Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Manalapan Township, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,617 in Manalapan Township, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Manalapan Township, NJ
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Manalapan Township, NJ Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,835

/mo nomad

Manalapan Township, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,617

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Manalapan Township, NJ

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 Manalapan Township, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,617 in Manalapan Township, NJ.

Nosara $1,835
Manalapan Township, NJ $2,617

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Nosara versus $3,802 in Manalapan Township, NJ.

Nosara $2,825
Manalapan Township, NJ $3,802

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,814 in Nosara versus $4,988 in Manalapan Township, NJ.

Nosara $3,814
Manalapan Township, NJ $4,988

Living in Nosara costs roughly 30% less than in Manalapan Township, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 35% above, Manalapan Township, NJ 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.34 ₡5,535

$22.24 $22.24

-44.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.3 ₡27.5K

$79.6 $79.6

-22.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 ₡3,481

$11.81 $11.81

-34.29%

Cappuccino

$4.44 ₡1,992

$5.35 $5.35

-17.01%

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

$1.79 ₡803

$2.07 $2.07

-13.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡580

$2.21 $2.21

-41.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,451

$5.98 $5.98

-45.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 ₡1,985

$8.23 $8.23

-46.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 ₡696

$1.26 $1.26

23.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 ₡1,380

$3.37 $3.37

-8.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 ₡1,133

$7.42 $7.42

-65.90%

Eggs

$3.45 ₡1,546

$4.21 $4.21

-18.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.32 ₡3,284

$12.19 $12.19

-39.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₡4,594

$5.47 $5.47

87.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 ₡6,326

$11.09 $11.09

27.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₡1,027

$4.28 $4.28

-46.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₡737

$1.54 $1.54

6.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.79 ₡2,149

$3.79 $3.79

26.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 ₡735

$5.22 $5.22

-68.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.85 ₡1,727

$2.80 $2.80

37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 ₡1,681

$3.20 $3.20

17.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₡488

$1.93 $1.93

-43.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 ₡1,160

$2.05 $2.05

26.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.12 ₡2,295

$11.95 $11.95

-57.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.92 ₡8,931

$12.06 $12.06

65.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 ₡1,255

$2.41 $2.41

16.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 ₡1,580

$3.03 $3.03

16.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 ₡549

$1.95 $1.95

-37.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.9 ₡33.1K

$111 $111

-33.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ₡973

$2.62 $2.62

-17.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 ₡698

$1.58 $1.58

-1.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.67 ₡3,886

$23.67 $23.67

-63.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 ₡697

$1.10 $1.10

40.91%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$19.8K $19.8K

74.71%

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

$38.7K ₡17.4M

$21.6K $21.6K

79.11%

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

$94.8 ₡42.5K

$202 $202

-53.05%

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

$36.15 ₡16.2K

$62.4 $62.4

-42.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.1 ₡23.8K

$64.5 $64.5

-17.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 ₡33.1K

$42.10 $42.10

75.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.63 ₡16.0K

Cinema Ticket

$7.91 ₡3,548

$12.20 $12.20

-35.16%

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

$490 ₡219.9K

$2,231 $2,231

-78.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$42.0K $42.0K

-71.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ₡24.6K

$25.42 $25.42

115.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.9 ₡25.1K

$30.34 $30.34

84.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 ₡36.0K

$59.7 $59.7

34.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$89.6 $89.6

-13.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ₡359.1K

$1,572 $1,572

-49.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 ₡354.1K

$1,307 $1,307

-39.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,005 ₡1.8M

$2,471 $2,471

62.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,409 ₡632.0K

$2,111 $2,111

-33.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,064 ₡3.2M

$2,832 $2,832

149.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,236 ₡554.3K

$2,560 $2,560

-51.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$887 ₡397.6K

$3,938 $3,938

-77.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.62

30.21%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Manalapan Township, NJ: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$790 43%

Manalapan Township, NJ

$1.3K 49.9% 65.5% $517

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.1%

Manalapan Township, NJ

$351 13.4% 0.5% $1.8

Eating Out

Nosara

$213 11.6%

Manalapan Township, NJ

$341 13% 60.4% $128

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$184 10%

Manalapan Township, NJ

$329 12.6% 78.7% $145

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$121 6.6%

Manalapan Township, NJ

$92 3.5% 23.8% $29

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$90 4.9%

Manalapan Township, NJ

$67 2.5% 25.8% $23

Getting Around

Nosara

$89 4.8%

Manalapan Township, NJ

$130 5% 46.1% $41

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $801 in Nosara and $1,572 in Manalapan Township, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manalapan Township, NJ pays 344% 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 $80.0 in Manalapan Township, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $351 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Manalapan Township, NJ

🕒 Local time

22:34 10:34 PM

00:34 12:34 AM

2 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

37,169

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

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).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

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Nosara Manalapan Township, NJ 3,550 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Manalapan Township, NJ

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 Manalapan Township, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 344% lower in Manalapan Township, NJ. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $801 in Nosara versus $1,572 in Manalapan Township, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,835 per month in Nosara versus $2,617 in Manalapan Township, NJ – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nosara runs roughly 51% less than in Manalapan Township, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,617 in Manalapan Township, NJ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Manalapan Township, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manalapan Township, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Nosara and Manalapan Township, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Manalapan Township, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.