Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Nagasaki

For one person, living is cheaper in Nagasaki: $1,277 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Nagasaki
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,277
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Nagasaki

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,839 in Nosara versus $1,277 in Nagasaki.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Nagasaki $1,277

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,828 in Nosara versus $1,859 in Nagasaki.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Nagasaki $1,859

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,818 in Nosara versus $2,441 in Nagasaki.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Nagasaki $2,441

Living in Nosara is roughly 44% more expensive than in Nagasaki, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nosara is 36% above, Nagasaki is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Nagasaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$5.00 ¥789
147.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$18.95 ¥2,994
222.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$4.92 ¥778
52.85%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$3.76 ¥594
17.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.05 ¥166
65.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.72 ¥113
81.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.24 ¥355
46.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.25 ¥356
98.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Nagasaki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.55 ¥244
0.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.89 ¥299
59.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$6.32 ¥998
-60.28%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.02 ¥319
76.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$9.69 ¥1,531
-23.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$3.18 ¥502
230.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$19.16 ¥3,028
-27.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$3.71 ¥586
-36.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.88 ¥296
-14.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$2.76 ¥435
73.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$3.35 ¥530
-51.94%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$2.15 ¥340
76.74%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$2.55 ¥402
44.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.07 ¥170
5.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.92 ¥146
189.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$3.97 ¥628
30.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$6.18 ¥977
221.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.64 ¥260
76.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.85 ¥292
96.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Nagasaki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.65 ¥261
-32.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$53.9 ¥8,518
34.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$3.96 ¥625
-45.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$2.03 ¥321
-22.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$17.87 ¥2,823
-52.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.07 ¥169
42.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$22.0K ¥3.5M
-1.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$17.7K ¥2.8M
95.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Nagasaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$209 ¥33.0K
-53.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$24.63 ¥3,892
45.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$32.77 ¥5,178
63.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Nagasaki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$46.08 ¥7,281
55.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$11.22 ¥1,772
-29.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Nagasaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$126 ¥19.8K
293.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$12.3K ¥1.9M
-3.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Nagasaki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$49.78 ¥7,864
8.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$26.03 ¥4,113
112.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$66.6 ¥10.5K
17.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$47.35 ¥7,480
68.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Nagasaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$535 ¥84.6K
47.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$380 ¥60.1K
108.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,193 ¥188.5K
230.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$683 ¥108.0K
107.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$4,200 ¥663.6K
64.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$1,759 ¥277.9K
-30.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Nagasaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
1.97
337.56%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nagasaki: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Nagasaki
$380 52.1% $414
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Nagasaki
$279 20.8% $73
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Nagasaki
$123 42.1% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Nagasaki
$266 43.4% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Nagasaki
$85 28.9% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Nagasaki
$69 21.6% $19
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Nagasaki
$75 14.3% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Nosara and $535 in Nagasaki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $19.00 in Nagasaki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $279 per month, with Nagasaki cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇯🇵 Nagasaki
🕒 Local time
00:44 12:44 AM
15:44 3:44 PM
15 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
409,118
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, 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).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Nagasaki 13,950 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Nagasaki

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 Nagasaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nagasaki cheaper than Nosara?
Nagasaki is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,758 in Nosara and $1,915 in Nagasaki to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Nosara and Nagasaki?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Nosara versus $535 in Nagasaki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Nosara and in Nagasaki?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Nosara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Nosara or in Nagasaki?
Dining out is cheaper in Nagasaki – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $61.0 in Nosara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nosara or in Nagasaki?
At $1,277 in Nagasaki versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nagasaki but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Nagasaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nosara or Nagasaki more family-friendly?
For families, Nagasaki is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nosara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nosara or Nagasaki?
Safety-wise, Nosara and Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Nosara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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