Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Lenoir City, TN

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,305 in Lenoir City, TN, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lenoir City, TN outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Lenoir City, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,305
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Lenoir City, TN

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 Lenoir City, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,835 per month in Nosara vs $2,305 in Lenoir City, TN, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Lenoir City, TN $2,305

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Nosara vs $3,194 in Lenoir City, TN, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Lenoir City, TN $3,194

A family of three spends $3,814 per month in Nosara vs $4,084 in Lenoir City, TN, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Lenoir City, TN $4,084

Nosara is about 20% cheaper than Lenoir City, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Nosara and Lenoir City, TN sit above the global median – Nosara by 35%, Lenoir City, TN by 70%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$12.85 $12.85
-3.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$56.7 $56.7
8.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$8.77 $8.77
-11.52%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$3.90 $3.90
13.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$2.51 $2.51
-28.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$2.01 $2.01
-35.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$4.86 $4.86
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$5.10 $5.10
-13.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$0.75 $0.75
106.67%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$2.19 $2.19
40.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$3.96 $3.96
-36.11%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$3.20 $3.20
7.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$7.82 $7.82
-6.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$5.66 $5.66
80.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$7.60 $7.60
85.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$4.48 $4.48
-48.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.21 $1.21
35.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$4.46 $4.46
7.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$4.42 $4.42
-62.90%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$2.26 $2.26
70.35%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$2.73 $2.73
37.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$1.48 $1.48
-26.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$2.91 $2.91
-11.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$8.21 $8.21
-37.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$12.06 $12.06
65.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$1.76 $1.76
59.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$1.78 $1.78
97.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$1.81 $1.81
-32.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$4.92 $4.92
-55.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$1.94 $1.94
-19.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$34.45 $34.45
-74.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$0.97 $0.97
59.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$28.0K $28.0K
23.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$25.1K $25.1K
54.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$147 $147
-35.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$60.8 $60.8
-40.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$60.5 $60.5
-12.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$45.33 $45.33
62.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$14.73 $14.73
-46.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$784 $784
-37.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$25.2K $25.2K
-52.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$42.15 $42.15
29.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$30.63 $30.63
82.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$75.8 $75.8
5.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$156 $156
-50.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$1,472 $1,472
-45.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$1,283 $1,283
-38.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$1,853 $1,853
116.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$1,860 $1,860
-24.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$2,685 $2,685
163.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$2,373 $2,373
-47.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Lenoir City, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
$3,175 $3,175
-72.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
5
72.40%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Lenoir City, TN: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Lenoir City, TN
$1.3K 62.4% $493
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Lenoir City, TN
$292 16.6% $58
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Lenoir City, TN
$229 7.5% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Lenoir City, TN
$268 45.8% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Lenoir City, TN
$137 13.3% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Lenoir City, TN
$75 16.5% $15
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Lenoir City, TN
$22 * 75.4% $67

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $801 in Nosara versus $1,472 in Lenoir City, TN. 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 258% higher in Lenoir City, TN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $57.0 in Lenoir City, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $292 – making Lenoir City, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇺🇸 Lenoir City, TN
🕒 Local time
04:17 4:17 AM
06:17 6:17 AM
2 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
10,000
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 Lenoir City, TN 2,870 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Lenoir City, TN

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 Lenoir City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Lenoir City, TN?
Lenoir City, TN costs about 26% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Lenoir City, TN?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,753 per month in Nosara and $3,457 in Lenoir City, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nosara or Lenoir City, TN?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Lenoir City, TN?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $57.0 in Lenoir City, TN. 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 Lenoir City, TN?
Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Lenoir City, TN – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Nosara or in Lenoir City, TN?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,835, than in Lenoir City, TN at $2,305. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lenoir City, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Lenoir City, TN?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nosara costs $1,835 versus $2,305 in Lenoir City, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nosara compared to Lenoir City, TN?
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 Lenoir City, TN?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lenoir City, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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