For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,628 in Lod, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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 Lod actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,628 in Lod.
Nosara $1,839
Lod $2,628
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $4,070 in Lod.
Nosara $2,828
Lod $4,070
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $5,512 in Lod.
Nosara $3,818
Lod $5,512
🌍
Living in Nosara costs roughly 30% less than in Lod, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara36% above, Lod95% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Lod
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35₡5,539
$23.40₪72.8
-47.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2₡27.4K
$98.4₪306
-37.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.52₡3,373
$19.61₪61.0
-61.65%
Cappuccino
$4.41₡1,978
$5.01₪15.58
-11.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74₡780
$3.58₪11.14
-51.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31₡587
$2.88₪8.97
-54.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28₡1,471
$8.10₪25.20
-59.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47₡2,004
$9.90₪30.80
-54.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Lod
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56₡701
$2.36₪7.35
-33.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02₡1,355
$3.32₪10.34
-9.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.51₡1,125
$3.56₪11.09
-29.49%
Eggs
$3.57₡1,603
$4.93₪15.34
-27.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₡3,333
$17.36₪54.0
-57.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.52₡4,717
$14.46₪44.98
-27.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.97₡6,265
$25.14₪78.2
-44.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35₡1,052
$4.41₪13.71
-46.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61₡720
$3.30₪10.27
-51.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.80₡2,152
$2.49₪7.75
92.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61₡724
$2.34₪7.27
-31.20%
Potato(1kg)
$3.80₡1,703
$1.87₪5.81
103.21%
Onion(1kg)
$3.69₡1,657
$1.64₪5.10
125.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13₡507
$1.98₪6.15
-42.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66₡1,191
$1.83₪5.68
45.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18₡2,321
$13.63₪42.41
-62.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.88₡8,916
$15.25₪47.45
30.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90₡1,300
$3.71₪11.54
-21.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63₡1,626
$4.29₪13.36
-15.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Lod
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12₡504
$2.74₪8.51
-59.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.6₡32.6K
$97.5₪303
-25.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14₡958
$4.00₪12.44
-46.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57₡703
$1.14₪3.56
37.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52₡3,823
$19.90₪61.9
-57.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52₡682
$2.65₪8.24
-42.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K₡9.7M
$55.6K₪173.1K
-61.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K₡15.5M
$58.2K₪181.0K
-40.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Lod
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.3₡43.2K
$287₪892
-66.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89₡16.1K
$11.63₪36.19
208.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6₡24.0K
$34.87₪108
53.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Lod
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.6₡32.1K
$73.0₪227
-1.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89₡3,539
$14.66₪45.61
-46.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Lod
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494₡221.6K
$1,420₪4,418
-65.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K₡5.3M
$29.0K₪90.3K
-59.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Lod
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9₡24.2K
$115₪358
-53.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4₡24.8K
$76.8₪239
-27.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9₡34.9K
$149₪465
-47.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6₡35.7K
$165₪513
-51.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Lod
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$788₡353.4K
$1,435₪4,464
-45.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$794₡356.2K
$1,004₪3,123
-20.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,939₡1.8M
$2,310₪7,188
70.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,419₡636.5K
$1,901₪5,914
-25.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,912₡3.1M
$10.7K₪33.3K
-35.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,224₡549.0K
$7,498₪23.3K
-83.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Lod
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$864₡387.3K
$2,603₪8,098
-66.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.62
4.99
72.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026
Last update for Lod: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794 43.2%
Lod
$1K 38.2% ↑ 26.4%$210
🛒Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352 19.2%
Lod
$450 17.1% ↑ 27.9%$98
🍽Eating Out
Nosara
$212 11.5%
Lod
$392 14.9% ↑ 85.2%$180
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186 10.1%
Lod
$333 12.7% ↑ 79.4%$148
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120 6.5%
Lod
$228 8.7% ↑ 89.6%$108
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87 4.8%
Lod
$102 3.9% ↑ 17.1%$15
🚌Getting Around
Nosara
$87 4.7%
Lod
$118 4.5% ↑ 35.6%$31
🏠Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$1.4K 37.2%
Lod
$1.9K 34.5% ↑ 33.9%$482
🛒Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$790 20.7%
Lod
$1K 18.9% ↑ 31.6%$249
🍽Eating Out
Nosara
$734 19.2%
Lod
$1.3K 23.1% ↑ 73.6%$540
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$222 5.8%
Lod
$345 6.3% ↑ 55.6%$123
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$267 7%
Lod
$506 9.2% ↑ 89.6%$239
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$210 5.5%
Lod
$205 * 3.7% ↓ 2.4%$5
🚌Getting Around
Nosara
$176 4.6%
Lod
$242 4.4% ↑ 37%$65
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 $788 in Nosara and $1,435 in Lod. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lod pays 201% 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 $98.0 in Lod for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $450 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.
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 Lod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lod cheaper than Nosara?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Nosara or Lod?
On paper, salaries run 201% lower in Lod. 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 Lod?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $1,435 in Lod. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $494 in Nosara versus $1,420 in Lod. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Nosara and in Lod?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Lod. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Lod?
At $1,839 in Nosara versus $2,628 in Lod, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Lod. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nosara or Lod more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lod, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Lod?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Lod 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 43% less than in Lod. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.