Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Lake Worth, FL

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,604 in Lake Worth, FL, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Lake Worth, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,604
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Lake Worth, FL

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 Lake Worth, FL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,604 in Lake Worth, FL.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Lake Worth, FL $2,604

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Nosara versus $3,701 in Lake Worth, FL.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Lake Worth, FL $3,701

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,814 in Nosara versus $4,798 in Lake Worth, FL.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Lake Worth, FL $4,798

Living in Nosara costs roughly 30% less than in Lake Worth, FL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 35% above, Lake Worth, FL 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$25.58 $25.58
-51.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$76.2 $76.2
-19.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$9.86 $9.86
-21.30%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$5.05 $5.05
-12.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$2.53 $2.53
-29.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$1.88 $1.88
-31.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$5.22 $5.22
-37.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$7.71 $7.71
-42.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$0.81 $0.81
91.36%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$3.00 $3.00
2.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$3.16 $3.16
-19.94%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$4.53 $4.53
-23.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$13.40 $13.40
-45.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$11.01 $11.01
-6.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$14.80 $14.80
-4.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$4.62 $4.62
-50.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.53 $1.53
7.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$3.04 $3.04
57.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$5.40 $5.40
-69.63%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$2.92 $2.92
31.85%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$3.35 $3.35
11.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$2.33 $2.33
-53.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$2.57 $2.57
0.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$9.55 $9.55
-46.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$13.09 $13.09
52.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$1.77 $1.77
58.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$3.21 $3.21
9.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$2.20 $2.20
-44.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$3.14 $3.14
-30.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$1.88 $1.88
-17.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$29.64 $29.64
-70.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$1.03 $1.03
50.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$28.2K $28.2K
22.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$26.5K $26.5K
46.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$169 $169
-43.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$58.5 $58.5
-38.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$76.0 $76.0
-30.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$40.61 $40.61
81.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$9.91 $9.91
-20.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$894 $894
-45.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$20.7K $20.7K
-42.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$65.5 $65.5
-16.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$42.50 $42.50
31.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$115 $115
-29.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$102 $102
-24.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$1,720 $1,720
-53.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$1,342 $1,342
-41.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$2,558 $2,558
56.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$1,966 $1,966
-28.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$2,547 $2,547
177.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$2,031 $2,031
-39.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Lake Worth, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
$7,586 $7,586
-88.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.56
31.40%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Lake Worth, FL: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Lake Worth, FL
$1.3K 69.9% $552
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Lake Worth, FL
$377 7.8% $27
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Lake Worth, FL
$354 66.5% $141
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Lake Worth, FL
$303 64.8% $119
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Lake Worth, FL
$146 20.9% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Lake Worth, FL
$60 32.6% $29
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Lake Worth, FL
$21 * 75.9% $67

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $801 in Nosara and $1,720 in Lake Worth, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lake Worth, FL pays 756% 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: $61.0 in Nosara vs $76.0 in Lake Worth, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $377 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇺🇸 Lake Worth, FL
🕒 Local time
11:04 11:04 AM
13:04 1:04 PM
2 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
42,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Lake Worth, FL 1,940 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Lake Worth, FL

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 Lake Worth, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Worth, FL cheaper than Nosara?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Nosara or Lake Worth, FL?
On paper, salaries run 756% lower in Lake Worth, FL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Nosara and Lake Worth, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $801 in Nosara versus $1,720 in Lake Worth, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $490 in Nosara versus $894 in Lake Worth, FL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Lake Worth, FL?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $76.0 in Lake Worth, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Lake Worth, FL?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,604 in Lake Worth, FL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Lake Worth, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nosara or Lake Worth, FL more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lake Worth, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Lake Worth, FL?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Lake Worth, FL 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 Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Lake Worth, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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