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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,668 per month in Nosara vs $1,577 in San Rafael, rent included.

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

A family of three spends $3,522 per month in Nosara vs $3,214 in San Rafael, rent included.

Nosara costs about 6% more than San Rafael, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nosara and San Rafael sit above the global median – Nosara by 25%, San Rafael by 18%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.08 ₡5,037

$11.10 ₡5,047

-0.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡26.7K

$59.2 ₡26.9K

-0.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₡3,146

$10.00 ₡4,547

-30.80%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₡1,776

$3.73 ₡1,695

4.83%

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

$1.62 ₡736

$1.99 ₡904

-18.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₡554

$1.64 ₡745

-25.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 ₡1,350

$2.90 ₡1,317

2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 ₡2,060

$4.55 ₡2,067

-0.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡663

$1.95 ₡888

-25.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,253

$2.84 ₡1,293

-2.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡970

$2.22 ₡1,010

-4.05%

Eggs

$2.87 ₡1,307

$2.92 ₡1,326

-1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 ₡3,100

$9.93 ₡4,513

-31.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.97 ₡4,080

$9.18 ₡4,175

-2.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ₡6,152

$13.77 ₡6,263

-1.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 ₡968

$4.59 ₡2,087

-53.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₡639

$1.44 ₡655

-2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,988

$4.20 ₡1,909

4.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₡696

$3.55 ₡1,615

-56.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₡1,542

$3.39 ₡1,540

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,455

$3.12 ₡1,417

2.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡457

$0.97 ₡442

3.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₡1,051

$2.86 ₡1,298

-19.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.66 ₡2,118

$5.23 ₡2,377

-10.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.81 ₡9,462

$21.81 ₡9,919

-4.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,095

$2.52 ₡1,146

-4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,287

$2.79 ₡1,271

1.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡435

$1.02 ₡465

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₡30.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡841

$1.85 ₡840

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡839

$1.86 ₡848

-1.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 ₡3,578

$7.76 ₡3,528

1.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₡585

$1.45 ₡662

-11.03%

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

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$37.2K ₡16.9M

-12.20%

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

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$32.5K ₡14.8M

0.50%

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

$95.3 ₡43.3K

$92.7 ₡42.1K

2.81%

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

$25.39 ₡11.5K

$26.11 ₡11.9K

-2.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.17 ₡21.9K

$60.5 ₡27.5K

-20.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.3 ₡25.6K

$57.3 ₡26.1K

-1.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.52 ₡10.7K

$24.16 ₡11.0K

-2.65%

Cinema Ticket

$10.19 ₡4,633

$9.86 ₡4,483

3.35%

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

$458 ₡208.1K

$575 ₡261.6K

-20.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.8M

$12.9K ₡5.9M

-18.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 ₡23.0K

$61.6 ₡28.0K

-17.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₡23.5K

$52.4 ₡23.8K

-1.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 ₡32.7K

$127 ₡57.8K

-43.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.4 ₡32.9K

$109 ₡49.8K

-33.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$769 ₡349.7K

$779 ₡354.2K

-1.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 ₡337.0K

$598 ₡272.0K

23.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 ₡704.1K

$1,526 ₡693.7K

1.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 ₡609.8K

$972 ₡442.0K

37.95%

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 Rafael: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $769 in Nosara versus $779 in San Rafael. 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 $59.0 in San Rafael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $368 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Rafael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,668 in Nosara, $1,577 in San Rafael – roughly 6% 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 $2,365 in San Rafael. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% 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 San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $1,577, than in Nosara at $1,668. In San Rafael 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 $1,577 in San Rafael 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 Rafael. 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.