Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,712 per month in Nosara vs $1,483 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,637 per month in Nosara vs $2,195 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,562 per month in Nosara vs $2,906 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

Nosara costs about 15% more than Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nosara and Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon sit above the global median – Nosara by 28%, Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.04 ₡5,046

$10.82 ₡4,945

2.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 ₡27.6K

$49.25 ₡22.5K

22.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 ₡3,240

$9.88 ₡4,516

-28.24%

Cappuccino

$3.89 ₡1,777

$2.73 ₡1,247

42.49%

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

$1.57 ₡719

$2.04 ₡932

-23.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₡533

$1.58 ₡724

-25.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ₡1,345

$2.90 ₡1,327

1.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 ₡2,150

$3.88 ₡1,774

21.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡671

$1.94 ₡885

-24.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 ₡1,286

$2.90 ₡1,324

-3.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₡1,026

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,345

$2.88 ₡1,315

2.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.78 ₡3,099

$9.21 ₡4,209

-26.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.03 ₡4,126

$8.52 ₡3,894

5.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.62 ₡6,223

$13.45 ₡6,145

1.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ₡935

$2.41 ₡1,100

-14.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₡668

$1.12 ₡513

30.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 ₡1,908

$1.58 ₡721

164.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 ₡691

$1.83 ₡837

-17.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 ₡1,573

$2.14 ₡978

60.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 ₡1,457

$1.91 ₡872

67.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡437

$0.82 ₡377

17.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₡1,104

$1.80 ₡824

34.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.61 ₡2,107

$2.92 ₡1,334

57.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.01 ₡9,601

$15.31 ₡6,994

37.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,100

$2.53 ₡1,154

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,301

$2.89 ₡1,322

-1.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡438

$1.21 ₡553

-20.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡29.9K

$39.61 ₡18.1K

65.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡822

$1.62 ₡741

11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡845

$1.59 ₡729

16.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₡3,550

$8.04 ₡3,671

-3.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₡585

$1.46 ₡667

-12.33%

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

$32.4K ₡14.8M

$38.0K ₡17.4M

-14.70%

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

$32.2K ₡14.7M

$32.9K ₡15.0M

-2.04%

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

$95.5 ₡43.6K

$92.9 ₡42.5K

2.72%

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

$26.09 ₡11.9K

$25.71 ₡11.7K

1.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.42 ₡21.7K

$60.3 ₡27.5K

-21.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡26.4K

$57.3 ₡26.2K

0.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.56 ₡10.8K

$23.90 ₡10.9K

-1.42%

Cinema Ticket

$10.18 ₡4,651

$9.70 ₡4,430

4.95%

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

$442 ₡202.1K

$578 ₡264.1K

-23.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.8M

$12.8K ₡5.8M

-17.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 ₡23.1K

$60.0 ₡27.4K

-15.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 ₡23.5K

$24.32 ₡11.1K

111.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 ₡33.0K

$89.4 ₡40.9K

-19.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 ₡32.1K

$50.2 ₡22.9K

40.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₡352.0K

$776 ₡354.4K

-0.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$733 ₡334.8K

$588 ₡268.7K

24.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 ₡685.6K

$1,516 ₡692.7K

-1.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 ₡589.4K

$964 ₡440.4K

33.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,047 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,234 ₡563.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 ₡409.9K

$993 ₡453.8K

-9.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Nosara: June 1, 2026

Last update for Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $770 in Nosara versus $776 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. 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 11% higher in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, 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 $60.0 in Nosara versus $49.00 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $298 – making Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,712 in Nosara, $1,483 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon – roughly 15% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,568 per month in Nosara and $2,224 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 65% less in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $442 per month in Nosara and $578 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, where all-in costs run around $1,483, than in Nosara at $1,712. In Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon 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 $1,483 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon to $1,712 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 Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. 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.