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

🙂 Solo nomad: Nosara is 7.5% cheaper than Santa Barbara without rent, and 10.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nosara is 9.8% more expensive than Santa Barbara without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Santa Barbara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.9 ₡5,457
$11.03 ₡5,520
-1.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 ₡30.3K
$58.7 ₡29.4K
3.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.9 ₡3,453
$10.07 ₡5,043
-31.48%
Cappuccino
$3.89 ₡1,949
$3.94 ₡1,971
-1.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₡773
$1.96 ₡984
-21.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 ₡587
$1.57 ₡788
-25.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$3.05 ₡1,526
0.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 ₡2,379
$4.8 ₡2,404
-1.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Santa Barbara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 ₡715
$1.98 ₡991
-27.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 ₡1,447
$2.84 ₡1,423
1.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ₡1,117
$2.12 ₡1,064
5.19%
Eggs
$3.01 ₡1,508
$2.91 ₡1,454
3.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.48 ₡3,242
$8.79 ₡4,400
-26.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.36 ₡4,687
$9.16 ₡4,585
2.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.41 ₡6,715
$13.92 ₡6,968
-3.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.1 ₡1,053
$4.53 ₡2,266
-53.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 ₡716
$1.31 ₡655
9.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 ₡2,096
$2.42 ₡1,212
73.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 ₡736
$3.59 ₡1,798
-59.05%
Potato (1kg)
$3.51 ₡1,759
$3.02 ₡1,511
16.23%
Onion (1kg)
$3.23 ₡1,616
$2.92 ₡1,461
10.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 ₡482
$0.72 ₡359
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₡1,158
$2.83 ₡1,415
-18.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.49 ₡2,248
$5.33 ₡2,667
-15.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.93 ₡9,475
$12.09 ₡6,052
56.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₡1,223
$2.46 ₡1,231
-0.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,399
$2.85 ₡1,428
-1.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Santa Barbara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 ₡518
$1.01 ₡504
2.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.5 ₡33.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 ₡925
$1.84 ₡922
0.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 ₡884
$0.95 ₡473
86.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ₡3,931
$8.09 ₡4,050
-2.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ₡679
$1.39 ₡695
-2.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K ₡16.2M
$37.1K ₡18.6M
-12.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.3M
$32.9K ₡16.5M
-0.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Santa Barbara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95 ₡47.6K
$66.8 ₡33.5K
42.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.15 ₡13.1K
$26.29 ₡13.2K
-0.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.48 ₡24.3K
$60 ₡30K
-19.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Santa Barbara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 ₡27.9K
$56.5 ₡28.3K
-1.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.73 ₡11.9K
$23.94 ₡12K
-0.88%
Cinema Ticket
$10 ₡5,008
$9.15 ₡4,580
9.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Santa Barbara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$448 ₡224.4K
$572 ₡286.1K
-21.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ₡5.2M
$12.8K ₡6.4M
-18.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Santa Barbara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.72 ₡24.9K
$62.5 ₡31.3K
-20.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 ₡25.3K
$50.5 ₡25.3K
0.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.6 ₡35.3K
$126 ₡63.1K
-43.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 ₡35.6K
$109 ₡54.3K
-34.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Santa Barbara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$751 ₡376K
$752 ₡376.5K
-0.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$757 ₡378.9K
$585 ₡293K
29.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,505 ₡753.2K
$1,537 ₡769.3K
-2.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 ₡652.3K
$980 ₡490.7K
32.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,322 ₡3.2M
$1,666 ₡834.1K
279.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,079 ₡540.1K
$1,661 ₡831.4K
-35.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Santa Barbara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$805 ₡402.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
9
13.00%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 27, 2025

Last update for Santa Barbara: October 28, 2025

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