Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Santa Rosa, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $3,481 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent and utilities included – about $19,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
168

Cost of Living Index in Santa Rosa, CA
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Santa Rosa, CA Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Santa Rosa, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,481

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Santa Rosa, CA

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 Rosa, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $3,481 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

Nosara $1,837
Santa Rosa, CA $3,481

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $5,079 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

Nosara $2,775
Santa Rosa, CA $5,079

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $6,677 in Santa Rosa, CA, rent included.

Nosara $3,712
Santa Rosa, CA $6,677

Nosara is about 47% cheaper than Santa Rosa, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Santa Rosa, CA sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Santa Rosa, CA by 160%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 ₡5,509

$24.61 $24.61

-50.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ₡27.1K

$99.6 $99.6

-39.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 ₡3,399

$11.99 $11.99

-37.11%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,941

$6.60 $6.60

-34.70%

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

$1.72 ₡773

$3.33 $3.33

-48.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₡608

$3.28 $3.28

-58.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,459

$7.84 $7.84

-58.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,018

$9.16 $9.16

-51.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡707

$1.47 $1.47

6.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,429

$4.45 $4.45

-28.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,091

$4.70 $4.70

-48.51%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,609

$5.49 $5.49

-34.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,349

$22.74 $22.74

-67.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.42 ₡4,697

$14.48 $14.48

-28.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 ₡6,156

$20.56 $20.56

-33.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ₡1,044

$5.81 $5.81

-60.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡728

$2.77 $2.77

-41.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 ₡2,138

$7.10 $7.10

-33.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡747

$7.02 $7.02

-76.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 ₡1,679

$3.74 $3.74

-0.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,611

$3.69 $3.69

-3.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₡497

$3.25 $3.25

-66.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,149

$2.08 $2.08

22.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,232

$12.14 $12.14

-59.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 ₡9,020

$13.89 $13.89

44.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,256

$2.18 $2.18

27.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ₡1,589

$2.14 $2.14

64.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 ₡537

$1.52 $1.52

-21.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 ₡32.5K

$45.54 $45.54

58.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₡1,011

$3.91 $3.91

-42.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ₡701

$1.95 $1.95

-20.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₡3,993

$28.58 $28.58

-69.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡708

$1.50 $1.50

4.67%

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

$21.8K ₡9.8M

$36.9K $36.9K

-40.96%

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

$34.6K ₡15.6M

$27.5K $27.5K

25.90%

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

$93.5 ₡42.1K

$192 $192

-51.39%

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

$35.11 ₡15.8K

$51.2 $51.2

-31.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 ₡23.2K

$72.6 $72.6

-29.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 ₡32.2K

$71.7 $71.7

-0.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.44 ₡16.0K

$13.78 $13.78

157.18%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 ₡3,535

$14.30 $14.30

-45.17%

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

$490 ₡220.7K

$1,271 $1,271

-61.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.4M

$39.2K $39.2K

-69.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₡24.1K

$52.1 $52.1

2.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.1K

$40.02 $40.02

39.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₡35.7K

$114 $114

-30.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 ₡35.6K

$127 $127

-38.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$786 ₡354.3K

$2,392 $2,392

-67.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ₡351.6K

$1,933 $1,933

-59.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,860 ₡1.7M

$3,652 $3,652

5.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 ₡634.4K

$3,087 $3,087

-54.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,972 ₡3.1M

$4,571 $4,571

52.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡541.3K

$4,741 $4,741

-74.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$876 ₡395.0K

$4,649 $4,649

-81.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.46

33.44%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa, CA: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$780 43%

Santa Rosa, CA

$1.9K 55.7% 148% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.3%

Santa Rosa, CA

$511 14.7% 46.2% $161

Eating Out

Nosara

$209 11.6%

Santa Rosa, CA

$396 11.4% 89.1% $187

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$180 9.9%

Santa Rosa, CA

$316 9.1% 75.5% $136

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.6%

Santa Rosa, CA

$150 4.3% 24.8% $30

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Santa Rosa, CA

$100 2.9% 15.2% $13

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Santa Rosa, CA

$65 1.9% 24.8% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $2,392 in Santa Rosa, CA. 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 431% higher in Santa Rosa, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara versus $100 in Santa Rosa, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $511 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Santa Rosa, CA

🕒 Local time

08:24 8:24 AM

07:24 7:24 AM

1 h behind Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

174,972

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Santa Rosa, CA 4,860 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Santa Rosa, CA

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 Rosa, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $3,481 in Santa Rosa, CA – roughly 89% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $5,221 in Santa Rosa, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 58% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $1,271 in Santa Rosa, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Santa Rosa, CA at $3,481. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Rosa, CA 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 $1,837 in Nosara to $3,481 in Santa Rosa, CA. 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 Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Rosa, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.