.49
-55.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$3.13 KWD 0.96
-49.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$15.76 KWD 4.86
-45.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$0.33 KWD 0.10
360.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$21.0K KWD 6,472
2.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$20.5K KWD 6,308
68.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Kayfan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$66.2 KWD 20.40
45.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$22.46 KWD 6.92
59.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$30.00 KWD 9.24
78.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Kayfan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$84.1 KWD 25.91
-14.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$11.31 KWD 3.49
-30.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Kayfan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$294 KWD 90.5
68.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$9,326 KWD 2,873
27.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Kayfan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$37.63 KWD 11.59
43.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$39.55 KWD 12.18
40.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$98.5 KWD 30.34
-20.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$89.1 KWD 27.45
-10.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Kayfan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$879 KWD 271
-10.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$591 KWD 182
34.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,932 KWD 595
103.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,519 KWD 468
-6.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Kayfan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$4,046 KWD 1,247
-78.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.53
32.01%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Kayfan: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Kayfan
$591 25.6% $203
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Kayfan
$186 47.1% $166
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Kayfan
$200 5.8% $12
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Kayfan
$119 36.1% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Kayfan
$119 0.8% $1
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Kayfan
$107 22.1% $19
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Kayfan
$24 * 72.4% $63

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 $879 in Kayfan. 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 369% higher in Kayfan, 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 $63.0 in Kayfan. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Nosara vs $186 in Kayfan – so Kayfan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇰🇼 Kayfan
🕒 Local time
15:27 3:27 PM
00:27 12:27 AM
9 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
💱 Currency
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD د.ك
Exchange rates and currency converter

KWD, 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).

Kuwaiti Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.308 KWD (1 KWD = 3.25 USD). 1 EUR = 0.346 KWD (1 KWD = 2.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Kayfan 13,400 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Kayfan

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 Kayfan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Kayfan?
Nosara costs about 37% more than Kayfan, 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 Kayfan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $2,018 in Kayfan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nosara or Kayfan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kayfan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to Kayfan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $1,345 in Kayfan. That's a gap of about 37%.
How do childcare costs compare in Nosara and in Kayfan?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $294 in Kayfan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Kayfan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kayfan, where all-in costs run around $1,345, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Kayfan 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 Kayfan?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kayfan costs $1,345 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 Kayfan?
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 Kayfan?
If budget matters most, go with Kayfan. 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.

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