Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Mugla

For one person, living is cheaper in Mugla: $920 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Mugla
🇹🇷 Turkey
$920
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Mugla

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $920 in Mugla, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Mugla $920

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,424 in Mugla, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Mugla $1,424

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,928 in Mugla, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Mugla $1,928

Nosara costs about 100% more than Mugla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Mugla is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Mugla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$6.51 ₺322
89.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$36.60 ₺1,812
67.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$7.46 ₺369
0.80%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$4.08 ₺202
8.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.83 ₺90.5
-4.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.51 ₺25.44
156.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$3.09 ₺153
6.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$3.69 ₺183
21.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Mugla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.02 ₺50.7
52.94%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.01 ₺49.94
199.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.93 ₺95.4
30.05%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.51 ₺125
42.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$9.05 ₺448
-17.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$4.26 ₺211
146.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$19.51 ₺966
-28.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.75 ₺86.9
34.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.84 ₺91.2
-12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$0.97 ₺47.85
394.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.49 ₺73.8
8.05%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.42 ₺20.58
804.76%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$0.33 ₺16.56
1018.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.75 ₺36.96
50.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.69 ₺34.38
285.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$2.30 ₺114
125.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$9.36 ₺464
112.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$2.10 ₺104
38.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.14 ₺106
69.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Mugla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.26 ₺62.4
-11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.02 ₺50.5
109.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$0.78 ₺38.38
101.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$7.87 ₺390
8.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.41 ₺69.7
7.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$42.3K ₺2.1M
-48.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$39.7K ₺2.0M
-13.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Mugla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$72.5 ₺3,590
32.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$11.74 ₺581
205.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$15.53 ₺769
245.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Mugla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$6.91 ₺342
14.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Mugla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$698 ₺34.6K
-29.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$17.8K ₺882.5K
-33.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Mugla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$45.95 ₺2,275
17.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$32.61 ₺1,614
69.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$90.4 ₺4,477
-13.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$78.1 ₺3,864
2.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Mugla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$411 ₺20.3K
91.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$307 ₺15.2K
159.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$796 ₺39.4K
395.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$514 ₺25.5K
176.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$1,394 ₺69.0K
395.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$824 ₺40.8K
48.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Mugla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$1,527 ₺75.6K
-43.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
38
-77.32%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Mugla: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Mugla
$307 61.4% $488
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Mugla
$223 36.7% $129
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Mugla
$156 26.5% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Mugla
$100 46.3% $86
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Mugla
$111 7.4% $8.9
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Mugla
$14 * 84.2% $74
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Mugla
$9.9 * 88.6% $77

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 $411 in Mugla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 77% higher in Mugla, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $37.00 in Mugla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $223 – making Mugla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇹🇷 Mugla
🕒 Local time
06:22 6:22 AM
15:22 3:22 PM
9 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
82,717
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, 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).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Mugla 11,380 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Mugla

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 Mugla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Mugla?
Nosara costs about 100% more than Mugla, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nosara and in Mugla?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,380 in Mugla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nosara or Mugla?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mugla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to Mugla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,839 in Nosara and $920 in Mugla. That's a gap of about 100%.
How do childcare costs compare in Nosara and in Mugla?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $698 in Mugla. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nosara or in Mugla?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mugla, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Mugla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Mugla?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mugla costs $920 versus $1,839 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nosara compared to Mugla?
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.
Should I move to Nosara or to Mugla?
If budget matters most, go with Mugla. 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.

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