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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,820 per month in Nosara vs $1,737 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,806 per month in Nosara vs $2,782 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,793 per month in Nosara vs $3,826 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Nosara costs about 5% more than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nosara and Santa Cruz sit above the global median – Nosara by 32%, Santa Cruz by 26%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.32 ₡5,513

$12.07 ₡5,403

2.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 ₡26.5K

$59.8 ₡26.8K

-0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 ₡3,466

$11.31 ₡5,060

-31.56%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,974

$4.36 ₡1,951

1.15%

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

$1.71 ₡766

$2.34 ₡1,048

-26.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡585

$1.95 ₡874

-32.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ₡1,437

$3.38 ₡1,514

-5.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₡1,932

$4.42 ₡1,978

-2.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₡727

$2.37 ₡1,062

-31.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 ₡1,357

$3.05 ₡1,366

-0.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,083

$2.57 ₡1,151

-5.84%

Eggs

$3.48 ₡1,556

$3.57 ₡1,597

-2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 ₡3,348

$10.62 ₡4,752

-29.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.41 ₡4,658

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 ₡6,220

$14.31 ₡6,406

-2.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$5.27 ₡2,359

-55.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ₡730

$1.12 ₡503

45.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.68 ₡2,093

$4.76 ₡2,132

-1.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 ₡733

$3.96 ₡1,774

-58.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 ₡1,688

$3.92 ₡1,754

-3.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 ₡1,691

$3.65 ₡1,635

3.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡504

$1.13 ₡505

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₡1,193

$3.26 ₡1,458

-18.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.19 ₡2,323

$6.12 ₡2,737

-15.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.16 ₡9,023

$20.78 ₡9,302

-2.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₡1,284

$2.93 ₡1,313

-2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 ₡1,604

$3.63 ₡1,623

-1.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 ₡668

$1.32 ₡589

12.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 ₡33.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₡977

$2.49 ₡1,114

-12.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 ₡732

$1.59 ₡712

3.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.69 ₡3,891

$8.92 ₡3,993

-2.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡659

$1.49 ₡667

-1.34%

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

$22.1K ₡9.9M

$21.8K ₡9.7M

1.55%

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

$35.2K ₡15.7M

$35.6K ₡15.9M

-1.28%

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

$95.9 ₡42.9K

$96.1 ₡43.0K

-0.14%

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

$36.76 ₡16.5K

$37.28 ₡16.7K

-1.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 ₡23.3K

$61.0 ₡27.3K

-14.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.8 ₡32.6K

-0.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.41 ₡16.3K

Cinema Ticket

$8.18 ₡3,660

$6.88 ₡3,079

18.90%

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

$493 ₡220.8K

$997 ₡446.2K

-50.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$17.1K ₡7.7M

-30.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ₡24.5K

$73.3 ₡32.8K

-25.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.7 ₡24.9K

$55.8 ₡25.0K

-0.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ₡35.1K

$133 ₡59.5K

-41.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 ₡34.9K

$136 ₡60.9K

-42.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ₡363.8K

$797 ₡356.9K

1.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$807 ₡361.3K

$648 ₡289.9K

24.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,994 ₡1.8M

$1,840 ₡823.7K

117.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,400 ₡626.5K

$1,304 ₡583.4K

7.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,940 ₡3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 ₡541.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$874 ₡391.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Nosara: September 7, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $813 in Nosara versus $797 in Santa Cruz. 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 $59.0 in Nosara versus $60.0 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $404 – 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 Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,820 in Nosara, $1,737 in Santa Cruz – roughly 5% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,729 per month in Nosara and $2,606 in Santa Cruz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Nosara and $60.0 in Santa Cruz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, where all-in costs run around $1,737, than in Nosara at $1,820. In Santa Cruz 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 $1,737 in Santa Cruz to $1,820 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 Cruz. 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.