Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and McMinnville, TN

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,539 in McMinnville, TN, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
McMinnville, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,539
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in McMinnville, TN

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,539 in McMinnville, TN.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • McMinnville, TN $2,539

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Nosara versus $3,745 in McMinnville, TN.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • McMinnville, TN $3,745

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,814 in Nosara versus $4,952 in McMinnville, TN.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • McMinnville, TN $4,952

Living in Nosara costs roughly 28% less than in McMinnville, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 35% above, McMinnville, TN 87% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
McMinnville, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$20.09 $20.09
-38.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$75.6 $75.6
-18.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$11.48 $11.48
-32.40%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$4.67 $4.67
-4.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$2.67 $2.67
-32.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$1.94 $1.94
-33.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$6.42 $6.42
-49.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$7.41 $7.41
-40.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
McMinnville, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.05 $1.05
47.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$3.63 $3.63
-15.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$4.51 $4.51
-43.90%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$4.70 $4.70
-26.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$14.01 $14.01
-47.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$10.33 $10.33
-0.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$18.88 $18.88
-25.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$4.68 $4.68
-51.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.65 $1.65
-0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$4.59 $4.59
4.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$4.60 $4.60
-64.35%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$2.83 $2.83
36.04%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$2.54 $2.54
47.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$2.09 $2.09
-47.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$2.08 $2.08
24.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$10.17 $10.17
-49.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$13.64 $13.64
46.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$2.06 $2.06
35.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$3.35 $3.35
5.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
McMinnville, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$2.26 $2.26
-46.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$3.47 $3.47
-37.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$1.55 $1.55
0.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$33.94 $33.94
-74.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$0.92 $0.92
68.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$29.9K $29.9K
15.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$27.6K $27.6K
40.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
McMinnville, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$198 $198
-52.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$59.0 $59.0
-38.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$79.6 $79.6
-33.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
McMinnville, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$46.88 $46.88
57.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$11.97 $11.97
-33.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
McMinnville, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$1,582 $1,582
-69.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$21.3K $21.3K
-44.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
McMinnville, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$51.8 $51.8
5.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$45.84 $45.84
21.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$88.6 $88.6
-9.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$123 $123
-36.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
McMinnville, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$1,593 $1,593
-49.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$1,256 $1,256
-37.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$2,610 $2,610
53.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$2,123 $2,123
-33.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$2,699 $2,699
161.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$2,264 $2,264
-45.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
McMinnville, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
$1,489 $1,489
-40.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.57
31.20%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for McMinnville, TN: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
McMinnville, TN
$1.3K 59.1% $466
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
McMinnville, TN
$400 14.4% $50
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
McMinnville, TN
$317 48.8% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
McMinnville, TN
$337 82.9% $153
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
McMinnville, TN
$139 14.8% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
McMinnville, TN
$71 21% $19
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
McMinnville, TN
$20 * 77.1% $68

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $801 in Nosara and $1,593 in McMinnville, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

McMinnville, TN pays 68% 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 $76.0 in McMinnville, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $400 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇺🇸 McMinnville, TN
🕒 Local time
08:47 8:47 AM
09:47 9:47 AM
1 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
30,410
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara McMinnville, TN 2,860 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • McMinnville, TN

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 McMinnville, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or McMinnville, TN?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in McMinnville, TN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nosara or in McMinnville, TN?
On paper, salaries run 68% lower in McMinnville, TN. 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 McMinnville, TN?
Rent for a central apartment: $801 in Nosara versus $1,593 in McMinnville, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in McMinnville, TN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in McMinnville, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to McMinnville, TN?
All in, you'll spend $1,835 per month in Nosara versus $2,539 in McMinnville, TN – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Nosara or in McMinnville, TN?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,539 in McMinnville, TN, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in McMinnville, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or McMinnville, TN?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,835 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Nosara compared to McMinnville, TN?
Safety-wise, Nosara and McMinnville, TN 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 Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in McMinnville, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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