Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Mambajao

For one person, living is cheaper in Mambajao: $508 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
25

Cost of Living Index in Mambajao
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Mambajao Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Mambajao

🇵🇭 Philippines

$508

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Mambajao

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $508 in Mambajao, rent included.

Nosara $1,839
Mambajao $508

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $817 in Mambajao, rent included.

Nosara $2,828
Mambajao $817

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,126 in Mambajao, rent included.

Nosara $3,818
Mambajao $1,126

Nosara costs about 262% more than Mambajao, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Mambajao is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.35 ₡5,539

$1.36 ₱85.9

808.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$15.83 ₱997

286.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₡3,373

$3.40 ₱214

121.18%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,978

$2.28 ₱144

93.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₡780

$0.38 ₱24.02

357.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡587

$0.27 ₱16.81

385.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$1.03 ₱64.6

218.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡2,004

$1.12 ₱70.6

299.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$0.90 ₱56.8

73.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₡1,355

$0.63 ₱39.56

379.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,125

$0.66 ₱41.56

280.30%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,603

$1.26 ₱79.5

183.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,333

$5.90 ₱372

25.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,717

$4.29 ₱270

145.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,265

$5.50 ₱346

154.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$2.54 ₱160

-7.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$1.63 ₱103

-1.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 ₡2,152

$2.24 ₱141

114.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡724

$1.13 ₱71.3

42.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₡1,703

$1.29 ₱81.3

194.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,657

$2.06 ₱130

79.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$0.90 ₱56.8

25.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$0.55 ₱34.37

383.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,321

$2.51 ₱158

106.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ₡8,916

$7.42 ₱467

167.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$0.99 ₱62.0

192.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,626

$1.13 ₱70.9

221.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

$0.20 ₱12.47

460.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$10.71 ₱675

578.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₡958

$0.69 ₱43.54

210.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡703

$0.21 ₱12.97

647.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 ₡3,823

$1.70 ₱107

401.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.28 ₱80.3

18.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K ₡9.7M

$21.9K ₱1.4M

-1.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

58.64%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.3 ₡43.2K

$64.9 ₱4,083

48.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.89 ₡16.1K

$16.36 ₱1,030

119.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$20.10 ₱1,266

166.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$27.72 ₱1,745

158.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 ₡15.7K

$4.68 ₱295

645.94%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₡3,539

$4.95 ₱312

59.39%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$494 ₡221.6K

$127 ₱7,995

289.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$8,993 ₱566.2K

31.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₡24.2K

$30.83 ₱1,941

74.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$22.01 ₱1,386

151.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$72.3 ₱4,553

7.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₡35.7K

$63.1 ₱3,975

26.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₡353.4K

$101 ₱6,360

680.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡356.2K

$56.3 ₱3,542

1311.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,939 ₡1.8M

$237 ₱14.9K

1560.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 ₡636.5K

$158 ₱9,973

795.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,912 ₡3.1M

$2,172 ₱136.7K

218.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 ₡549.0K

$990 ₱62.3K

23.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

$153 ₱9,616

465.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.79

26.95%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$794 43.2%

Mambajao

$56 11.1% 92.9% $738

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$352 19.2%

Mambajao

$156 30.7% 55.7% $196

Eating Out

Nosara

$212 11.5%

Mambajao

$59 11.5% 72.4% $153

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$186 10.1%

Mambajao

$101 20% 45.5% $84

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.5%

Mambajao

$85 16.7% 29.4% $35

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Mambajao

$38 7.4% 56.9% $50

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.7%

Mambajao

$13 2.6% 84.8% $74

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $101 in Mambajao. 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 465% higher in Nosara, 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 $16.00 in Mambajao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $156 – making Mambajao the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇵🇭 Mambajao

🕒 Local time

13:22 1:22 PM

03:22 3:22 AM

14 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

41,094

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Mambajao 16,030 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Mambajao

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 Mambajao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara costs about 262% more than Mambajao, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $761 in Mambajao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mambajao, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $508 in Mambajao. That's a gap of about 262%.

Public transport costs about 578% less in Mambajao. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mambajao, where all-in costs run around $508, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Mambajao it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mambajao costs $508 versus $1,839 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Mambajao. 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.