Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Port Lincoln

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,530 in Port Lincoln, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Port Lincoln
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,530
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $2,530 in Port Lincoln, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Port Lincoln $2,530

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $3,626 in Port Lincoln, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Port Lincoln $3,626

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $4,723 in Port Lincoln, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Port Lincoln $4,723

Nosara is about 27% cheaper than Port Lincoln, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Port Lincoln sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Port Lincoln by 89%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Port Lincoln
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$17.61 A$25.20
-30.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$85.3 A$122
-29.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$10.68 A$15.28
-29.40%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$4.05 A$5.79
6.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$2.86 A$4.09
-39.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$2.23 A$3.19
-39.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$7.85 A$11.24
-58.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$7.89 A$11.29
-43.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Port Lincoln
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$1.66 A$2.37
-5.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$2.67 A$3.83
18.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$2.17 A$3.11
11.52%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$5.02 A$7.18
-28.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$9.42 A$13.48
-21.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$9.00 A$12.88
15.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$15.05 A$21.54
-9.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$3.64 A$5.20
-36.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$3.01 A$4.31
-46.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$3.28 A$4.70
44.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$4.76 A$6.82
-65.13%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$2.73 A$3.91
36.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$2.40 A$3.43
48.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$2.35 A$3.37
-53.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$1.58 A$2.26
61.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$39.88 A$57.1
-87.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$14.11 A$20.19
41.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$4.69 A$6.72
-40.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$5.35 A$7.65
-34.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Port Lincoln
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$2.96 A$4.23
-59.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
$80.9 A$116
-10.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$3.56 A$5.09
-37.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$1.57 A$2.25
-1.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$40.47 A$57.9
-78.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$1.29 A$1.85
21.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$26.9K A$38.5K
-19.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$30.2K A$43.2K
14.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Port Lincoln
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$207 A$296
-54.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$28.42 A$40.67
23.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$56.5 A$80.9
-8.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Port Lincoln
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$57.2 A$81.9
24.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
$17.69 A$25.31
100.34%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$15.16 A$21.70
-48.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Port Lincoln
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$2,162 A$3,094
-77.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$20.6K A$29.5K
-42.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Port Lincoln
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$76.9 A$110
-30.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$53.8 A$77.0
3.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$108 A$155
-26.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$124 A$177
-36.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Port Lincoln
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$1,407 A$2,014
-44.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$1,199 A$1,717
-34.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$2,127 A$3,044
81.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$1,803 A$2,580
-21.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$5,766 A$8,252
20.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$4,904 A$7,018
-75.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Port Lincoln
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
5.84
47.60%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Port Lincoln: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Port Lincoln
$1.2K 53.8% $420
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Port Lincoln
$367 5.1% $18
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Port Lincoln
$297 41.7% $87
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Port Lincoln
$292 62.2% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Port Lincoln
$163 35.5% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Port Lincoln
$88 0.6% $0.5
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Port Lincoln
$104 19.9% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $1,407 in Port Lincoln. 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 $60.0 in Nosara versus $85.0 in Port Lincoln. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $367 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇦🇺 Port Lincoln
🕒 Local time
00:41 12:41 AM
17:11 5:11 PM
16 h 30 min ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
14,404
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, 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).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.61 AUD (1 AUD = 0.623 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Port Lincoln 14,990 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Port Lincoln

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 Lincoln: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Port Lincoln compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $2,530 in Port Lincoln – roughly 38% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Port Lincoln?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $3,795 in Port Lincoln. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Port Lincoln?
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 Port Lincoln?
Public transport costs about 12% 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 Port Lincoln?
Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $2,162 in Port Lincoln. 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 Port Lincoln at $2,530. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Lincoln it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Port Lincoln?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Nosara to $2,530 in Port Lincoln. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Port Lincoln 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 Port Lincoln?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Lincoln makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?