Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Santa Cruz, Laguna

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Cruz, Laguna: $626 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
31

Cost of Living Index in Santa Cruz, Laguna
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Santa Cruz, Laguna Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Santa Cruz, Laguna

🇵🇭 Philippines

$626

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Santa Cruz, Laguna

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nosara and in Santa Cruz, Laguna actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $626 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, rent included.

Nosara $1,839
Santa Cruz, Laguna $626

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $931 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, rent included.

Nosara $2,828
Santa Cruz, Laguna $931

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $1,236 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, rent included.

Nosara $3,818
Santa Cruz, Laguna $1,236

Nosara costs about 194% more than Santa Cruz, Laguna, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Santa Cruz, Laguna is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.35 ₡5,539

$1.57 ₱99.0

686.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₡27.4K

$8.09 ₱509

656.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₡3,373

$2.76 ₱174

172.46%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,978

$1.78 ₱112

147.75%

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

$1.74 ₡780

$0.38 ₱23.98

357.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₡587

$0.23 ₱14.42

469.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,471

$0.99 ₱62.2

231.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡2,004

$0.99 ₱62.1

351.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$1.63 ₱103

-4.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₡1,355

$1.16 ₱72.9

160.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,125

$1.00 ₱63.3

151.00%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,603

$1.55 ₱97.5

130.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,333

$4.65 ₱293

59.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,717

$3.50 ₱220

200.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,265

$7.07 ₱445

97.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ₡1,052

$1.46 ₱92.1

60.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡720

$0.46 ₱28.85

250.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 ₡2,152

$1.44 ₱91.0

233.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡724

$1.02 ₱64.2

57.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.80 ₡1,703

$1.76 ₱111

115.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,657

$1.74 ₱109

112.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡507

$0.67 ₱41.99

68.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$0.53 ₱33.46

401.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,321

$2.89 ₱182

79.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.88 ₡8,916

$8.60 ₱541

131.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$0.97 ₱61.0

198.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,626

$2.08 ₱131

74.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

$0.21 ₱13.40

433.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$11.41 ₱718

536.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₡958

$0.81 ₱51.2

164.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡703

$0.23 ₱14.36

582.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 ₡3,823

$1.92 ₱121

343.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡682

$1.25 ₱78.7

21.60%

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

$21.6K ₡9.7M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

1.94%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

79.31%

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

$96.3 ₡43.2K

$85.1 ₱5,359

13.12%

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

$35.89 ₡16.1K

$17.58 ₱1,107

104.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$23.61 ₱1,487

126.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 ₡32.1K

$31.48 ₱1,982

127.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 ₡15.7K

$4.14 ₱261

743.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₡3,539

$5.13 ₱323

53.80%

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

$494 ₡221.6K

$134 ₱8,442

268.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$10.7K ₱675.9K

10.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 ₡24.2K

$28.89 ₱1,819

86.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$19.72 ₱1,242

180.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$72.5 ₱4,565

7.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 ₡35.7K

$55.8 ₱3,515

42.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$788 ₡353.4K

$242 ₱15.2K

225.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡356.2K

$157 ₱9,895

405.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,939 ₡1.8M

$475 ₱29.9K

728.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 ₡636.5K

$302 ₱19.0K

370.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,912 ₡3.1M

$2,296 ₱144.5K

201.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 ₡549.0K

$886 ₱55.8K

38.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.75

27.70%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz, Laguna: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$794 43.2%

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$157 25.1% 80.2% $637

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$352 19.2%

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$156 24.9% 55.8% $197

Eating Out

Nosara

$212 11.5%

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$52 8.2% 75.7% $160

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$186 10.1%

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$126 20.2% 32% $59

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.5%

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$80 12.7% 33.7% $40

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$42 6.7% 52.2% $46

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.7%

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$14 2.3% 83.7% $73

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $242 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. 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 $61.0 in Nosara versus $8.00 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $156 – making Santa Cruz, Laguna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇵🇭 Santa Cruz, Laguna

🕒 Local time

18:26 6:26 PM

08:26 8:26 AM

14 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

123,574

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Santa Cruz, Laguna 15,990 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Santa Cruz, Laguna

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, Laguna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $626 in Santa Cruz, Laguna – roughly 194% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $940 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 537% less in Santa Cruz, Laguna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $134 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, Laguna, where all-in costs run around $626, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 $626 in Santa Cruz, Laguna to $1,839 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, Laguna. 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.