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 $1,852 per month in Nosara vs $1,604 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,876 per month in Nosara vs $2,512 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,900 per month in Nosara vs $3,419 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent included.

Nosara costs about 15% more than Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nosara and Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon sit above the global median – Nosara by 35%, Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon by 17%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.10 ₡5,392

$12.21 ₡5,442

-0.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.8 ₡26.2K

$43.63 ₡19.4K

34.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 ₡3,524

$11.08 ₡4,937

-28.61%

Cappuccino

$4.45 ₡1,984

$3.91 ₡1,741

13.81%

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

$1.76 ₡784

$2.35 ₡1,045

-25.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡586

$1.87 ₡835

-29.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,464

$3.35 ₡1,494

-2.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 ₡2,031

$4.17 ₡1,860

9.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ₡707

$2.10 ₡934

-24.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 ₡1,366

$3.10 ₡1,383

-0.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 ₡1,144

$2.56 ₡1,141

0.39%

Eggs

$3.59 ₡1,601

$3.28 ₡1,463

9.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.29 ₡3,249

$6.81 ₡3,036

7.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.77 ₡4,799

$7.96 ₡3,546

35.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.15 ₡6,304

$14.43 ₡6,431

-1.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₡1,019

$2.69 ₡1,199

-14.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₡730

$1.08 ₡480

51.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.90 ₡2,184

$1.37 ₡608

257.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 ₡758

$1.75 ₡778

-2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.89 ₡1,735

$2.59 ₡1,156

50.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 ₡1,668

$1.98 ₡881

88.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₡486

$0.64 ₡285

70.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₡1,152

$2.04 ₡907

26.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,269

$3.14 ₡1,399

62.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.39 ₡9,084

$15.29 ₡6,814

33.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,245

$2.84 ₡1,267

-1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₡1,598

$3.71 ₡1,651

-3.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ₡645

$1.32 ₡590

9.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 ₡34.0K

$45.19 ₡20.1K

68.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₡971

$1.87 ₡833

16.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 ₡712

$1.63 ₡724

-1.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.07 ₡4,042

$8.64 ₡3,852

4.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 ₡684

$1.48 ₡660

4.05%

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

$22.4K ₡10.0M

$21.6K ₡9.6M

3.46%

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

$35.7K ₡15.9M

$35.6K ₡15.9M

0.29%

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

$95.8 ₡42.7K

$94.7 ₡42.2K

1.11%

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

$36.42 ₡16.2K

$36.87 ₡16.4K

-1.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.9 ₡23.6K

$33.98 ₡15.1K

55.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.3 ₡33.1K

$72.5 ₡32.3K

2.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.79 ₡15.9K

Cinema Ticket

$8.16 ₡3,636

$8.24 ₡3,674

-0.97%

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

$504 ₡224.7K

$982 ₡437.4K

-48.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₡5.2M

$17.5K ₡7.8M

-33.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ₡24.7K

$65.7 ₡29.3K

-15.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 ₡25.6K

$26.43 ₡11.8K

116.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 ₡35.2K

$100 ₡44.7K

-21.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.0 ₡36.1K

$55.7 ₡24.8K

45.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 ₡360.3K

$805 ₡358.8K

0.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$787 ₡350.7K

$575 ₡256.4K

36.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,953 ₡1.8M

$2,029 ₡904.0K

94.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 ₡625.1K

$1,350 ₡601.5K

3.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,131 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,245 ₡554.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$896 ₡399.1K

$1,010 ₡450.1K

-11.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Nosara: September 1, 2026

Last update for Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $809 in Nosara versus $805 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 13% 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 $59.0 in Nosara versus $44.00 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $304 – 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: $1,852 in Nosara, $1,604 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon – roughly 15% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,777 per month in Nosara and $2,407 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 69% less in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $504 per month in Nosara and $982 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 $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, where all-in costs run around $1,604, than in Nosara at $1,852. 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 $1,604 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon to $1,852 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.