Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Parry Sound

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,228 in Parry Sound, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Parry Sound outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Parry Sound
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,228
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Parry Sound

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $2,228 in Parry Sound, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Parry Sound $2,228

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $3,142 in Parry Sound, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Parry Sound $3,142

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $4,057 in Parry Sound, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Parry Sound $4,057

Nosara is about 18% cheaper than Parry Sound, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Parry Sound sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Parry Sound by 66%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Parry Sound
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$17.53 CA$24.98
-30.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$51.6 CA$73.6
16.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$10.64 CA$15.17
-29.14%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$3.19 CA$4.54
35.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$1.42 CA$2.02
21.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$1.03 CA$1.47
31.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$3.60 CA$5.13
-10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$4.29 CA$6.11
4.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Parry Sound
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$1.99 CA$2.84
-21.11%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$2.22 CA$3.16
42.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$1.54 CA$2.19
57.14%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$3.12 CA$4.45
14.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$4.26 CA$6.07
74.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$10.40 CA$14.82
0.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$7.12 CA$10.15
91.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$3.43 CA$4.89
-32.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$0.72 CA$1.03
123.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$0.73 CA$1.04
549.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$2.12 CA$3.02
-21.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$1.61 CA$2.30
131.06%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$1.35 CA$1.93
164.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$1.42 CA$2.02
-22.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$1.48 CA$2.10
72.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$11.79 CA$16.81
-58.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$11.28 CA$16.07
77.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$2.86 CA$4.07
-2.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$3.46 CA$4.94
2.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Parry Sound
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$8.57 CA$12.22
-73.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$18.21 CA$25.96
-51.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$1.09 CA$1.56
44.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$28.1K CA$40.0K
-22.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$17.8K CA$25.4K
94.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Parry Sound
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$124 CA$177
-24.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$27.07 CA$38.59
29.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$44.69 CA$63.7
15.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Parry Sound
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$33.00 CA$47.04
116.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$10.20 CA$14.54
-23.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Parry Sound
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$864 CA$1,231
-43.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$27.8K CA$39.7K
-57.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Parry Sound
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$42.53 CA$60.6
25.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$37.48 CA$53.4
48.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$93.2 CA$133
-14.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$103 CA$147
-23.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Parry Sound
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$1,069 CA$1,524
-26.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$1,342 CA$1,913
-41.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$2,121 CA$3,024
81.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$2,072 CA$2,953
-32.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Parry Sound
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$2,071 CA$2,951
-57.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
4.56
89.04%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Parry Sound: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Parry Sound
$1.3K 72.1% $562
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Parry Sound
$257 26.6% $93
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Parry Sound
$247 17.8% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Parry Sound
$196 8.9% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Parry Sound
$124 3.2% $3.9
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Parry Sound
$53 38.7% $34
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Parry Sound
$8.6 * 90.1% $78

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $1,069 in Parry Sound. 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 136% higher in Parry Sound, 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 $52.0 in Parry Sound. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $257 – making Parry Sound the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇨🇦 Parry Sound
🕒 Local time
06:35 6:35 AM
08:35 8:35 AM
2 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
6,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Parry Sound 3,970 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Parry Sound

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 Parry Sound: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Parry Sound compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $2,228 in Parry Sound – roughly 21% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Parry Sound?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $3,342 in Parry Sound. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Parry Sound?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara and $52.0 in Parry Sound. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 36% cheaper in Parry Sound – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Parry Sound at $2,228. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Parry Sound it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Parry Sound?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Nosara to $2,228 in Parry Sound. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Parry Sound 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 Parry Sound?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Parry Sound makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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