Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Port of Spain

For one person, living is cheaper in Port of Spain: $1,648 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Nosara outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Port of Spain
🇹🇹 Trinidad And Tobago
$1,648
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Port of Spain

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $1,648 in Port of Spain, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Port of Spain $1,648

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $2,743 in Port of Spain, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Port of Spain $2,743

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $3,838 in Port of Spain, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Port of Spain $3,838

Nosara costs about 12% more than Port of Spain, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Nosara and Port of Spain sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Port of Spain by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Port of Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$10.51 TTD 70.7
16.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$88.3 TTD 594
-31.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$9.06 TTD 61.0
-16.78%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$3.83 TTD 25.76
12.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$1.05 TTD 7.05
63.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$0.77 TTD 5.19
75.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$2.24 TTD 15.05
44.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$3.60 TTD 24.19
24.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Port of Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$2.52 TTD 16.93
-37.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$2.49 TTD 16.74
27.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$2.84 TTD 19.09
-14.79%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$4.30 TTD 28.95
-16.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$6.70 TTD 45.05
10.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$10.03 TTD 67.5
3.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$11.45 TTD 77.0
19.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$5.60 TTD 37.69
-58.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$3.03 TTD 20.41
-46.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$3.72 TTD 25.03
27.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$4.36 TTD 29.34
-61.93%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$2.21 TTD 14.87
68.33%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$1.87 TTD 12.56
90.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$1.85 TTD 12.47
-40.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$1.40 TTD 9.45
82.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$5.78 TTD 38.90
-14.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$18.94 TTD 127
5.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$2.32 TTD 15.62
20.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$2.97 TTD 20.01
18.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Port of Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$1.34 TTD 9.04
-11.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
$132 TTD 888
-45.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$1.06 TTD 7.12
111.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$1.28 TTD 8.60
21.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$14.85 TTD 99.9
-40.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$1.16 TTD 7.77
35.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$37.1K TTD 249.8K
-41.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$40.6K TTD 272.9K
-14.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Port of Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$92.7 TTD 624
0.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$52.0 TTD 350
-32.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$57.1 TTD 384
-9.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Port of Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$57.3 TTD 385
24.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
$13.18 TTD 88.7
168.89%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$8.73 TTD 58.7
-10.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Port of Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$392 TTD 2,638
24.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$10.8K TTD 72.4K
10.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Port of Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$55.7 TTD 375
-3.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$52.1 TTD 350
7.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$143 TTD 964
-44.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$104 TTD 698
-23.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Port of Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$1,001 TTD 6,734
-21.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$511 TTD 3,438
52.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$2,176 TTD 14.6K
77.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$1,201 TTD 8,077
17.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$4,579 TTD 30.8K
52.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$1,991 TTD 13.4K
-39.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Port of Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$778 TTD 5,237
12.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
5.75
49.91%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Port of Spain: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Port of Spain
$511 34.5% $269
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Port of Spain
$356 1.9% $6.6
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Port of Spain
$183 12.7% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Port of Spain
$202 12.1% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Port of Spain
$160 32.6% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Port of Spain
$75 14.2% $12
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Port of Spain
$145 66.7% $58

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $1,001 in Port of Spain. 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 13% 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 $60.0 in Nosara versus $88.0 in Port of Spain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $356 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇹🇹 Port of Spain
🕒 Local time
02:02 2:02 AM
04:02 4:02 AM
2 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
37,074 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

TTD, 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).

Trinidad and Tobago Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 6.73 TTD (1 TTD = 0.149 USD). 1 EUR = 7.55 TTD (1 TTD = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Port of Spain 2,640 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Port of Spain

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 of Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Port of Spain compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $1,648 in Port of Spain – roughly 12% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Port of Spain?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $2,472 in Port of Spain. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Port of Spain?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port of Spain, 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 of Spain?
Public transport costs about 83% less in Port of Spain. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Port of Spain?
Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $392 in Port of Spain. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Port of Spain, where all-in costs run around $1,648, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Port of Spain it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Port of Spain?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,648 in Port of Spain to $1,837 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Port of Spain 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 of Spain?
If budget matters most, go with Port of Spain. 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.

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