Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and San Martin de los Andes

For one person, living is cheaper in San Martin de los Andes: $1,257 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
San Martin de los Andes
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,257
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in San Martin de los Andes

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 Martin de los Andes actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,257 in San Martin de los Andes, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • San Martin de los Andes $1,257

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,090 in San Martin de los Andes, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • San Martin de los Andes $2,090

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,922 in San Martin de los Andes, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • San Martin de los Andes $2,922

Nosara costs about 46% more than San Martin de los Andes, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while San Martin de los Andes is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
San Martin de los Andes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$15.31 ARS 23.2K
-19.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$56.4 ARS 85.6K
8.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$14.59 ARS 22.1K
-48.46%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$3.51 ARS 5,334
25.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$2.20 ARS 3,335
-20.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$2.18 ARS 3,312
-39.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$3.88 ARS 5,881
-15.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$4.41 ARS 6,690
1.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
San Martin de los Andes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.49 ARS 2,266
4.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$2.16 ARS 3,282
39.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.84 ARS 2,790
36.41%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$3.08 ARS 4,667
15.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$10.67 ARS 16.2K
-30.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$8.72 ARS 13.2K
20.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$10.02 ARS 15.2K
39.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.40 ARS 3,646
-2.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$2.50 ARS 3,787
-35.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.72 ARS 2,605
179.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$2.79 ARS 4,231
-42.29%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.97 ARS 1,466
291.75%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$0.85 ARS 1,296
334.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.90 ARS 2,886
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$2.97 ARS 4,501
74.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$5.48 ARS 8,316
262.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.90 ARS 2,882
52.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$3.53 ARS 5,362
2.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
San Martin de los Andes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.99 ARS 1,509
13.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.31 ARS 1,989
63.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.25 ARS 1,903
21.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$27.8K ARS 42.2M
-22.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$32.1K ARS 48.7M
7.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
San Martin de los Andes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$141 ARS 214.5K
-31.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$19.33 ARS 29.3K
85.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$24.49 ARS 37.2K
118.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
San Martin de los Andes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$27.09 ARS 41.1K
164.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$8.87 ARS 13.5K
-11.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
San Martin de los Andes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$255 ARS 386.5K
94.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
San Martin de los Andes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$100 ARS 152.3K
-46.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$126 ARS 190.6K
-37.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$137 ARS 207.3K
-41.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
San Martin de los Andes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$587 ARS 891.5K
34.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$340 ARS 515.7K
133.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,086 ARS 1.6M
262.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$851 ARS 1.3M
66.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
San Martin de los Andes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
0
-

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for San Martin de los Andes: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
San Martin de los Andes
$340 57.2% $454
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
San Martin de los Andes
$265 * 24.9% $88
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
San Martin de los Andes
$254 20% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
San Martin de los Andes
$185 0.3% $0.6
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
San Martin de los Andes
$163 * 35.9% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
San Martin de los Andes
$45 48.7% $43
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
San Martin de los Andes
$5.3 * 93.9% $82

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 $587 in San Martin de los Andes. 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 $56.0 in San Martin de los Andes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $265 – making San Martin de los Andes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇦🇷 San Martin de los Andes
🕒 Local time
11:43 11:43 AM
14:43 2:43 PM
3 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
36,913
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara San Martin de los Andes 5,770 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • San Martin de los Andes

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 Martin de los Andes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in San Martin de los Andes compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,257 in San Martin de los Andes – roughly 46% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to San Martin de los Andes?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,886 in San Martin de los Andes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and San Martin de los Andes?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Martin de los Andes, 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 $56.0 in San Martin de los Andes. 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 33% 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 Martin de los Andes, where all-in costs run around $1,257, than in Nosara at $1,839. In San Martin de los Andes 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 Martin de los Andes?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,257 in San Martin de los Andes to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or San Martin de los Andes 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 Martin de los Andes?
If budget matters most, go with San Martin de los Andes. 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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