😐A single person spends $1,712 per month in Nosara vs $1,530 in San Ramon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,637 per month in Nosara vs $2,321 in San Ramon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,562 per month in Nosara vs $3,112 in San Ramon, rent included.
😐Nosara costs about 12% more than San Ramon, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Nosara and San Ramon sit above the global median – Nosara by 28%, San Ramon by 14%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
San Ramon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.04₡5,046
$6.12₡2,798
80.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5₡27.6K
$51.9₡23.7K
16.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09₡3,240
$9.76₡4,461
-27.36%
Cappuccino
$3.89₡1,777
$3.82₡1,746
1.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57₡719
$2.07₡947
-24.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17₡533
$1.66₡759
-29.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.94₡1,345
$3.03₡1,386
-2.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71₡2,150
$4.79₡2,188
-1.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
San Ramon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47₡671
$1.38₡631
6.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81₡1,286
$2.78₡1,268
1.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25₡1,026
$2.15₡981
4.65%
Eggs
$2.94₡1,345
$4.71₡2,151
-37.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.78₡3,099
$9.97₡4,555
-32.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.03₡4,126
$8.91₡4,071
1.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.62₡6,223
$13.59₡6,210
0.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05₡935
$4.39₡2,006
-53.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46₡668
$1.38₡630
5.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18₡1,908
$4.38₡2,002
-4.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51₡691
$3.21₡1,466
-52.96%
Potato(1kg)
$3.44₡1,573
$3.32₡1,519
3.61%
Onion(1kg)
$3.19₡1,457
$2.96₡1,354
7.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96₡437
$1.13₡519
-15.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42₡1,104
$2.91₡1,328
-16.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61₡2,107
$5.08₡2,322
-9.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.01₡9,601
$16.79₡7,674
25.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41₡1,100
$2.30₡1,050
4.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85₡1,301
$2.61₡1,193
9.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
San Ramon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96₡438
$1.03₡472
-6.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.5₡29.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.80₡822
$1.78₡814
1.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85₡845
$1.80₡821
2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77₡3,550
$7.83₡3,578
-0.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28₡585
$1.64₡749
-21.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K₡14.8M
$38.0K₡17.3M
-14.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K₡14.7M
$33.1K₡15.1M
-2.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
San Ramon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.5₡43.6K
$132₡60.3K
-27.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.09₡11.9K
$40.02₡18.3K
-34.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.42₡21.7K
$50.6₡23.1K
-6.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
San Ramon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8₡26.4K
$35.12₡16.0K
64.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.56₡10.8K
$23.88₡10.9K
-1.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.18₡4,651
$10.03₡4,584
1.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
San Ramon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$442₡202.1K
$522₡238.5K
-15.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K₡4.8M
$12.7K₡5.8M
-17.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
San Ramon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6₡23.1K
$63.3₡28.9K
-20.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4₡23.5K
$51.1₡23.3K
0.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.2₡33.0K
$124₡56.5K
-41.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.4₡32.1K
$108₡49.3K
-34.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
San Ramon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$770₡352.0K
$759₡346.7K
1.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$733₡334.8K
$587₡268.3K
24.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,500₡685.6K
$1,517₡693.0K
-1.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,290₡589.4K
$973₡444.5K
32.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,047₡3.2M
$1,172₡535.3K
501.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,234₡563.9K
$1,143₡522.2K
7.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
San Ramon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$897₡409.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nosara: June 1, 2026
Last update for San Ramon: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $770 in Nosara versus $759 in San Ramon. 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 $60.0 in Nosara versus $52.0 in San Ramon. Groceries tell a different story – $323 in Nosara vs $354 in San Ramon – 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 Ramon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and San Ramon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,712 in Nosara, $1,530 in San Ramon – roughly 12% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to San Ramon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,568 per month in Nosara and $2,296 in San Ramon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and San Ramon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Ramon, 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 $60.0 in Nosara and $52.0 in San Ramon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Ramon, where all-in costs run around $1,530, than in Nosara at $1,712. In San Ramon 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 Ramon?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,530 in San Ramon to $1,712 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or San Ramon 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 Ramon?
If budget matters most, go with San Ramon. 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.