Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Mishref

For one person, living is cheaper in Mishref: $1,409 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Mishref
🇰🇼 Kuwait
$1,409
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Mishref

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,409 in Mishref, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Mishref $1,409

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,326 in Mishref, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Mishref $2,326

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $3,243 in Mishref, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Mishref $3,243

Nosara costs about 30% more than Mishref, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Mishref sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Mishref by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Mishref
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$12.70 KWD 3.91
-2.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$65.3 KWD 20.10
-6.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$8.82 KWD 2.72
-14.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12 KWD 0.96
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.77 KWD 1.47
-
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$5.09 KWD 1.57
-13.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$0.70 KWD 0.22
148.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.29 KWD 0.09
351.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Mishref
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.56 KWD 0.48
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.54 KWD 0.47
96.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.89 KWD 0.58
32.80%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.04 KWD 0.63
75.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$4.39 KWD 1.35
69.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$6.79 KWD 2.09
54.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$10.28 KWD 3.17
35.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.44 KWD 0.75
-3.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.84 KWD 0.57
-12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.76 KWD 0.54
172.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.53 KWD 0.47
5.23%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.31 KWD 0.40
190.08%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.43 KWD 0.44
158.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$2.30 KWD 0.71
-50.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.57 KWD 0.18
366.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$3.26 KWD 1.00
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.02 KWD 0.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.40 KWD 0.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$2.67 KWD 0.82
94.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Mishref
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.79 KWD 0.24
41.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$4.84 KWD 1.49
-55.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$3.13 KWD 0.96
-49.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$16.12 KWD 4.97
-47.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$0.35 KWD 0.11
334.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$20.5K KWD 6,302
5.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$19.9K KWD 6,123
73.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Mishref
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$64.4 KWD 19.85
49.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$22.30 KWD 6.87
60.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$30.29 KWD 9.33
76.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Mishref
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$101 KWD 31.01
-28.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$11.32 KWD 3.49
-30.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Mishref
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$303 KWD 93.4
62.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$9,536 KWD 2,938
24.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Mishref
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$37.54 KWD 11.57
43.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$39.03 KWD 12.03
41.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$96.0 KWD 29.56
-18.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$87.6 KWD 26.97
-9.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Mishref
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$715 KWD 220
10.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$650 KWD 200
22.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,795 KWD 553
119.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,371 KWD 422
3.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Mishref
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.53
32.01%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Mishref: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Mishref
$650 18.2% $145
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Mishref
$185 47.4% $167
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Mishref
$193 8.8% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Mishref
$117 37% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Mishref
$117 2.5% $3.1
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Mishref
$123 41.1% $36
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Mishref
$24 * 72.8% $63

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $715 in Mishref. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $65.0 in Mishref. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Nosara vs $185 in Mishref – so Mishref wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇰🇼 Mishref
🕒 Local time
16:40 4:40 PM
01:40 1:40 AM
9 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
40,945
💱 Currency
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD د.ك
Exchange rates and currency converter

KWD, USD, EUR 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).

Kuwaiti Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.308 KWD (1 KWD = 3.25 USD). 1 EUR = 0.346 KWD (1 KWD = 2.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Mishref 13,410 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Mishref

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 Mishref: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mishref cheaper than Nosara?
Yes – Nosara is pricier by about 30%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $2,114 in Mishref. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mishref, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Mishref?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $65.0 in Mishref. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Nosara and in Mishref?
Groceries cost about 90% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Mishref?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mishref, where all-in costs run around $1,409, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Mishref it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nosara or Mishref more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mishref – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Mishref?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mishref. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?