Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Montpellier

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $1,939 in Montpellier, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. The total is higher in Montpellier despite lower rent and utilities.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Montpellier
🇫🇷 France
$1,939
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Montpellier

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Nosara versus $1,939 in Montpellier.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Montpellier $1,939

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,775 in Nosara versus $2,940 in Montpellier.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Montpellier $2,940

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,712 in Nosara versus $3,942 in Montpellier.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Montpellier $3,942

Living in Nosara costs roughly 5% less than in Montpellier, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 37% above, Montpellier 45% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Montpellier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$16.76 €14.96
-27.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$73.0 €65.2
-17.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$15.47 €13.80
-51.26%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$3.58 €3.19
20.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$3.00 €2.68
-42.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$1.97 €1.76
-31.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$5.52 €4.93
-41.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$4.55 €4.06
-1.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Montpellier
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$1.34 €1.19
17.16%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$2.24 €2.00
41.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$2.73 €2.44
-11.36%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$3.71 €3.31
-3.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$18.80 €16.78
-60.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$13.88 €12.39
-24.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$24.64 €21.99
-44.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$2.98 €2.66
-22.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$2.38 €2.12
-32.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$2.94 €2.63
61.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$4.00 €3.57
-58.50%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$2.33 €2.08
59.66%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$2.86 €2.55
24.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$1.72 €1.53
-36.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$0.65 €0.58
292.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$14.21 €12.68
-65.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$7.77 €6.94
157.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$3.73 €3.33
-25.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$2.83 €2.53
24.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Montpellier
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$2.01 €1.79
-40.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
$1.09 €0.97
6511.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$4.92 €4.39
-54.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$1.63 €1.46
-4.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$33.02 €29.47
-73.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$2.13 €1.91
-26.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$35.2K €31.4K
-38.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$35.3K €31.5K
-1.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Montpellier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$218 €195
-57.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$16.47 €14.70
113.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$32.00 €28.56
60.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Montpellier
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$34.67 €30.94
105.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
$14.29 €12.75
148.01%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$14.26 €12.73
-45.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Montpellier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$756 €674
-35.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$13.2K €11.7K
-9.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Montpellier
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$90.4 €80.6
-40.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$65.7 €58.6
-15.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$106 €94.4
-25.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$177 €158
-55.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Montpellier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$912 €814
-13.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$728 €649
7.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$1,546 €1,380
149.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$1,149 €1,026
22.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$5,064 €4,519
37.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$3,662 €3,268
-67.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Montpellier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$2,743 €2,447
-68.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
3.81
126.25%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Montpellier: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Montpellier
$728 6.7% $52
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Montpellier
$389 11.4% $40
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Montpellier
$280 33.7% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Montpellier
$267 48% $86
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Montpellier
$198 64.2% $77
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Montpellier
$63 27.4% $24
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Montpellier
$22 74.4% $65

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $786 in Nosara and $912 in Montpellier. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montpellier pays 213% 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: $60.0 in Nosara vs $73.0 in Montpellier for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $389 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇫🇷 Montpellier
🕒 Local time
23:05 11:05 PM
07:05 7:05 AM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
302,454
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Montpellier 9,210 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Montpellier

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 Montpellier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montpellier cheaper than Nosara?
Nosara is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Nosara or Montpellier?
On paper, salaries run 213% lower in Montpellier. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Nosara and Montpellier?
Rent for a central apartment: $786 in Nosara versus $912 in Montpellier. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Nosara and in Montpellier?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Montpellier. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Montpellier?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $73.0 in Montpellier. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Montpellier?
At $1,837 in Nosara versus $1,939 in Montpellier, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Montpellier. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nosara or Montpellier more family-friendly?
For families, Nosara is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montpellier, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Montpellier?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Montpellier 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Montpellier. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

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