Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Lucknow

For one person, living is cheaper in Lucknow: $373 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Lucknow
🇮🇳 India
$373
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Lucknow

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Nosara versus $373 in Lucknow.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Lucknow $373

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,775 in Nosara versus $573 in Lucknow.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Lucknow $573

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,712 in Nosara versus $773 in Lucknow.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Lucknow $773

Living in Nosara is roughly 393% more expensive than in Lucknow, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nosara is 37% above, Lucknow is 72% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Lucknow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$1.84 ₹178
564.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$10.53 ₹1,019
471.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$3.15 ₹305
139.37%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$1.58 ₹153
172.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$0.37 ₹35.52
364.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$0.13 ₹12.36
938.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$1.53 ₹148
111.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$2.34 ₹226
91.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Lucknow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$0.70 ₹68.2
124.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$0.44 ₹42.49
620.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$0.58 ₹56.4
317.24%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$0.98 ₹95.1
264.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$3.39 ₹328
119.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$2.56 ₹248
307.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$1.74 ₹168
33.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$0.62 ₹60.4
159.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$0.94 ₹90.6
404.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$0.50 ₹48.57
232.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$0.31 ₹30.34
1100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$0.44 ₹42.54
711.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$0.44 ₹42.93
150.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$0.30 ₹28.85
750.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$5.00 ₹484
-1.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$8.39 ₹812
138.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$1.65 ₹160
69.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$2.53 ₹245
39.53%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.44 ₹526
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Lucknow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$0.44 ₹42.58
170.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
$5.07 ₹491
1321.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$0.95 ₹91.8
135.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$0.20 ₹19.34
675.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$1.17 ₹113
657.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$1.11 ₹108
41.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$12.7K ₹1.2M
71.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$21.5K ₹2.1M
61.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Lucknow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$52.6 ₹5,089
77.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$3.67 ₹355
856.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$8.40 ₹813
512.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Lucknow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$15.82 ₹1,531
351.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
$6.69 ₹647
429.75%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$3.02 ₹292
159.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Lucknow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$39.14 ₹3,788
1150.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$965 ₹93.4K
1131.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Lucknow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$22.94 ₹2,220
133.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$24.48 ₹2,370
127.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$38.47 ₹3,723
106.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$25.68 ₹2,486
207.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Lucknow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$125 ₹12.1K
529.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$72.3 ₹6,994
979.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$349 ₹33.8K
1004.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$174 ₹16.8K
709.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$1,268 ₹122.7K
449.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$544 ₹52.6K
120.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Lucknow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$332 ₹32.1K
164.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
8.53
1.06%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Lucknow: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Lucknow
$72 90.7% $708
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Lucknow
$97 72.4% $253
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Lucknow
$57 72.6% $152
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Lucknow
$65 64.1% $115
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Lucknow
$50 58.3% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Lucknow
$22 74.9% $65
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Lucknow
$8.8 89.9% $78

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $786 in Nosara and $125 in Lucknow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 164% 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: $60.0 in Nosara vs $11.00 in Lucknow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $97.0 per month, with Lucknow cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇮🇳 Lucknow
🕒 Local time
22:54 10:54 PM
10:24 10:24 AM
11 h 30 min ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
4,588,455
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 96.78 INR (100 INR = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 109 INR (1,000 INR = 9.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Lucknow 15,670 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Lucknow

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 Lucknow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lucknow cheaper than Nosara?
Lucknow is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 393% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Nosara or Lucknow?
Average pay runs 164% higher in Nosara, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Nosara and Lucknow?
Rent for a central apartment: $786 in Nosara versus $125 in Lucknow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Lucknow?
Dining out is cheaper in Lucknow – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $60.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Nosara and in Lucknow?
All in, you'll spend $1,837 per month in Nosara versus $373 in Lucknow – a 393% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Lucknow?
At $373 in Lucknow versus $1,837 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lucknow but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Lucknow the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nosara or Lucknow more family-friendly?
For families, Lucknow is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nosara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Lucknow?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Lucknow 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 Lucknow gentler on the wallet – expenses run 393% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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