Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Playa del Coco Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Playa del Coco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,852 per month in Nosara vs $1,790 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,876 per month in Nosara vs $2,880 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,900 per month in Nosara vs $3,969 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

Nosara costs about 3% more than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Nosara and Playa del Coco sit above the global median – Nosara by 35%, Playa del Coco by 30%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.10 ₡5,430

$18.03 ₡8,088

-32.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.8 ₡26.4K

$56.9 ₡25.5K

3.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 ₡3,549

$9.95 ₡4,466

-20.50%

Cappuccino

$4.45 ₡1,998

$8.28 ₡3,716

-46.26%

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

$1.76 ₡790

$2.66 ₡1,192

-33.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡590

$1.70 ₡765

-22.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,474

$3.48 ₡1,561

-5.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 ₡2,045

$5.85 ₡2,625

-22.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ₡712

$2.43 ₡1,090

-34.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 ₡1,375

$2.73 ₡1,226

12.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 ₡1,152

$2.57 ₡1,155

Eggs

$3.59 ₡1,612

$3.64 ₡1,635

-1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.29 ₡3,272

$10.77 ₡4,834

-32.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.77 ₡4,832

$10.46 ₡4,695

2.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 ₡6,347

$13.90 ₡6,234

1.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₡1,026

$5.47 ₡2,455

-58.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₡735

$1.71 ₡769

-4.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.90 ₡2,199

$3.83 ₡1,720

27.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 ₡763

$3.35 ₡1,501

-49.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.89 ₡1,747

$2.72 ₡1,221

43.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 ₡1,680

$3.09 ₡1,388

21.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₡489

$1.26 ₡565

-13.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₡1,160

$2.38 ₡1,069

8.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,285

$5.65 ₡2,533

-9.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.39 ₡9,147

$16.38 ₡7,351

24.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,254

$2.63 ₡1,182

6.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₡1,609

$2.67 ₡1,196

34.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ₡649

$1.36 ₡610

6.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 ₡34.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₡978

$3.42 ₡1,534

-36.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 ₡717

$1.57 ₡705

1.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.07 ₡4,070

$8.89 ₡3,990

2.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 ₡689

$2.06 ₡922

-25.24%

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

$22.4K ₡10.0M

$20.7K ₡9.3M

8.39%

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

$35.7K ₡16.0M

$35.4K ₡15.9M

0.93%

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

$95.8 ₡43.0K

$96.5 ₡43.3K

-0.76%

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

$36.42 ₡16.3K

$30.77 ₡13.8K

18.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.9 ₡23.7K

$60.6 ₡27.2K

-12.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.3 ₡33.3K

$72.4 ₡32.5K

2.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.79 ₡16.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.16 ₡3,661

$8.01 ₡3,594

1.87%

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

$504 ₡226.2K

$971 ₡435.7K

-48.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₡5.2M

$16.9K ₡7.6M

-30.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ₡24.9K

$71.0 ₡31.8K

-21.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 ₡25.7K

-0.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 ₡35.5K

$114 ₡51.4K

-30.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.0 ₡36.3K

$128 ₡57.3K

-36.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 ₡362.8K

$898 ₡402.7K

-9.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$787 ₡353.1K

$626 ₡281.0K

25.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,953 ₡1.8M

$1,894 ₡849.7K

108.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 ₡629.4K

$1,384 ₡621.0K

1.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,131 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,245 ₡558.4K

$340 ₡152.5K

266.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$896 ₡401.9K

$780 ₡350.0K

14.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Nosara: September 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $809 in Nosara versus $898 in Playa del Coco. 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 15% higher in Nosara, 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 $59.0 in Nosara versus $57.0 in Playa del Coco. Groceries tell a different story – $355 in Nosara vs $372 in Playa del Coco – 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 Playa del Coco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,852 in Nosara, $1,790 in Playa del Coco – roughly 3% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,777 per month in Nosara and $2,686 in Playa del Coco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Coco, 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 $57.0 in Playa del Coco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Coco, where all-in costs run around $1,790, than in Nosara at $1,852. In Playa del Coco 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 $1,790 in Playa del Coco to $1,852 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 Playa del Coco. 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.