Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Santa Ana Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Santa Ana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,703 per month in Nosara vs $1,588 in Santa Ana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,623 per month in Nosara vs $2,605 in Santa Ana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,543 per month in Nosara vs $3,622 in Santa Ana, rent included.

Nosara costs about 7% more than Santa Ana, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nosara and Santa Ana sit above the global median – Nosara by 27%, Santa Ana by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₡4,840

$10.09 ₡4,501

7.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.4 ₡27.0K

$58.5 ₡26.1K

3.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 ₡3,183

$9.25 ₡4,127

-22.81%

Cappuccino

$3.79 ₡1,692

$3.90 ₡1,738

-2.82%

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

$1.57 ₡698

$1.94 ₡865

-19.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₡544

$1.59 ₡711

-23.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,358

$2.91 ₡1,296

4.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ₡2,132

$4.80 ₡2,140

-0.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₡661

$2.05 ₡915

-27.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,288

$2.85 ₡1,271

1.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡984

$2.16 ₡965

2.31%

Eggs

$3.00 ₡1,339

$2.99 ₡1,335

0.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ₡3,004

$9.74 ₡4,347

-30.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.99 ₡4,012

$9.08 ₡4,051

-0.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 ₡6,031

$13.77 ₡6,143

-1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 ₡943

$4.56 ₡2,036

-53.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 ₡633

$1.51 ₡675

-5.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ₡1,909

$1.58 ₡703

170.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ₡677

$3.37 ₡1,505

-54.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 ₡1,502

$2.88 ₡1,286

17.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 ₡1,372

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡451

$1.00 ₡447

1.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₡1,061

$2.18 ₡971

9.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ₡2,068

$5.15 ₡2,297

-9.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.02 ₡9,378

$17.74 ₡7,914

18.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₡1,092

$2.46 ₡1,097

-0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,291

$2.71 ₡1,208

6.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₡435

$0.95 ₡422

3.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ₡30.4K

$20.05 ₡8,944

239.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₡795

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 ₡802

$1.84 ₡821

-2.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 ₡3,436

$3.88 ₡1,733

98.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₡584

$1.45 ₡647

-9.66%

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

$32.6K ₡14.5M

$30.7K ₡13.7M

5.97%

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

$32.4K ₡14.5M

$33.0K ₡14.7M

-1.82%

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

$94.4 ₡42.1K

$82.0 ₡36.6K

15.08%

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

$25.89 ₡11.5K

$26.04 ₡11.6K

-0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.27 ₡21.1K

$46.46 ₡20.7K

1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₡25.6K

$56.1 ₡25.0K

2.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.50 ₡10.5K

$23.52 ₡10.5K

-0.09%

Cinema Ticket

$9.68 ₡4,320

$9.73 ₡4,341

-0.51%

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

$446 ₡199.0K

$575 ₡256.5K

-22.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ₡4.8M

$12.4K ₡5.5M

-12.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.75 ₡22.2K

$62.1 ₡27.7K

-19.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 ₡23.2K

0.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.9 ₡31.6K

$121 ₡54.1K

-41.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.2 ₡31.3K

$109 ₡48.8K

-35.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$772 ₡344.6K

$909 ₡405.6K

-15.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ₡328.0K

$640 ₡285.5K

14.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,506 ₡671.7K

$1,496 ₡667.4K

0.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,325 ₡591.0K

$1,453 ₡648.2K

-8.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,053 ₡3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,215 ₡542.2K

$1,471 ₡656.2K

-17.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$878 ₡391.5K

$1,332 ₡594.0K

-34.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

1.70%

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

Last update for Nosara: July 13, 2026

Last update for Santa Ana: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $772 in Nosara versus $909 in Santa Ana. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in Santa Ana, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara versus $59.0 in Santa Ana. Groceries tell a different story – $323 in Nosara vs $339 in Santa Ana – 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 Santa Ana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,703 in Nosara, $1,588 in Santa Ana – roughly 7% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,554 per month in Nosara and $2,381 in Santa Ana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Ana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 240% less in Santa Ana. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $446 per month in Nosara and $575 in Santa Ana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Ana, where all-in costs run around $1,588, than in Nosara at $1,703. In Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana to $1,703 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 Santa Ana. 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.