Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and North Charleston, SC

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,982 in North Charleston, SC, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
Learn more

Nosara Living Index
142

Cost of Living Index in North Charleston, SC
Learn more

North Charleston, SC Living Index

Jump to prices

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

North Charleston, SC

🇺🇸 United States

$2,982

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in North Charleston, SC

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 North Charleston, SC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $2,982 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

Nosara $1,837
North Charleston, SC $2,982

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $4,326 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

Nosara $2,775
North Charleston, SC $4,326

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $5,670 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

Nosara $3,712
North Charleston, SC $5,670

Nosara is about 38% cheaper than North Charleston, SC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and North Charleston, SC sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, North Charleston, SC by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 ₡5,509

$20.30 $20.30

-39.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ₡27.1K

$91.6 $91.6

-34.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 ₡3,399

$12.16 $12.16

-37.99%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,941

$5.92 $5.92

-27.20%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₡773

$2.93 $2.93

-41.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₡608

$2.43 $2.43

-44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,459

$6.01 $6.01

-46.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,018

$8.05 $8.05

-44.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡707

$1.01 $1.01

55.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,429

$3.59 $3.59

-11.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,091

$4.63 $4.63

-47.73%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,609

$5.10 $5.10

-30.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,349

$7.00 $7.00

6.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.42 ₡4,697

$14.45 $14.45

-27.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 ₡6,156

$20.60 $20.60

-33.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ₡1,044

$8.18 $8.18

-71.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡728

$1.79 $1.79

-10.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 ₡2,138

$5.18 $5.18

-8.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡747

$6.30 $6.30

-73.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 ₡1,679

$4.41 $4.41

-15.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,611

$3.21 $3.21

11.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₡497

$2.61 $2.61

-57.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,149

$1.95 $1.95

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,232

$9.64 $9.64

-48.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 ₡9,020

$15.76 $15.76

26.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,256

$2.21 $2.21

26.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ₡1,589

$2.97 $2.97

18.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 ₡537

$2.51 $2.51

-52.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 ₡32.5K

$50.6 $50.6

42.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₡1,011

$2.93 $2.93

-23.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ₡701

$1.27 $1.27

22.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₡3,993

$32.69 $32.69

-72.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡708

$0.99 $0.99

58.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ₡9.8M

$34.9K $34.9K

-37.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.6K ₡15.6M

$25.2K $25.2K

37.45%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.5 ₡42.1K

$225 $225

-58.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.11 ₡15.8K

$76.4 $76.4

-54.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 ₡23.2K

$83.6 $83.6

-38.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 ₡32.2K

$17.20 $17.20

315.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.44 ₡16.0K

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 ₡3,535

$13.91 $13.91

-43.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$490 ₡220.7K

$930 $930

-47.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.4M

$18.4K $18.4K

-35.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₡24.1K

$66.0 $66.0

-18.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.1K

$44.41 $44.41

25.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₡35.7K

$112 $112

-29.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 ₡35.6K

$132 $132

-40.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$786 ₡354.3K

$2,004 $2,004

-60.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ₡351.6K

$1,486 $1,486

-47.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,860 ₡1.7M

$2,465 $2,465

56.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 ₡634.4K

$2,393 $2,393

-41.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,972 ₡3.1M

$2,865 $2,865

143.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡541.3K

$2,896 $2,896

-58.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$876 ₡395.0K

$4,375 $4,375

-79.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.57

31.20%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for North Charleston, SC: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$780 43%

North Charleston, SC

$1.5K 50.7% 90.5% $706

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.3%

North Charleston, SC

$446 15.2% 27.5% $96

Eating Out

Nosara

$209 11.6%

North Charleston, SC

$338 11.5% 61.2% $128

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$180 9.9%

North Charleston, SC

$385 13.1% 114% $205

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.6%

North Charleston, SC

$159 5.5% 32.5% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

North Charleston, SC

$45 1.5% 48.3% $42

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.8%

North Charleston, SC

$70 2.4% 19.5% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $2,004 in North Charleston, SC. 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 399% higher in North Charleston, SC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara versus $92.0 in North Charleston, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $446 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 North Charleston, SC

🕒 Local time

17:37 5:37 PM

19:37 7:37 PM

2 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

97,471

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara North Charleston, SC 2,610 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
North Charleston, SC

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 North Charleston, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Charleston, SC costs about 62% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $4,473 in North Charleston, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in North Charleston, SC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara and $92.0 in North Charleston, SC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in North Charleston, SC at $2,982. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in North Charleston, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nosara costs $1,837 versus $2,982 in North Charleston, SC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, North Charleston, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.