Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Port Hardy

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Hardy: $1,698 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Nosara outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
84

Cost of Living Index in Port Hardy
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Port Hardy Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Port Hardy

🇨🇦 Canada

$1,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Port Hardy

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,698 in Port Hardy, rent included.

Nosara $1,839
Port Hardy $1,698

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,767 in Port Hardy, rent included.

Nosara $2,828
Port Hardy $2,767

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $3,835 in Port Hardy, rent included.

Nosara $3,818
Port Hardy $3,835

Nosara costs about 8% more than Port Hardy, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Port Hardy sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Port Hardy by 26%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.35 ₡5,539

$17.47 CA$24.70

-29.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$66.1 CA$93.5

-7.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₡3,373

$10.63 CA$15.03

-29.26%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,978

$3.80 CA$5.37

16.05%

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

$1.74 ₡780

$1.95 CA$2.75

-10.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡587

$1.65 CA$2.34

-20.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$4.76 CA$6.73

-31.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡2,004

$4.91 CA$6.95

-8.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$1.73 CA$2.44

-9.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₡1,355

$2.53 CA$3.58

19.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,125

$3.19 CA$4.51

-21.32%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,603

$3.48 CA$4.91

2.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,333

$9.67 CA$13.66

-23.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,717

$11.36 CA$16.06

-7.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,265

$14.41 CA$20.38

-3.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$3.70 CA$5.23

-36.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$1.32 CA$1.87

21.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 ₡2,152

$3.65 CA$5.16

31.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡724

$3.64 CA$5.14

-55.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₡1,703

$2.48 CA$3.51

53.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,657

$2.13 CA$3.02

73.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$2.42 CA$3.43

-53.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$1.55 CA$2.19

71.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,321

$14.57 CA$20.60

-64.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ₡8,916

$12.15 CA$17.18

63.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$2.52 CA$3.56

15.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,626

$2.97 CA$4.20

22.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

$2.50 CA$3.53

-55.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$52.8 CA$74.6

37.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₡958

$2.64 CA$3.73

-18.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡703

$1.62 CA$2.29

-3.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 ₡3,823

$25.30 CA$35.76

-66.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.13 CA$1.60

34.51%

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

$21.6K ₡9.7M

$24.0K CA$33.9K

-9.97%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$19.1K CA$27.1K

80.28%

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

$96.3 ₡43.2K

$83.5 CA$118

15.36%

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

$35.89 ₡16.1K

$55.0 CA$77.7

-34.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$71.3 CA$101

-24.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$40.38 CA$57.1

77.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 ₡15.7K

$18.92 CA$26.75

84.51%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₡3,539

$10.78 CA$15.23

-26.81%

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

$494 ₡221.6K

$773 CA$1,093

-36.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$14.7K CA$20.8K

-19.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₡24.2K

$55.8 CA$78.8

-3.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$41.59 CA$58.8

33.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$81.8 CA$116

-4.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₡35.7K

$89.6 CA$127

-11.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₡353.4K

$630 CA$890

25.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡356.2K

$626 CA$885

26.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,939 ₡1.8M

$1,365 CA$1,930

188.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 ₡636.5K

$1,360 CA$1,922

4.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,912 ₡3.1M

$4,049 CA$5,724

70.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 ₡549.0K

$3,758 CA$5,313

-67.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

$3,158 CA$4,465

-72.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

4.66

84.98%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Port Hardy: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$794 43.2%

Port Hardy

$626 36.9% 21.2% $168

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$352 19.2%

Port Hardy

$340 20% 3.4% $12

Eating Out

Nosara

$212 11.5%

Port Hardy

$265 15.6% 25.2% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$186 10.1%

Port Hardy

$210 12.4% 12.9% $24

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.5%

Port Hardy

$121 7.1% 0.7% $0.8

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Port Hardy

$62 3.7% 29.1% $25

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.7%

Port Hardy

$74 4.3% 15.6% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $630 in Port Hardy. 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 266% higher in Port Hardy, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $66.0 in Port Hardy. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Nosara vs $340 in Port Hardy – so Port Hardy wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇨🇦 Port Hardy

🕒 Local time

13:19 1:19 PM

12:19 12:19 PM

1 h behind Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

4,100

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

Canadian Dollar CAD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Port Hardy 5,920 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Port Hardy

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 Port Hardy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,698 in Port Hardy – roughly 8% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $2,547 in Port Hardy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 38% less in Port Hardy. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $773 in Port Hardy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Hardy, where all-in costs run around $1,698, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Port Hardy 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 $1,698 in Port Hardy to $1,839 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 Port Hardy. 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.