Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and San Isidro Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and San Isidro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,668 per month in Nosara vs $1,588 in San Isidro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,595 per month in Nosara vs $2,395 in San Isidro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,522 per month in Nosara vs $3,202 in San Isidro, rent included.

Nosara costs about 5% more than San Isidro, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nosara and San Isidro sit above the global median – Nosara by 25%, San Isidro by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.08 ₡5,037

$9.80 ₡4,458

13.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡26.7K

$50.8 ₡23.1K

15.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₡3,146

$9.88 ₡4,491

-29.96%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₡1,776

$3.67 ₡1,671

6.54%

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

$1.62 ₡736

$2.05 ₡934

-20.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₡554

$1.58 ₡719

-22.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 ₡1,350

$3.05 ₡1,386

-2.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 ₡2,060

$4.62 ₡2,103

-1.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡663

$1.95 ₡887

-25.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,253

$2.86 ₡1,302

-3.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡970

$2.24 ₡1,020

-4.91%

Eggs

$2.87 ₡1,307

$2.88 ₡1,308

-0.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 ₡3,100

$9.77 ₡4,443

-30.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.97 ₡4,080

$9.33 ₡4,243

-3.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ₡6,152

$13.92 ₡6,329

-2.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 ₡968

$4.46 ₡2,029

-52.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₡639

$1.50 ₡684

-6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,988

$4.30 ₡1,957

1.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₡696

$3.21 ₡1,460

-52.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₡1,542

$3.42 ₡1,553

-0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,455

$3.07 ₡1,395

4.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡457

$1.01 ₡460

-0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₡1,051

$2.83 ₡1,287

-18.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.66 ₡2,118

$4.89 ₡2,223

-4.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.81 ₡9,462

$16.12 ₡7,332

29.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,095

$2.26 ₡1,027

6.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,287

$2.57 ₡1,171

10.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡435

$1.01 ₡457

-4.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₡30.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡841

$1.80 ₡819

2.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡839

$1.77 ₡807

3.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 ₡3,578

$8.00 ₡3,638

-1.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₡585

$1.45 ₡657

-11.03%

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

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$37.5K ₡17.1M

-12.93%

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

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$32.0K ₡14.5M

2.21%

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

$95.3 ₡43.3K

$95.0 ₡43.2K

0.23%

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

$25.39 ₡11.5K

$25.41 ₡11.6K

-0.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.17 ₡21.9K

$52.1 ₡23.7K

-7.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 ₡25.6K

$55.7 ₡25.3K

1.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.52 ₡10.7K

$23.72 ₡10.8K

-0.84%

Cinema Ticket

$10.19 ₡4,633

$10.19 ₡4,635

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

$458 ₡208.1K

$525 ₡238.9K

-12.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.8M

$12.5K ₡5.7M

-16.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 ₡23.0K

$62.0 ₡28.2K

-18.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₡23.5K

-0.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 ₡32.7K

$125 ₡57.1K

-42.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.4 ₡32.9K

$105 ₡47.9K

-31.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$769 ₡349.7K

$752 ₡342.1K

2.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 ₡337.0K

$589 ₡267.8K

25.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 ₡704.1K

$1,508 ₡685.8K

2.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 ₡609.8K

$969 ₡440.5K

38.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,153 ₡3.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡546.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$869 ₡395.4K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Isidro: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $769 in Nosara versus $752 in San Isidro. 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 $59.0 in Nosara versus $51.0 in San Isidro. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Nosara vs $354 in San Isidro – 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 San Isidro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,668 in Nosara, $1,588 in San Isidro – roughly 5% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,502 per month in Nosara and $2,381 in San Isidro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Isidro, 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 $59.0 in Nosara and $51.0 in San Isidro. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Isidro, where all-in costs run around $1,588, than in Nosara at $1,668. In San Isidro 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 $1,588 in San Isidro to $1,668 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 San Isidro. 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.