Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Pembroke

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,355 in Pembroke, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. The total is higher in Pembroke despite lower rent and utilities.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Pembroke
🇧🇲 Bermuda
$2,355
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Pembroke

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $2,355 in Pembroke, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Pembroke $2,355

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $3,881 in Pembroke, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Pembroke $3,881

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $5,406 in Pembroke, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Pembroke $5,406

Nosara is about 22% cheaper than Pembroke, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Pembroke sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Pembroke by 76%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Pembroke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$50.6 BMD 50.6
-75.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$151 BMD 151
-60.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$16.82 BMD 16.82
-55.17%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$4.45 BMD 4.45
-3.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$2.98 BMD 2.98
-42.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$3.18 BMD 3.18
-57.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$7.66 BMD 7.66
-57.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$9.09 BMD 9.09
-50.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Pembroke
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$4.82 BMD 4.82
-67.43%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$7.95 BMD 7.95
-60.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$5.57 BMD 5.57
-56.55%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$7.35 BMD 7.35
-51.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$23.15 BMD 23.15
-67.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$21.62 BMD 21.62
-51.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$19.72 BMD 19.72
-30.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$8.94 BMD 8.94
-74.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$6.69 BMD 6.69
-75.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$7.01 BMD 7.01
-32.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$8.56 BMD 8.56
-80.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$5.81 BMD 5.81
-35.97%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$4.12 BMD 4.12
-13.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$6.22 BMD 6.22
-82.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$3.56 BMD 3.56
-28.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$17.84 BMD 17.84
-72.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$24.41 BMD 24.41
-18.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$5.32 BMD 5.32
-47.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$4.27 BMD 4.27
-17.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Pembroke
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
$129 BMD 129
-44.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$6.69 BMD 6.69
-66.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$2.43 BMD 2.43
-36.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$69.1 BMD 69.1
-87.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$2.42 BMD 2.42
-35.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$36.8K BMD 36.8K
-40.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$43.5K BMD 43.5K
-20.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Pembroke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$286 BMD 286
-67.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$151 BMD 151
-76.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$161 BMD 161
-67.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Pembroke
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$80.2 BMD 80.2
-10.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$13.32 BMD 13.32
-41.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Pembroke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$1,324 BMD 1,324
-63.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$24.7K BMD 24.7K
-51.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Pembroke
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$90.5 BMD 90.5
-40.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$71.2 BMD 71.2
-21.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$141 BMD 141
-43.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$128 BMD 128
-38.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Pembroke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$3,765 BMD 3,765
-79.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Pembroke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$7,935 BMD 7,935
-88.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
8.63
-0.12%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Pembroke: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Pembroke
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Pembroke
$749 114% $400
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Pembroke
$590 182% $380
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Pembroke
$597 232% $417
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Pembroke
$194 60.9% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Pembroke
$107 22.7% $20
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Pembroke
$148 * 69.9% $61

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 $3,765 in Pembroke. 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 805% higher in Pembroke, 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 $151 in Pembroke. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $749 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇧🇲 Pembroke
🕒 Local time
23:16 11:16 PM
02:16 2:16 AM
3 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
11,160
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BMD, 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 = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Bermudian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BMD (1 BMD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BMD (1 BMD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Pembroke 3,280 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Pembroke

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 Pembroke: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Pembroke compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $2,355 in Pembroke – roughly 28% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Pembroke?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $3,533 in Pembroke. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Pembroke?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Pembroke?
Public transport costs about 79% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Pembroke?
Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $1,324 in Pembroke. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
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 Pembroke at $2,355. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pembroke it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Pembroke?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Nosara to $2,355 in Pembroke. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Pembroke 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 Pembroke?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pembroke makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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