Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Quesada Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Quesada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,722 per month in Nosara vs $1,492 in Quesada, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,632 per month in Nosara vs $2,285 in Quesada, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,541 per month in Nosara vs $3,077 in Quesada, rent included.

Nosara costs about 15% more than Quesada, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nosara and Quesada sit above the global median – Nosara by 29%, Quesada by 12%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₡4,865

$10.76 ₡4,826

0.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ₡27.3K

$60.0 ₡26.9K

1.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 ₡3,192

$10.14 ₡4,546

-29.78%

Cappuccino

$3.86 ₡1,731

$3.88 ₡1,740

-0.52%

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

$1.56 ₡701

$2.08 ₡932

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₡518

$1.57 ₡705

-26.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 ₡1,360

$2.95 ₡1,321

2.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ₡2,041

$2.13 ₡953

113.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡631

$2.07 ₡927

-31.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,298

$2.78 ₡1,247

3.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡964

$2.16 ₡970

-0.46%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,315

$2.38 ₡1,066

23.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.77 ₡3,036

$9.81 ₡4,397

-30.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.00 ₡4,037

$8.87 ₡3,976

1.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 ₡6,252

$13.68 ₡6,135

1.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₡960

$4.45 ₡1,993

-51.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₡628

$1.51 ₡675

-7.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 ₡1,966

$1.03 ₡461

326.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ₡658

$3.57 ₡1,601

-58.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ₡1,589

$3.51 ₡1,572

0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₡1,414

$3.26 ₡1,463

-3.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡436

$0.96 ₡431

1.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₡1,063

$2.86 ₡1,281

-17.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 ₡2,040

$5.32 ₡2,384

-14.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.05 ₡9,439

$15.10 ₡6,769

39.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,120

$2.45 ₡1,100

2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,250

$2.89 ₡1,295

-3.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡424

$0.97 ₡436

-2.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.7 ₡30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 ₡814

$1.40 ₡630

30.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡831

$1.39 ₡624

33.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 ₡3,453

$7.73 ₡3,465

-0.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₡577

$1.40 ₡626

-7.86%

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

$32.7K ₡14.7M

$37.2K ₡16.7M

-11.97%

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

$32.3K ₡14.5M

$32.8K ₡14.7M

-1.54%

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

$92.2 ₡41.4K

$94.9 ₡42.6K

-2.84%

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

$25.96 ₡11.6K

$26.22 ₡11.8K

-0.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.58 ₡21.8K

$48.74 ₡21.9K

-0.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₡25.3K

$39.82 ₡17.9K

41.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.56 ₡10.6K

$23.77 ₡10.7K

-0.88%

Cinema Ticket

$10.16 ₡4,554

$5.32 ₡2,386

90.98%

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

$447 ₡200.5K

$227 ₡101.8K

96.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.7M

$3,875 ₡1.7M

171.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.85 ₡22.4K

$63.0 ₡28.2K

-20.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡22.8K

$51.1 ₡22.9K

-0.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 ₡32.5K

$118 ₡52.9K

-38.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$100.0 ₡44.8K

-28.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 ₡342.3K

$779 ₡349.2K

-1.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₡340.4K

$589 ₡264.3K

28.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,507 ₡675.8K

$1,489 ₡667.5K

1.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,300 ₡582.8K

$972 ₡435.7K

33.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,126 ₡3.2M

$4,116 ₡1.8M

73.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,208 ₡541.6K

$2,178 ₡976.7K

-44.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$889 ₡398.8K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Quesada: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $763 in Nosara versus $779 in Quesada. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $60.0 in Quesada. Groceries tell a different story – $324 in Nosara vs $338 in Quesada – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Quesada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,722 in Nosara, $1,492 in Quesada – roughly 15% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,583 per month in Nosara and $2,239 in Quesada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $60.0 in Quesada. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Quesada, where all-in costs run around $1,492, than in Nosara at $1,722. In Quesada 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 $1,492 in Quesada to $1,722 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 Quesada. 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.