Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Perez Zeledon Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Perez Zeledon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,668 per month in Nosara vs $1,171 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,595 per month in Nosara vs $1,927 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,522 per month in Nosara vs $2,683 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

Nosara costs about 42% more than Perez Zeledon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Nosara sits 25% above the global median, while Perez Zeledon is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.08 ₡5,037

$6.78 ₡3,082

63.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡26.7K

$39.34 ₡17.9K

48.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₡3,146

$9.98 ₡4,539

-30.66%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₡1,776

$3.80 ₡1,729

2.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ₡736

$1.45 ₡661

11.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₡554

$1.59 ₡725

-23.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 ₡1,350

$2.91 ₡1,325

2.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 ₡2,060

$4.74 ₡2,154

-4.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡663

$1.95 ₡886

-25.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,253

$2.76 ₡1,254

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡970

$2.14 ₡973

-0.47%

Eggs

$2.87 ₡1,307

$2.53 ₡1,148

13.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 ₡3,100

$8.19 ₡3,725

-16.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.97 ₡4,080

$9.01 ₡4,099

-0.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ₡6,152

$13.51 ₡6,144

0.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 ₡968

$4.52 ₡2,053

-52.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₡639

$1.03 ₡470

35.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,988

$4.20 ₡1,909

4.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₡696

$3.42 ₡1,553

-55.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₡1,542

$2.85 ₡1,294

18.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,455

$2.80 ₡1,273

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡457

$0.38 ₡174

163.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₡1,051

$2.94 ₡1,337

-21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.66 ₡2,118

$5.09 ₡2,317

-8.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.81 ₡9,462

$21.95 ₡9,981

-5.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,095

$2.15 ₡977

12.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,287

$1.52 ₡691

86.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡435

$0.74 ₡334

29.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₡30.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡841

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡839

$1.80 ₡819

2.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 ₡3,578

$8.10 ₡3,684

-2.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₡585

$1.40 ₡635

-7.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$38.2K ₡17.3M

-14.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$33.2K ₡15.1M

-1.55%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$95.3 ₡43.3K

$93.5 ₡42.5K

1.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.39 ₡11.5K

$21.44 ₡9,750

18.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.17 ₡21.9K

$59.1 ₡26.9K

-18.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 ₡25.6K

$30.20 ₡13.7K

86.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.52 ₡10.7K

$23.49 ₡10.7K

0.13%

Cinema Ticket

$10.19 ₡4,633

$9.70 ₡4,413

5.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$458 ₡208.1K

$500 ₡227.3K

-8.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.8M

$12.9K ₡5.9M

-18.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 ₡23.0K

$63.5 ₡28.9K

-20.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₡23.5K

$50.9 ₡23.1K

1.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 ₡32.7K

$125 ₡56.8K

-42.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.4 ₡32.9K

$108 ₡49.0K

-32.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$769 ₡349.7K

$336 ₡153.0K

128.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 ₡337.0K

$263 ₡119.8K

181.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 ₡704.1K

$1,537 ₡699.1K

0.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 ₡609.8K

$632 ₡287.3K

112.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,153 ₡3.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡546.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$869 ₡395.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

13.00%

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

Last update for Nosara: April 27, 2026

Last update for Perez Zeledon: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $769 in Nosara versus $336 in Perez Zeledon. 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 $59.0 in Nosara versus $39.00 in Perez Zeledon. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Nosara vs $347 in Perez Zeledon – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Perez Zeledon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,668 in Nosara, $1,171 in Perez Zeledon – roughly 42% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,502 per month in Nosara and $1,756 in Perez Zeledon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Perez Zeledon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Nosara and $39.00 in Perez Zeledon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perez Zeledon, where all-in costs run around $1,171, than in Nosara at $1,668. In Perez Zeledon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,171 in Perez Zeledon to $1,668 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Perez Zeledon. 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.