Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Manresa

For one person, living is cheaper in Manresa: $1,260 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Manresa
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,260
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Manresa

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $1,260 in Manresa.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Manresa $1,260

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $1,994 in Manresa.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Manresa $1,994

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $2,728 in Manresa.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Manresa $2,728

Living in Nosara is roughly 46% more expensive than in Manresa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nosara is 36% above, Manresa is 7% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Manresa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$8.80 €7.83
40.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$34.31 €30.52
78.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$7.80 €6.94
-3.59%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$1.84 €1.64
139.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$2.12 €1.89
-17.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$1.19 €1.06
10.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.18 €1.94
50.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.21 €1.96
102.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Manresa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.09 €0.97
43.12%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.20 €1.07
151.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$0.93 €0.82
169.89%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$3.05 €2.71
17.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$11.32 €10.07
-34.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$8.29 €7.37
26.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$9.23 €8.21
51.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.87 €1.66
25.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.79 €1.59
-10.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.65 €1.47
190.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$2.44 €2.17
-34.02%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.11 €0.98
242.34%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.39 €1.23
165.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.38 €1.23
-18.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.35 €0.31
660.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$5.51 €4.90
-5.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$5.46 €4.86
264.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$0.68 €0.61
326.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$0.88 €0.78
312.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Manresa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$2.18 €1.93
-48.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$22.06 €19.62
229.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$3.97 €3.53
-46.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.44 €1.28
9.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$14.42 €12.83
-40.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.75 €1.56
-13.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$38.6K €34.3K
-44.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$31.5K €28.0K
9.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Manresa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$117 €104
-17.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$13.49 €12.00
166.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$25.14 €22.36
113.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Manresa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$47.37 €42.13
51.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$15.47 €13.76
125.66%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$7.20 €6.41
9.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Manresa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$568 €506
-13.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$9,949 €8,850
19.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Manresa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$63.6 €56.5
-15.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$21.46 €19.09
158.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$110 €97.9
-29.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$160 €142
-50.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Manresa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$910 €809
-13.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$484 €430
64.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,329 €1,182
196.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,011 €899
40.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$3,318 €2,952
108.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$2,244 €1,996
-45.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Manresa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$1,931 €1,718
-55.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
3.3
161.21%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Manresa: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Manresa
$484 39.1% $311
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Manresa
$213 39.6% $140
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Manresa
$145 31.8% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Manresa
$155 16.5% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Manresa
$160 33.1% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Manresa
$62 29.3% $26
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Manresa
$42 51.9% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $910 in Manresa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manresa pays 124% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $34.00 in Manresa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $213 per month, with Manresa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇪🇸 Manresa
🕒 Local time
14:05 2:05 PM
22:05 10:05 PM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
78,877
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Manresa 9,060 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Manresa

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 Manresa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Manresa?
Manresa wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Nosara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manresa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nosara or in Manresa?
On paper, salaries run 124% lower in Manresa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nosara compared to Manresa?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $910 in Manresa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to Manresa?
All in, you'll spend $1,839 per month in Nosara versus $1,260 in Manresa – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Nosara compared to Manresa?
A monthly transit pass in Manresa runs roughly 229% less than in Nosara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Manresa?
At $1,260 in Manresa versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Manresa but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Manresa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Manresa?
Both work as nomad bases, but Manresa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,260 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Manresa hard to pass up.
How safe is Nosara compared to Manresa?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Manresa 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Manresa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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