Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Monument, CO

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,844 a month against $3,207 in Monument, CO, rent and utilities included – about $16,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara, Costa Rica
Monument, CO, United States
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,844
/mo nomad
Monument, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$3,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Monument, CO

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

A single person spends $1,844 per month in Nosara vs $3,207 in Monument, CO, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,844
  • Monument, CO $3,207

A couple spends around $2,817 per month in Nosara vs $4,458 in Monument, CO, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,817
  • Monument, CO $4,458

A family of three spends $3,790 per month in Nosara vs $5,709 in Monument, CO, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,790
  • Monument, CO $5,709

Nosara is about 43% cheaper than Monument, CO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Monument, CO sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Monument, CO by 137%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Monument, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.38 ₡5,568
$22.93 $22.93
-46.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 ₡27.2K
$80.4 $80.4
-24.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.81 ₡3,513
$10.89 $10.89
-28.28%
Cappuccino
$4.37 ₡1,966
$5.71 $5.71
-23.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ₡800
$2.54 $2.54
-29.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡605
$2.06 $2.06
-34.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 ₡1,526
$6.12 $6.12
-44.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31 ₡1,939
$7.02 $7.02
-38.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Monument, CO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡699
$0.97 $0.97
59.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,425
$2.93 $2.93
8.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,130
$2.77 $2.77
-9.39%
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,585
$4.31 $4.31
-18.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.37 ₡3,313
$11.07 $11.07
-33.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.46 ₡4,703
$9.40 $9.40
11.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.91 ₡6,255
$19.42 $19.42
-28.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ₡1,018
$4.93 $4.93
-54.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.42 $1.42
9.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.70 ₡2,113
$4.57 $4.57
2.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 ₡729
$4.64 $4.64
-65.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.88 ₡1,746
$2.41 $2.41
61.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.79 ₡1,704
$2.51 $2.51
51.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ₡481
$2.21 $2.21
-51.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 ₡1,174
$1.77 $1.77
47.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.16 ₡2,319
$10.38 $10.38
-50.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.33 ₡9,143
$16.49 $16.49
23.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 ₡1,310
$2.50 $2.50
16.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ₡1,651
$2.73 $2.73
34.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Monument, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.31 ₡588
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.2 ₡32.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.19 ₡984
$2.54 $2.54
-13.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 ₡829
$1.60 $1.60
15.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.81 ₡3,513
$25.26 $25.26
-69.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡702
$1.06 $1.06
47.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K ₡15.0M
$27.9K $27.9K
19.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K ₡17.1M
$25.5K $25.5K
49.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Monument, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.9 ₡43.1K
$197 $197
-51.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.37 ₡15.9K
$55.2 $55.2
-35.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 ₡24.1K
$69.1 $69.1
-22.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Monument, CO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 ₡30.3K
$24.50 $24.50
175.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.43 ₡15.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.72 ₡3,473
$12.16 $12.16
-36.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Monument, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$496 ₡222.8K
$1,290 $1,290
-61.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$11.6K $11.6K
2.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Monument, CO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6 ₡24.6K
$59.5 $59.5
-8.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0 ₡24.7K
$35.51 $35.51
54.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 ₡35.9K
$81.4 $81.4
-1.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡35.0K
$104 $104
-24.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Monument, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡367.5K
$1,991 $1,991
-58.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$800 ₡359.7K
$1,978 $1,978
-59.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,889 ₡1.7M
$3,040 $3,040
27.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,396 ₡627.6K
$2,965 $2,965
-52.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,977 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,222 ₡549.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Monument, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$879 ₡395.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.67
29.24%

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

Last update for Nosara: November 3, 2026

Last update for Monument, CO: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$800
Monument, CO
$2K 147% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$353
Monument, CO
$374 6% $21
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Monument, CO
$348 63.2% $135
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$185
Monument, CO
$322 73.9% $137
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Monument, CO
$126 4.8% $5.7
Getting Around
Nosara
$90
Monument, CO
$11 * 88.3% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$83
Monument, CO
$49 41.1% $34

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Nosara versus $1,991 in Monument, CO. 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 in Nosara versus $80 in Monument, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $353 vs $374 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇺🇸 Monument, CO
🕒 Local time
20:03 8:03 PM
19:03 7:03 PM
1 h behind Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
10,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Monument, CO 3,760 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Monument, CO

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 Monument, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Monument, CO?
Yes – Monument, CO is pricier by about 74%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,765 per month in Nosara and $4,810 in Monument, CO. 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 Nosara, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $817 there versus $1,991 in Monument, CO.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Monument, CO?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Nosara and $80 in Monument, CO. 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 Monument, CO?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Monument, CO, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Monument, CO?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,844, than in Monument, CO at $3,207. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monument, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nosara or Monument, CO more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nosara – 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 Monument, CO?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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