Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Puntarenas Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Puntarenas

😐 Solo nomad: Nosara is 41% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 30.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nosara is 53.1% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 30.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Puntarenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.9 β‚‘5,457
$7.35 β‚‘3,679
48.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 β‚‘30.3K
$60.4 β‚‘30.2K
0.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.9 β‚‘3,453
$8.98 β‚‘4,495
-23.16%
Cappuccino
$3.89 β‚‘1,949
$3.94 β‚‘1,970
-1.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 β‚‘773
$2.01 β‚‘1,004
-23.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 β‚‘587
$1.58 β‚‘791
-25.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 β‚‘1,530
$2.92 β‚‘1,459
4.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 β‚‘2,379
$4.78 β‚‘2,394
-0.63%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Puntarenas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 β‚‘715
$2 β‚‘999
-28.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 β‚‘1,447
$2.81 β‚‘1,405
2.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 β‚‘1,117
$2.03 β‚‘1,016
9.85%
Eggs
$3.01 β‚‘1,508
$2.27 β‚‘1,137
32.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.48 β‚‘3,242
$3.46 β‚‘1,731
87.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.36 β‚‘4,687
$7.82 β‚‘3,916
19.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.41 β‚‘6,715
$8.86 β‚‘4,434
51.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.1 β‚‘1,053
$3.47 β‚‘1,739
-39.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 β‚‘716
$0.98 β‚‘491
45.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 β‚‘2,096
$1.17 β‚‘584
258.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 β‚‘736
$1.32 β‚‘661
11.36%
Potato (1kg)
$3.51 β‚‘1,759
$1.54 β‚‘772
127.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.23 β‚‘1,616
$1.58 β‚‘789
104.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 β‚‘482
$0.79 β‚‘394
21.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 β‚‘1,158
$1.97 β‚‘988
17.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.49 β‚‘2,248
$4.47 β‚‘2,240
0.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.93 β‚‘9,475
$7.41 β‚‘3,711
155.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 β‚‘1,223
$1.63 β‚‘817
49.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.8 β‚‘1,399
$2.37 β‚‘1,186
18.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Puntarenas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 β‚‘518
$1.01 β‚‘507
2.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.5 β‚‘33.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 β‚‘925
$1.84 β‚‘923
0.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 β‚‘884
$1.8 β‚‘902
-1.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 β‚‘3,931
$7.86 β‚‘3,935
-0.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 β‚‘679
$1.36 β‚‘683
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K β‚‘16.2M
$38.1K β‚‘19.1M
-15.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K β‚‘16.3M
$16.9K β‚‘8.5M
93.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Puntarenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95 β‚‘47.6K
$49.78 β‚‘24.9K
90.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.15 β‚‘13.1K
$19.83 β‚‘9,925
31.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.48 β‚‘24.3K
$24.34 β‚‘12.2K
99.18%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Puntarenas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 β‚‘27.9K
$55.8 β‚‘27.9K
0.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.73 β‚‘11.9K
$23.65 β‚‘11.8K
0.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10 β‚‘5,008
$9.69 β‚‘4,853
3.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Puntarenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$448 β‚‘224.4K
$575 β‚‘288K
-22.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K β‚‘5.2M
$12.8K β‚‘6.4M
-18.53%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Puntarenas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.72 β‚‘24.9K
$23.85 β‚‘11.9K
108.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 β‚‘25.3K
$15.67 β‚‘7,844
222.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.6 β‚‘35.3K
$125 β‚‘62.4K
-43.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 β‚‘35.6K
$48.06 β‚‘24.1K
47.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Puntarenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$751 β‚‘376K
$761 β‚‘381.1K
-1.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$757 β‚‘378.9K
$591 β‚‘295.9K
28.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,505 β‚‘753.2K
$1,510 β‚‘755.8K
-0.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 β‚‘652.3K
$965 β‚‘483.1K
35.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,322 β‚‘3.2M
$916 β‚‘458.4K
590.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,079 β‚‘540.1K
$607 β‚‘303.6K
77.89%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Puntarenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$805 β‚‘402.9K
$874 β‚‘437.7K
-7.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
6
69.50%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 27, 2025

Last update for Puntarenas: October 29, 2025

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