Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Mount Gambier

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,219 in Mount Gambier, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Mount Gambier
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,219
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Mount Gambier

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,219 in Mount Gambier.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Mount Gambier $2,219

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,775 in Nosara versus $3,750 in Mount Gambier.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Mount Gambier $3,750

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,712 in Nosara versus $5,280 in Mount Gambier.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Mount Gambier $5,280

Living in Nosara costs roughly 17% less than in Mount Gambier, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 37% above, Mount Gambier 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Mount Gambier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$31.56 A$45.16
-61.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$117 A$168
-48.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$10.77 A$15.41
-29.99%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$4.58 A$6.55
-5.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$3.02 A$4.33
-43.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$2.59 A$3.71
-47.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$5.00 A$7.15
-35.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$6.48 A$9.27
-30.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Mount Gambier
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$2.18 A$3.11
-27.98%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$3.37 A$4.82
-5.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$2.18 A$3.12
11.01%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$5.73 A$8.19
-37.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$9.03 A$12.92
-17.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$8.67 A$12.40
20.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$9.87 A$14.13
38.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$3.33 A$4.76
-30.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$2.58 A$3.70
-37.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$3.17 A$4.54
49.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$5.38 A$7.69
-69.14%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$3.26 A$4.67
14.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$4.00 A$5.73
-10.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$2.67 A$3.82
-58.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$1.64 A$2.35
55.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$31.36 A$44.88
-84.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$23.41 A$33.50
-14.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$4.83 A$6.92
-42.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$5.52 A$7.90
-36.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Mount Gambier
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$2.92 A$4.17
-59.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
$80.4 A$115
-10.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$3.59 A$5.13
-37.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$1.60 A$2.28
-3.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$40.13 A$57.4
-77.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$1.44 A$2.06
9.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$27.0K A$38.7K
-19.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$30.3K A$43.4K
14.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Mount Gambier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$302 A$432
-69.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$45.96 A$65.8
-23.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$63.2 A$90.4
-18.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Mount Gambier
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$55.7 A$79.7
28.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
$18.12 A$25.93
95.58%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$11.05 A$15.81
-29.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Mount Gambier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$2,174 A$3,111
-77.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$20.8K A$29.8K
-42.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Mount Gambier
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$88.5 A$127
-39.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$50.1 A$71.7
11.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$124 A$177
-35.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$113 A$161
-30.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Mount Gambier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$778 A$1,113
1.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$689 A$986
13.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$1,229 A$1,758
214.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$1,713 A$2,451
-17.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$5,908 A$8,454
18.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$5,053 A$7,232
-76.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Mount Gambier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$2,521 A$3,608
-65.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.63
30.02%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Mount Gambier: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Mount Gambier
$689 11.6% $91
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Mount Gambier
$389 11.3% $40
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Mount Gambier
$400 91% $191
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Mount Gambier
$411 128% $231
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Mount Gambier
$169 40.2% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Mount Gambier
$78 10.7% $9.3
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Mount Gambier
$104 19.3% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $786 in Nosara and $778 in Mount Gambier. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mount Gambier pays 188% 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 $117 in Mount Gambier 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
🇦🇺 Mount Gambier
🕒 Local time
01:16 1:16 AM
17:46 5:46 PM
16 h 30 min ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
26,734
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR 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).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.61 AUD (1 AUD = 0.623 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Mount Gambier 14,450 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Mount Gambier

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 Mount Gambier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Mount Gambier?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Mount Gambier. 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 Mount Gambier?
On paper, salaries run 188% lower in Mount Gambier. 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 Mount Gambier?
Rent for a central apartment: $786 in Nosara versus $778 in Mount Gambier. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Nosara and in Mount Gambier?
Childcare runs $490 in Nosara versus $2,174 in Mount Gambier. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in Mount Gambier?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Mount Gambier. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Nosara or in Mount Gambier?
At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,219 in Mount Gambier, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Mount Gambier. 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 Mount Gambier?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,837 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 Mount Gambier?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Mount Gambier 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 21% less than in Mount Gambier. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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