Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Puerto Princesa

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Princesa: $705 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
34

Cost of Living Index in Puerto Princesa
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Puerto Princesa Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Puerto Princesa

🇵🇭 Philippines

$705

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Puerto Princesa

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $705 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

Nosara $1,839
Puerto Princesa $705

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,050 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

Nosara $2,828
Puerto Princesa $1,050

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,396 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

Nosara $3,818
Puerto Princesa $1,396

Nosara costs about 161% more than Puerto Princesa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Puerto Princesa is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.35 ₡5,539

$4.28 ₱269

188.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$16.84 ₱1,061

263.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₡3,373

$4.59 ₱289

63.83%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,978

$2.34 ₱147

88.46%

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

$1.74 ₡780

$0.88 ₱55.2

97.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡587

$0.52 ₱32.91

151.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$1.26 ₱79.5

160.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡2,004

$2.37 ₱149

88.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$1.75 ₱110

-10.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₡1,355

$1.02 ₱64.4

196.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,125

$0.82 ₱51.9

206.10%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,603

$1.75 ₱110

104.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,333

$5.52 ₱347

34.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,717

$5.43 ₱342

93.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,265

$6.59 ₱415

111.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$2.37 ₱149

-0.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$0.85 ₱53.3

89.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 ₡2,152

$2.40 ₱151

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡724

$1.14 ₱71.6

41.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₡1,703

$1.53 ₱96.4

148.37%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,657

$1.35 ₱84.8

173.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$0.94 ₱59.4

20.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$0.70 ₱43.92

280.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,321

$2.86 ₱180

81.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ₡8,916

$7.28 ₱458

173.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$1.06 ₱66.6

173.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,626

$1.35 ₱84.8

168.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

$0.25 ₱15.71

348.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$11.06 ₱697

556.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₡958

$0.74 ₱46.36

189.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡703

$0.21 ₱13.17

647.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 ₡3,823

$1.95 ₱123

336.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.01 ₱63.7

50.50%

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

$21.6K ₡9.7M

$17.1K ₱1.1M

26.43%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

80.78%

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

$96.3 ₡43.2K

$62.2 ₱3,915

54.83%

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

$35.89 ₡16.1K

$10.94 ₱689

228.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$24.60 ₱1,549

117.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$32.60 ₱2,052

119.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 ₡15.7K

$4.75 ₱299

634.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₡3,539

$5.05 ₱318

56.24%

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

$494 ₡221.6K

$133 ₱8,357

272.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$8,060 ₱507.5K

47.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₡24.2K

$33.45 ₱2,106

61.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$19.50 ₱1,228

184.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$71.1 ₱4,478

9.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₡35.7K

$56.2 ₱3,541

41.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₡353.4K

$283 ₱17.8K

178.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡356.2K

$201 ₱12.7K

294.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,939 ₡1.8M

$519 ₱32.7K

658.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 ₡636.5K

$313 ₱19.7K

353.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,912 ₡3.1M

$2,404 ₱151.4K

187.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 ₡549.0K

$1,008 ₱63.4K

21.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

$223 ₱14.1K

286.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

8.12

6.16%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$794 43.2%

Puerto Princesa

$201 28.5% 74.7% $593

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$352 19.2%

Puerto Princesa

$176 24.9% 50.1% $177

Eating Out

Nosara

$212 11.5%

Puerto Princesa

$93 13.2% 56.2% $119

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$186 10.1%

Puerto Princesa

$98 13.9% 47.4% $88

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.5%

Puerto Princesa

$81 11.5% 32.4% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Puerto Princesa

$43 6.1% 51.1% $45

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.7%

Puerto Princesa

$14 2% 84.1% $73

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $283 in Puerto Princesa. 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 287% 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 $61.0 in Nosara versus $17.00 in Puerto Princesa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $176 – making Puerto Princesa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇵🇭 Puerto Princesa

🕒 Local time

15:56 3:56 PM

05:56 5:56 AM

14 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

307,079

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Puerto Princesa 16,540 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Puerto Princesa

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 Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $705 in Puerto Princesa – roughly 161% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,057 in Puerto Princesa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 557% less in Puerto Princesa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $133 in Puerto Princesa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Princesa, where all-in costs run around $705, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Puerto Princesa 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 $705 in Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa. 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.