Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Mariano Roque Alonso

For one person, living is cheaper in Mariano Roque Alonso: $582 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $15,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Mariano Roque Alonso
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$582
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Mariano Roque Alonso

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 Mariano Roque Alonso actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $582 in Mariano Roque Alonso.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Mariano Roque Alonso $582

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $970 in Mariano Roque Alonso.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Mariano Roque Alonso $970

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $1,357 in Mariano Roque Alonso.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Mariano Roque Alonso $1,357

Living in Nosara is roughly 216% more expensive than in Mariano Roque Alonso, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nosara is 36% above, Mariano Roque Alonso is 57% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$6.87 ₲39.0K
79.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$34.70 ₲197.3K
76.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$6.99 ₲39.8K
7.58%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$3.36 ₲19.1K
31.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.09 ₲6,226
59.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.61 ₲3,493
114.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$1.95 ₲11.1K
68.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$1.81 ₲10.3K
146.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.22 ₲6,925
27.87%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$0.86 ₲4,891
251.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.37 ₲7,786
83.21%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.51 ₲14.3K
42.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$9.13 ₲51.9K
-18.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$5.28 ₲30.0K
99.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$8.28 ₲47.1K
68.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.12 ₲12.1K
10.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$0.66 ₲3,776
143.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$0.92 ₲5,232
421.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$2.19 ₲12.4K
-26.48%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.39 ₲7,913
173.38%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.31 ₲7,455
181.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.69 ₲3,911
63.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.72 ₲4,120
269.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$2.36 ₲13.4K
119.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$4.18 ₲23.8K
375.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$0.90 ₲5,103
222.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.79 ₲10.2K
102.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.64 ₲3,658
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.50 ₲8,525
42.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.61 ₲9,140
-2.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$10.73 ₲61.0K
-20.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.24 ₲7,073
22.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$17.6K ₲99.9M
22.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$36.0K ₲204.5M
-4.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$51.2 ₲291.4K
87.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$17.88 ₲101.7K
100.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$20.94 ₲119.1K
155.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$31.94 ₲181.6K
124.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$7.01 ₲39.8K
12.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$190 ₲1.1M
159.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$1,261 ₲7.2M
840.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$44.40 ₲252.4K
21.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$58.9 ₲334.8K
-5.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$87.6 ₲498.3K
-11.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$73.7 ₲418.8K
8.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Mariano Roque Alonso
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
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$878 ₲5.0M
-1.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
9
-4.22%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Mariano Roque Alonso: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Mariano Roque Alonso
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Mariano Roque Alonso
$179 49.2% $173
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Mariano Roque Alonso
$136 35.6% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Mariano Roque Alonso
$90 51.5% $96
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Mariano Roque Alonso
$119 0.9% $1
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Mariano Roque Alonso
$46 47.4% $41
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Mariano Roque Alonso
$12 * 86.1% $75

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

Cost Breakdown

Mariano Roque Alonso pays 2% 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 $35.00 in Mariano Roque Alonso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $179 per month, with Mariano Roque Alonso cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇵🇾 Mariano Roque Alonso
🕒 Local time
22:30 10:30 PM
01:30 1:30 AM
3 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
72,008
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 5,686 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,393 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Mariano Roque Alonso 4,960 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Mariano Roque Alonso

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 Mariano Roque Alonso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Mariano Roque Alonso?
Mariano Roque Alonso wins on cost – living expenses run 216% lower than in Nosara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mariano Roque Alonso the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nosara or in Mariano Roque Alonso?
On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Mariano Roque Alonso. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do childcare costs compare in Nosara and in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Childcare runs $494 in Nosara versus $190 in Mariano Roque Alonso. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Dining out is cheaper in Mariano Roque Alonso – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Mariano Roque Alonso?
At $582 in Mariano Roque Alonso versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mariano Roque Alonso but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Mariano Roque Alonso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Mariano Roque Alonso?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mariano Roque Alonso delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $582 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mariano Roque Alonso hard to pass up.
How safe is Nosara compared to Mariano Roque Alonso?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Mariano Roque Alonso 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 Mariano Roque Alonso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 216% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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