Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and San Juan de Pasto

For one person, living is cheaper in San Juan de Pasto: $1,371 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
San Juan de Pasto
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,371
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in San Juan de Pasto

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nosara and in San Juan de Pasto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,371 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • San Juan de Pasto $1,371

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,031 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • San Juan de Pasto $2,031

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,691 in San Juan de Pasto, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • San Juan de Pasto $2,691

Nosara costs about 34% more than San Juan de Pasto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Nosara and San Juan de Pasto sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, San Juan de Pasto by 2%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$6.63 COP 21.0K
86.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$45.64 COP 144.7K
34.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$9.96 COP 31.6K
-24.50%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.57 COP 8,146
71.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.56 COP 4,948
11.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.86 COP 2,715
52.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$3.07 COP 9,733
6.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$4.05 COP 12.9K
10.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.43 COP 4,538
9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$2.41 COP 7,629
25.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.83 COP 5,795
37.16%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$3.33 COP 10.6K
7.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$7.27 COP 23.1K
2.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$11.06 COP 35.1K
-4.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$13.41 COP 42.5K
4.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$3.58 COP 11.3K
-34.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.40 COP 4,426
15.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$2.01 COP 6,359
138.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.78 COP 5,640
-9.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.41 COP 4,481
169.50%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.27 COP 4,041
190.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.12 COP 3,566
0.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.12 COP 3,555
137.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$3.65 COP 11.6K
41.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$13.43 COP 42.6K
48.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.46 COP 4,635
98.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.73 COP 8,670
32.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.07 COP 3,390
4.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.61 COP 5,102
32.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$2.39 COP 7,590
-34.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$9.04 COP 28.7K
-5.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.19 COP 3,770
27.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$22.6K COP 71.7M
-4.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$32.0K COP 101.4M
7.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$124 COP 392.5K
-22.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$13.01 COP 41.2K
175.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$29.19 COP 92.5K
83.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$42.67 COP 135.3K
67.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$6.19 COP 19.6K
27.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$682 COP 2.2M
-27.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$6,774 COP 21.5M
75.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$91.0 COP 288.5K
-40.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$61.1 COP 193.8K
-9.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$153 COP 486.6K
-49.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$102 COP 323.0K
-21.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$706 COP 2.2M
11.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$518 COP 1.6M
53.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,082 COP 3.4M
264.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$789 COP 2.5M
79.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$2,028 COP 6.4M
240.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$1,580 COP 5.0M
-22.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
11.58
-25.56%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for San Juan de Pasto: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
San Juan de Pasto
$518 34.7% $276
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
San Juan de Pasto
$284 19.4% $68
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
San Juan de Pasto
$147 30.6% $65
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
San Juan de Pasto
$166 10.6% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
San Juan de Pasto
$183 52.7% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
San Juan de Pasto
$55 37% $32
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
San Juan de Pasto
$18 * 79.5% $69

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $706 in San Juan de Pasto. 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 $46.00 in San Juan de Pasto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $284 – making San Juan de Pasto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇨🇴 San Juan de Pasto
🕒 Local time
22:08 10:08 PM
23:08 11:08 PM
1 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
392,930
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara San Juan de Pasto 1,340 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • San Juan de Pasto

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Juan de Pasto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in San Juan de Pasto compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,371 in San Juan de Pasto – roughly 34% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to San Juan de Pasto?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $2,057 in San Juan de Pasto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and San Juan de Pasto?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan de Pasto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $46.00 in San Juan de Pasto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan de Pasto, where all-in costs run around $1,371, than in Nosara at $1,839. In San Juan de Pasto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and San Juan de Pasto?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,371 in San Juan de Pasto to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or San Juan de Pasto safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Nosara and San Juan de Pasto?
If budget matters most, go with San Juan de Pasto. 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.

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