Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Okazaki

For one person, living is cheaper in Okazaki: $1,313 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Okazaki
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,313
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Okazaki

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,313 in Okazaki, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Okazaki $1,313

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,013 in Okazaki, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Okazaki $2,013

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,713 in Okazaki, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Okazaki $2,713

Nosara costs about 40% more than Okazaki, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Okazaki is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Okazaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$7.60 ¥1,200
62.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$31.06 ¥4,907
96.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$4.97 ¥785
51.31%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.39 ¥378
84.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.19 ¥189
46.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.62 ¥98.0
111.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.10 ¥332
56.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.24 ¥354
99.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Okazaki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.48 ¥233
5.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.31 ¥207
130.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$5.53 ¥874
-54.61%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.04 ¥322
75.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$12.85 ¥2,030
-42.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$9.61 ¥1,518
9.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$32.52 ¥5,138
-57.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$3.70 ¥585
-36.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$2.34 ¥369
-31.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$6.44 ¥1,017
-25.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$4.09 ¥646
-60.64%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$3.84 ¥607
-1.04%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$3.45 ¥544
6.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.30 ¥205
-13.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.01 ¥160
163.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$3.45 ¥545
50.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$7.99 ¥1,262
148.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$2.03 ¥321
42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.51 ¥239
140.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Okazaki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.30 ¥205
-13.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$54.6 ¥8,619
33.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$3.13 ¥495
-31.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$3.06 ¥484
-48.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$26.40 ¥4,171
-67.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.09 ¥172
39.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$20.3K ¥3.2M
6.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$16.6K ¥2.6M
108.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Okazaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$142 ¥22.5K
-32.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$23.62 ¥3,731
51.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$43.51 ¥6,875
23.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Okazaki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$52.0 ¥8,211
37.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$9.70 ¥1,532
-18.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Okazaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$319 ¥50.3K
55.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$6,212 ¥981.4K
90.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Okazaki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$49.66 ¥7,845
8.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$25.32 ¥4,000
118.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$45.94 ¥7,258
69.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$66.2 ¥10.5K
20.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Okazaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$531 ¥83.9K
48.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$357 ¥56.4K
122.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,239 ¥195.7K
217.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$663 ¥104.7K
114.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$4,681 ¥739.6K
47.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$1,743 ¥275.4K
-29.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Okazaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
2.28
278.07%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Okazaki: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Okazaki
$357 55% $437
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Okazaki
$386 9.5% $34
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Okazaki
$127 40.2% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Okazaki
$209 12.7% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Okazaki
$84 29.9% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Okazaki
$71 18.3% $16
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Okazaki
$78 10.2% $8.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $531 in Okazaki. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $31.00 in Okazaki. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Nosara vs $386 in Okazaki – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇯🇵 Okazaki
🕒 Local time
02:32 2:32 AM
17:32 5:32 PM
15 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
382,846
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 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 Okazaki 13,290 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Okazaki

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 Okazaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Okazaki compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,313 in Okazaki – roughly 40% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Okazaki?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,969 in Okazaki. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Okazaki?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Okazaki, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Okazaki?
Public transport costs about 33% less in Okazaki. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Okazaki?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $319 in Okazaki. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Okazaki, where all-in costs run around $1,313, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Okazaki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Okazaki?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,313 in Okazaki to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Okazaki safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Nosara and Okazaki?
If budget matters most, go with Okazaki. 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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