Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ourem

For one person, living is cheaper in Ourem: $1,568 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Ourem
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,568
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ourem

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

A single person spends $1,835 per month in Nosara vs $1,568 in Ourem, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Ourem $1,568

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Nosara vs $2,326 in Ourem, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Ourem $2,326

A family of three spends $3,814 per month in Nosara vs $3,084 in Ourem, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Ourem $3,084

Nosara costs about 17% more than Ourem, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Ourem sit above the global median – Nosara by 35%, Ourem by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Ourem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$13.00 €11.56
-5.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$52.3 €46.52
17.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$8.89 €7.91
-12.71%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$1.27 €1.13
249.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$1.62 €1.44
10.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$1.22 €1.09
5.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$2.82 €2.51
14.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$2.82 €2.51
57.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Ourem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.06 €0.94
46.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$2.41 €2.14
27.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$1.36 €1.21
86.03%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$3.67 €3.26
-5.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$9.09 €8.09
-19.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$7.62 €6.77
34.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$10.89 €9.69
29.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$1.84 €1.64
24.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.23 €1.09
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$1.11 €0.98
331.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$1.69 €1.50
-2.96%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$1.97 €1.75
95.43%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$1.64 €1.46
128.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$1.64 €1.46
-33.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$0.63 €0.56
311.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$6.29 €5.60
-18.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$3.45 €3.07
477.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$1.25 €1.12
124.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$1.39 €1.24
153.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Ourem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$2.24 €1.99
-45.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
$41.44 €36.86
78.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$3.98 €3.54
-45.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$0.75 €0.67
108.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$16.62 €14.78
-47.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$2.09 €1.86
-25.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$34.1K €30.3K
1.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$37.6K €33.4K
3.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Ourem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$110 €98.1
-14.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$21.60 €19.21
67.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$35.43 €31.52
49.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Ourem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$40.72 €36.22
81.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
$16.43 €14.61
116.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$8.74 €7.78
-9.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Ourem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$613 €545
-20.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$6,221 €5,534
91.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Ourem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$75.9 €67.5
-27.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$44.79 €39.84
24.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$83.5 €74.3
-3.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$104 €92.6
-25.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Ourem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$956 €850
-16.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$747 €664
5.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$1,509 €1,342
165.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$1,188 €1,057
18.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$2,958 €2,631
138.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$2,243 €1,995
-44.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Ourem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
$1,352 €1,203
-34.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
3.54
143.50%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Ourem: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Ourem
$747 5.4% $43
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Ourem
$221 36.7% $128
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Ourem
$177 16.8% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Ourem
$167 9.1% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Ourem
$139 14.7% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Ourem
$58 35.1% $31
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Ourem
$58 34.5% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $801 in Nosara versus $956 in Ourem. 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 53% higher in Ourem, 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 $52.0 in Ourem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $221 – making Ourem the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇵🇹 Ourem
🕒 Local time
16:37 4:37 PM
23:37 11:37 PM
7 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
44,538
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Ourem 8,200 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Ourem

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 Ourem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Ourem compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,835 in Nosara, $1,568 in Ourem – roughly 17% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Ourem?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,753 per month in Nosara and $2,352 in Ourem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Ourem?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ourem, 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 Ourem?
Public transport costs about 78% less in Ourem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Ourem?
Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $613 in Ourem. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ourem, where all-in costs run around $1,568, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Ourem 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 Ourem?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,568 in Ourem to $1,835 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Ourem 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 Ourem?
If budget matters most, go with Ourem. 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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