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

🙂 Solo nomad: Nosara is 7.8% cheaper than Santa Cruz without rent, and 7.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Nosara is 21.3% more expensive than Santa Cruz without rent, and 7.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.9 ₡5,457

$11.11 ₡5,562

-1.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 ₡30.3K

$58.7 ₡29.4K

2.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.9 ₡3,453

$9.68 ₡4,844

-28.72%

Cappuccino

$3.89 ₡1,949

$3.94 ₡1,972

-1.27%

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

$1.54 ₡773

$2.07 ₡1,036

-25.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₡587

$1.64 ₡823

-28.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 ₡1,530

$3.02 ₡1,510

1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 ₡2,379

$4.58 ₡2,292

3.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₡715

$1.99 ₡998

-28.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,447

$2.85 ₡1,427

1.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₡1,117

$2.21 ₡1,107

0.90%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,508

$2.95 ₡1,475

2.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.48 ₡3,242

$9.69 ₡4,850

-33.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.36 ₡4,687

$9.05 ₡4,531

3.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 ₡6,715

$13.55 ₡6,783

-1.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.1 ₡1,053

$4.6 ₡2,301

-54.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₡716

$0.98 ₡489

45.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 ₡2,096

$4.38 ₡2,194

-4.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ₡736

$3.58 ₡1,791

-58.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.51 ₡1,759

$3.55 ₡1,777

-1.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.23 ₡1,616

$3.09 ₡1,546

4.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡482

$1 ₡502

-4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₡1,158

$2.8 ₡1,403

-17.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.49 ₡2,248

$5.22 ₡2,615

-13.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.93 ₡9,475

$19.14 ₡9,581

-1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₡1,223

$2.5 ₡1,250

-2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.8 ₡1,399

$2.94 ₡1,469

-4.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₡518

$1.03 ₡517

0.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.5 ₡33.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡925

$1.81 ₡909

2.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡884

$1.78 ₡889

-0.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ₡3,931

$7.75 ₡3,879

1.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ₡679

$1.47 ₡734

-7.48%

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

$32.3K ₡16.2M

$38K ₡19M

-14.85%

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

$32.7K ₡16.3M

$33.2K ₡16.6M

-1.59%

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

$95 ₡47.6K

$95.2 ₡47.7K

-0.23%

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

$26.15 ₡13.1K

$26.25 ₡13.1K

-0.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.48 ₡24.3K

$53.6 ₡26.8K

-9.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 ₡27.9K

$57.9 ₡29K

-3.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.73 ₡11.9K

$23.63 ₡11.8K

0.42%

Cinema Ticket

$10 ₡5,008

$5.9 ₡2,955

69.49%

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

$448 ₡224.4K

$575 ₡288K

-22.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡5.2M

$12.6K ₡6.3M

-16.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.72 ₡24.9K

$63.1 ₡31.6K

-21.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.5 ₡25.3K

$52.1 ₡26.1K

-2.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 ₡35.3K

$127 ₡63.3K

-44.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ₡35.6K

$106 ₡52.8K

-32.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$751 ₡376K

$763 ₡381.8K

-1.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₡378.9K

$586 ₡293.3K

29.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,505 ₡753.2K

$1,494 ₡748K

0.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₡652.3K

$978 ₡489.7K

33.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,322 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,079 ₡540.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$805 ₡402.9K

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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Santa Cruz: October 27, 2025

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