Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Manchioneal

For one person, living is cheaper in Manchioneal: $997 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Manchioneal
🇯🇲 Jamaica
$997
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Manchioneal

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $997 in Manchioneal.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Manchioneal $997

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $1,653 in Manchioneal.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Manchioneal $1,653

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $2,310 in Manchioneal.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Manchioneal $2,310

Living in Nosara is roughly 84% more expensive than in Manchioneal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nosara is 36% above, Manchioneal is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Manchioneal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$13.24 JMD 2,093
-6.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$75.6 JMD 11.9K
-19.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$8.31 JMD 1,313
-9.51%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$5.37 JMD 849
-17.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.15 JMD 182
51.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.74 JMD 117
77.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.17 JMD 343
51.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$3.11 JMD 491
43.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Manchioneal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$4.00 JMD 632
-61.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$3.63 JMD 574
-16.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.64 JMD 258
53.05%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$3.55 JMD 560
0.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$11.29 JMD 1,784
-34.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$6.35 JMD 1,004
65.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$10.44 JMD 1,649
33.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$5.85 JMD 924
-59.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$3.93 JMD 621
-59.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$7.28 JMD 1,151
-34.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$2.99 JMD 472
-46.15%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$3.25 JMD 514
16.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$2.69 JMD 424
37.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$3.04 JMD 480
-62.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.51 JMD 239
76.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$9.30 JMD 1,469
-44.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$11.17 JMD 1,764
77.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$2.88 JMD 455
0.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$4.04 JMD 639
-10.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Manchioneal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.16 JMD 183
84.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$3.06 JMD 483
-48.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$6.20 JMD 979
37.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.39 JMD 219
9.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$44.8K JMD 7.1M
-51.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$33.0K JMD 5.2M
4.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Manchioneal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$165 JMD 26.1K
-41.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$29.17 JMD 4,608
23.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$51.7 JMD 8,162
3.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Manchioneal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$13.37 JMD 2,112
-40.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Manchioneal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$356 JMD 56.2K
38.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$8,231 JMD 1.3M
44.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Manchioneal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$23.37 JMD 3,693
130.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$31.26 JMD 4,939
77.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$78.2 JMD 12.4K
-0.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$104 JMD 16.5K
-23.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Manchioneal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Manchioneal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
9.45
-8.78%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Manchioneal: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Manchioneal
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Manchioneal
$381 8.2% $29
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Manchioneal
$220 3.9% $8.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Manchioneal
$246 32.3% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Manchioneal
$107 11.2% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Manchioneal
$27 * 69.4% $61
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Manchioneal
$16 * 81.1% $71

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

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $76.0 in Manchioneal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $381 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇯🇲 Manchioneal
🕒 Local time
22:57 10:57 PM
23:57 11:57 PM
1 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
2,321
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

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).

Jamaican Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JMD (1,000 JMD = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JMD (1,000 JMD = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Manchioneal 1,350 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Manchioneal

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 Manchioneal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nosara and in Manchioneal?
Nosara and Manchioneal differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,839 vs $997 including rent). Manchioneal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Manchioneal?
You'd need roughly $2,758 in Nosara and $1,495 in Manchioneal to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Manchioneal?
Childcare runs $494 in Nosara versus $356 in Manchioneal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Manchioneal – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $997 in Manchioneal versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manchioneal but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Manchioneal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Manchioneal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Nosara or Manchioneal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Manchioneal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Nosara or Manchioneal?
Expats usually find Manchioneal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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