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 $1,722 per month in Nosara vs $1,172 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,632 per month in Nosara vs $1,928 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,541 per month in Nosara vs $2,685 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

Nosara costs about 47% more than Perez Zeledon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Nosara sits 29% above the global median, while Perez Zeledon is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₡4,865

$7.13 ₡3,197

52.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ₡27.3K

$40.23 ₡18.0K

51.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 ₡3,192

$9.90 ₡4,438

-28.08%

Cappuccino

$3.86 ₡1,731

$3.77 ₡1,690

2.39%

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

$1.56 ₡701

$1.52 ₡680

2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₡518

$1.59 ₡714

-27.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 ₡1,360

$3.01 ₡1,350

0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ₡2,041

$4.60 ₡2,064

-1.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡631

$2.01 ₡899

-29.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,298

$2.85 ₡1,276

1.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡964

$2.21 ₡992

-2.71%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,315

$2.62 ₡1,176

11.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.77 ₡3,036

$8.21 ₡3,681

-17.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.00 ₡4,037

$9.16 ₡4,105

-1.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 ₡6,252

$13.92 ₡6,242

0.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₡960

$4.52 ₡2,025

-52.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₡628

$1.03 ₡462

35.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 ₡1,966

$4.36 ₡1,955

0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ₡658

$3.45 ₡1,546

-57.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ₡1,589

$2.83 ₡1,269

25.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₡1,414

$2.73 ₡1,226

15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡436

$0.39 ₡174

148.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₡1,063

$2.95 ₡1,322

-19.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 ₡2,040

$5.01 ₡2,245

-9.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.05 ₡9,439

$21.42 ₡9,604

-1.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,120

$2.27 ₡1,018

10.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,250

$1.53 ₡687

82.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡424

$0.69 ₡308

37.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.7 ₡30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 ₡814

$1.88 ₡841

-3.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡831

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 ₡3,453

$7.76 ₡3,479

-0.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₡577

$1.35 ₡607

-4.44%

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

$32.7K ₡14.7M

$37.3K ₡16.7M

-12.36%

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

$32.3K ₡14.5M

$32.6K ₡14.6M

-1.02%

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

$92.2 ₡41.4K

$95.2 ₡42.7K

-3.12%

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

$25.96 ₡11.6K

$21.29 ₡9,547

21.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.58 ₡21.8K

$59.7 ₡26.7K

-18.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₡25.3K

$30.43 ₡13.6K

85.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.56 ₡10.6K

$23.89 ₡10.7K

-1.38%

Cinema Ticket

$10.16 ₡4,554

$10.17 ₡4,558

-0.10%

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

$447 ₡200.5K

$496 ₡222.3K

-9.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.7M

$12.6K ₡5.7M

-16.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.85 ₡22.4K

$61.4 ₡27.5K

-18.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡22.8K

$50.7 ₡22.7K

0.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 ₡32.5K

$128 ₡57.2K

-43.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$109 ₡49.0K

-34.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 ₡342.3K

$337 ₡151.2K

126.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₡340.4K

$262 ₡117.3K

190.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,507 ₡675.8K

$1,516 ₡680.0K

-0.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,300 ₡582.8K

$645 ₡289.2K

101.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,126 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,208 ₡541.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$889 ₡398.8K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Perez Zeledon: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $763 in Nosara versus $337 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 $61.0 in Nosara versus $40.00 in Perez Zeledon. Groceries tell a different story – $324 in Nosara vs $352 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: $1,722 in Nosara, $1,172 in Perez Zeledon – roughly 47% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,583 per month in Nosara and $1,758 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 $61.0 in Nosara and $40.00 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 $1,172, than in Nosara at $1,722. 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 $1,172 in Perez Zeledon to $1,722 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.