Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and North East, MD

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,506 in North East, MD, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
North East, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$2,506
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in North East, MD

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,506 in North East, MD.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • North East, MD $2,506

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Nosara versus $3,589 in North East, MD.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • North East, MD $3,589

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,814 in Nosara versus $4,672 in North East, MD.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • North East, MD $4,672

Living in Nosara costs roughly 27% less than in North East, MD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 35% above, North East, MD 85% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
North East, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$15.08 $15.08
-18.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$74.6 $74.6
-17.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$10.23 $10.23
-24.14%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$5.24 $5.24
-15.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$2.33 $2.33
-23.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$1.75 $1.75
-26.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$6.90 $6.90
-53.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$4.47 $4.47
-0.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
North East, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.17 $1.17
32.48%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$2.94 $2.94
4.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$2.68 $2.68
-5.60%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$3.82 $3.82
-9.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$9.38 $9.38
-21.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$9.59 $9.59
6.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$18.48 $18.48
-23.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$4.64 $4.64
-50.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.32 $1.32
24.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$4.34 $4.34
10.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$4.00 $4.00
-59.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$2.56 $2.56
50.39%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$2.47 $2.47
51.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$2.55 $2.55
-57.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$1.79 $1.79
44.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$13.99 $13.99
-63.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$14.44 $14.44
37.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$2.43 $2.43
15.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$3.64 $3.64
-3.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
North East, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$2.26 $2.26
-46.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$5.03 $5.03
-56.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$1.12 $1.12
39.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$23.07 $23.07
-62.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$1.05 $1.05
47.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$33.3K $33.3K
3.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$25.4K $25.4K
52.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
North East, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$294 $294
-67.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$49.39 $49.39
-26.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$60.8 $60.8
-12.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
North East, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$38.46 $38.46
91.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$16.64 $16.64
-52.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
North East, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$1,948 $1,948
-74.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$27.8K $27.8K
-57.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
North East, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$46.28 $46.28
18.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$39.54 $39.54
41.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$86.4 $86.4
-6.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$132 $132
-40.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
North East, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$1,767 $1,767
-54.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$1,241 $1,241
-36.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$2,682 $2,682
49.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$1,984 $1,984
-28.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$2,643 $2,643
167.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$2,189 $2,189
-43.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
North East, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.46
33.44%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for North East, MD: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
North East, MD
$1.2K 57.1% $451
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
North East, MD
$360 2.9% $10
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
North East, MD
$274 28.8% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
North East, MD
$404 120% $220
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
North East, MD
$137 13% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
North East, MD
$72 19.9% $18
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
North East, MD
$20 * 77.9% $69

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $801 in Nosara and $1,767 in North East, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Nosara vs $75.0 in North East, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $360 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇺🇸 North East, MD
🕒 Local time
21:00 9:00 PM
23:00 11:00 PM
2 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
3,600
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara North East, MD 3,430 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • North East, MD

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 East, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or North East, MD?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in North East, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nosara and in North East, MD?
You'd need roughly $2,753 in Nosara and $3,760 in North East, MD 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nosara compared to North East, MD?
Rent for a central apartment: $801 in Nosara versus $1,767 in North East, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in North East, MD?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in North East, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Nosara compared to North East, MD?
All in, you'll spend $1,835 per month in Nosara versus $2,506 in North East, MD – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Nosara or in North East, MD?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,506 in North East, MD, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in North East, MD. 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 North East, MD?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,835 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 North East, MD?
Safety-wise, Nosara and North East, MD 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 37% less than in North East, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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