Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Meknes

For one person, living is cheaper in Meknes: $683 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Meknes
🇲🇦 Morocco
$683
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Meknes

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $683 in Meknes.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Meknes $683

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $1,051 in Meknes.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Meknes $1,051

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $1,419 in Meknes.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Meknes $1,419

Living in Nosara is roughly 169% more expensive than in Meknes, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nosara is 36% above, Meknes is 49% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Meknes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$3.18 MAD 31.03
288.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$15.67 MAD 153
290.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$6.07 MAD 59.2
23.89%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$1.21 MAD 11.84
264.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.90 MAD 8.77
93.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.44 MAD 4.32
197.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$3.06 MAD 29.86
7.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$3.66 MAD 35.72
22.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Meknes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$0.83 MAD 8.11
87.95%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$0.39 MAD 3.78
674.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.29 MAD 12.62
94.57%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$1.85 MAD 18.03
92.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$11.05 MAD 108
-32.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$5.32 MAD 51.9
97.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$9.21 MAD 89.8
51.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.20 MAD 11.74
95.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.32 MAD 12.91
21.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$0.64 MAD 6.26
650.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$0.72 MAD 7.03
123.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.54 MAD 5.25
603.70%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$0.55 MAD 5.40
570.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.49 MAD 4.75
130.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.55 MAD 5.37
383.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$4.15 MAD 40.42
24.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$8.23 MAD 80.3
141.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$2.38 MAD 23.23
21.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.63 MAD 25.65
38.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Meknes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.40 MAD 3.90
180.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$15.76 MAD 154
360.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$0.69 MAD 6.75
210.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$0.30 MAD 2.91
423.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$4.50 MAD 43.90
89.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.42 MAD 13.87
7.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$31.2K MAD 304.3K
-30.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$30.9K MAD 301.3K
11.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Meknes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$31.22 MAD 304
208.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$9.45 MAD 92.2
279.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$34.10 MAD 332
57.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Meknes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$28.52 MAD 278
151.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$32.68 MAD 319
6.82%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$4.20 MAD 40.96
87.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Meknes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$123 MAD 1,202
300.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$5,616 MAD 54.8K
111.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Meknes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$60.7 MAD 591
-11.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$44.86 MAD 437
23.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$93.3 MAD 909
-16.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$59.5 MAD 580
33.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Meknes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$267 MAD 2,599
195.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$172 MAD 1,674
362.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$457 MAD 4,460
761.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$287 MAD 2,802
393.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$965 MAD 9,406
616.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$603 MAD 5,876
103.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Meknes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$475 MAD 4,632
81.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
4.5
91.56%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Meknes: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Meknes
$172 78.4% $623
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Meknes
$177 49.7% $175
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Meknes
$86 59.3% $126
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Meknes
$75 59.7% $111
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Meknes
$116 3.2% $3.9
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Meknes
$37 57.7% $50
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Meknes
$20 77.6% $68

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $267 in Meknes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nosara pays 82% 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 $16.00 in Meknes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $177 per month, with Meknes cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇲🇦 Meknes
🕒 Local time
07:58 7:58 AM
14:58 2:58 PM
7 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
520,428
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, 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).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Meknes 8,480 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Meknes

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 Meknes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Meknes?
Meknes wins on cost – living expenses run 169% lower than in Nosara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Meknes the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nosara or in Meknes?
Average pay runs 82% higher in Nosara, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nosara compared to Meknes?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $267 in Meknes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Meknes?
Dining out is cheaper in Meknes – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to Meknes?
All in, you'll spend $1,839 per month in Nosara versus $683 in Meknes – a 169% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Meknes?
At $683 in Meknes versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Meknes but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Meknes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Meknes?
Both work as nomad bases, but Meknes delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $683 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Meknes hard to pass up.
How safe is Nosara compared to Meknes?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Meknes 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 Meknes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 169% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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