Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Prince Rupert, BC

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $1,967 in Prince Rupert, BC, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Prince Rupert, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,967
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Prince Rupert, BC

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 Prince Rupert, BC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,967 in Prince Rupert, BC, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Prince Rupert, BC $1,967

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $3,109 in Prince Rupert, BC, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Prince Rupert, BC $3,109

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $4,251 in Prince Rupert, BC, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Prince Rupert, BC $4,251

Nosara is about 7% cheaper than Prince Rupert, BC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Prince Rupert, BC sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Prince Rupert, BC by 46%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Prince Rupert, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$17.48 CA$24.71
-29.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$65.9 CA$93.1
-7.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$10.52 CA$14.87
-28.52%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$3.63 CA$5.13
21.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$2.02 CA$2.86
-13.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$1.54 CA$2.18
-14.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$5.40 CA$7.63
-39.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$5.57 CA$7.88
-19.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Prince Rupert, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.89 CA$2.67
-17.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$2.46 CA$3.47
22.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$3.19 CA$4.50
-21.32%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$4.97 CA$7.03
-28.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$9.63 CA$13.61
-22.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$12.32 CA$17.42
-14.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$14.89 CA$21.04
-6.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.73 CA$2.45
35.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.03 CA$1.45
56.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$4.14 CA$5.86
15.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$3.81 CA$5.38
-57.74%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$2.40 CA$3.39
58.33%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$2.27 CA$3.21
62.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$2.32 CA$3.27
-51.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.73 CA$2.45
53.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$13.86 CA$19.59
-62.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$14.29 CA$20.20
39.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$2.63 CA$3.72
10.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$3.11 CA$4.40
16.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Prince Rupert, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$2.30 CA$3.25
-51.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$65.5 CA$92.6
10.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$2.83 CA$4.01
-24.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.64 CA$2.32
-4.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$25.25 CA$35.69
-66.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.32 CA$1.86
15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$30.3K CA$42.8K
-28.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$18.3K CA$25.9K
88.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Prince Rupert, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$150 CA$213
-35.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$39.36 CA$55.6
-8.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$48.50 CA$68.6
10.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Prince Rupert, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$38.18 CA$54.0
87.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$17.30 CA$24.45
101.79%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$11.21 CA$15.85
-29.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Prince Rupert, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$646 CA$913
-23.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$13.4K CA$19.0K
-11.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Prince Rupert, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$53.4 CA$75.6
0.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$41.39 CA$58.5
33.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$83.7 CA$118
-6.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$94.4 CA$133
-15.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Prince Rupert, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$1,054 CA$1,491
-25.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$841 CA$1,188
-5.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,932 CA$2,731
103.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,714 CA$2,423
-17.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$3,875 CA$5,478
78.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$3,474 CA$4,912
-64.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Prince Rupert, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$3,157 CA$4,463
-72.64%
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 Prince Rupert, BC: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Prince Rupert, BC
$841 5.8% $46
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Prince Rupert, BC
$351 0.3% $0.9
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Prince Rupert, BC
$267 26.2% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Prince Rupert, BC
$238 28.2% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Prince Rupert, BC
$123 2.2% $2.7
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Prince Rupert, BC
$61 30.6% $27
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Prince Rupert, BC
$86 1.6% $1.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $1,054 in Prince Rupert, BC. 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 Prince Rupert, BC, 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 $61.0 in Nosara versus $66.0 in Prince Rupert, BC. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Nosara vs $351 in Prince Rupert, BC – so Prince Rupert, BC wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇨🇦 Prince Rupert, BC
🕒 Local time
11:04 11:04 AM
10:04 10:04 AM
1 h behind Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
12,220
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Prince Rupert, BC 6,300 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Prince Rupert, BC

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 Prince Rupert, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Prince Rupert, BC compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,967 in Prince Rupert, BC – roughly 7% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Prince Rupert, BC?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $2,950 in Prince Rupert, BC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Prince Rupert, BC?
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 Prince Rupert, BC?
Public transport costs about 11% 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 Prince Rupert, BC?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $646 in Prince Rupert, BC. 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 $1,839, than in Prince Rupert, BC at $1,967. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Prince Rupert, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Prince Rupert, BC?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,839 in Nosara to $1,967 in Prince Rupert, BC. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Prince Rupert, BC 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 Prince Rupert, BC?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Prince Rupert, BC 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?