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 $1,712 per month in Nosara vs $1,592 in Santa Ana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,637 per month in Nosara vs $2,629 in Santa Ana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,562 per month in Nosara vs $3,666 in Santa Ana, rent included.

Nosara costs about 8% more than Santa Ana, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nosara and Santa Ana sit above the global median – Nosara by 28%, Santa Ana by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.04 ₡5,023

$9.99 ₡4,542

10.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 ₡27.5K

$60.7 ₡27.6K

-0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 ₡3,226

$9.40 ₡4,274

-24.57%

Cappuccino

$3.89 ₡1,769

$3.93 ₡1,789

-1.02%

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

$1.57 ₡715

$1.89 ₡859

-16.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₡530

$1.60 ₡728

-26.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ₡1,338

$3.07 ₡1,395

-4.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 ₡2,141

$4.54 ₡2,064

3.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡668

$2.02 ₡920

-27.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 ₡1,280

$2.76 ₡1,254

1.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₡1,021

$2.17 ₡988

3.69%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,339

$3.01 ₡1,368

-2.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.78 ₡3,085

$9.97 ₡4,534

-32.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.03 ₡4,108

$9.23 ₡4,199

-2.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.62 ₡6,195

$13.75 ₡6,252

-0.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ₡930

$4.42 ₡2,010

-53.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₡665

$1.45 ₡657

0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 ₡1,899

$1.56 ₡710

167.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 ₡688

$3.48 ₡1,584

-56.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 ₡1,566

$2.91 ₡1,323

18.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 ₡1,451

$3.20 ₡1,454

-0.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡435

$1.01 ₡461

-4.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₡1,099

$2.13 ₡971

13.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.61 ₡2,097

$5.23 ₡2,379

-11.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.01 ₡9,558

$17.58 ₡7,994

19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,094

$2.43 ₡1,103

-0.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,295

$2.68 ₡1,217

6.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡436

$0.95 ₡431

1.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡29.8K

$20.23 ₡9,202

223.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡818

$1.80 ₡821

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡841

$1.79 ₡815

3.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 ₡3,533

$3.87 ₡1,759

100.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₡582

$1.40 ₡635

-8.57%

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

$32.4K ₡14.7M

$30.4K ₡13.8M

6.75%

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

$32.2K ₡14.7M

$31.9K ₡14.5M

0.92%

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

$95.5 ₡43.4K

$82.5 ₡37.5K

15.78%

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

$26.09 ₡11.9K

$26.12 ₡11.9K

-0.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.42 ₡21.6K

$46.53 ₡21.2K

1.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡26.3K

$56.4 ₡25.7K

2.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.56 ₡10.7K

$24.34 ₡11.1K

-3.20%

Cinema Ticket

$10.18 ₡4,629

$9.70 ₡4,413

4.95%

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

$442 ₡201.2K

$568 ₡258.4K

-22.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.8M

$12.8K ₡5.8M

-18.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 ₡23.0K

$63.2 ₡28.7K

-19.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 ₡23.4K

$51.5 ₡23.4K

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 ₡32.8K

$122 ₡55.5K

-40.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 ₡32.0K

$106 ₡48.1K

-33.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₡350.4K

$894 ₡406.8K

-13.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$733 ₡333.3K

$650 ₡295.5K

12.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 ₡682.4K

$1,510 ₡686.7K

-0.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 ₡586.7K

$1,430 ₡650.6K

-9.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,047 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,234 ₡561.4K

$1,474 ₡670.2K

-16.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 ₡408.1K

$1,301 ₡591.7K

-31.04%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Santa Ana: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $770 in Nosara versus $894 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 45% 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 $61.0 in Santa Ana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $338 – 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 Santa Ana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,712 in Nosara, $1,592 in Santa Ana – roughly 8% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,568 per month in Nosara and $2,387 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 224% less in Santa Ana. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $442 per month in Nosara and $568 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 $1,592, than in Nosara at $1,712. 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 $1,592 in Santa Ana to $1,712 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.