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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,827 per month in Nosara vs $1,518 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,820 per month in Nosara vs $2,284 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,813 per month in Nosara vs $3,050 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

Nosara costs about 20% more than Santa Teresa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nosara and Santa Teresa sit above the global median – Nosara by 34%, Santa Teresa by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.01 ₡5,339

$10.03 ₡4,456

19.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.3 ₡25.9K

$42.84 ₡19.0K

36.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 ₡3,389

$9.47 ₡4,208

-19.43%

Cappuccino

$4.46 ₡1,983

$3.89 ₡1,729

14.65%

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

$1.75 ₡777

$2.07 ₡922

-15.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 ₡606

$1.65 ₡735

-17.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 ₡1,494

$3.01 ₡1,340

11.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 ₡2,003

$4.71 ₡2,096

-4.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ₡710

$2.06 ₡916

-22.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 ₡1,414

$2.82 ₡1,251

12.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 ₡1,089

$2.20 ₡979

11.36%

Eggs

$3.59 ₡1,598

$2.90 ₡1,288

23.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 ₡3,306

$9.93 ₡4,412

-25.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,674

$9.02 ₡4,008

16.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.37 ₡6,387

$13.71 ₡6,093

4.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ₡1,055

$4.42 ₡1,963

-46.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₡703

$1.46 ₡650

8.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.93 ₡2,192

$4.28 ₡1,904

15.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 ₡730

$3.22 ₡1,430

-49.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.91 ₡1,737

$3.33 ₡1,482

17.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.72 ₡1,655

$2.64 ₡1,174

40.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₡487

$1.00 ₡445

10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 ₡1,141

$2.94 ₡1,307

-12.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.04 ₡2,240

$4.87 ₡2,165

3.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.18 ₡8,967

$14.05 ₡6,243

43.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,283

$2.41 ₡1,069

19.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 ₡1,661

$2.54 ₡1,128

47.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ₡609

$1.02 ₡453

34.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 ₡33.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₡974

$1.85 ₡822

18.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡697

$1.78 ₡792

-11.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 ₡3,993

$7.78 ₡3,456

15.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡692

$1.41 ₡629

10.64%

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

$21.8K ₡9.7M

$37.2K ₡16.5M

-41.42%

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

$34.5K ₡15.3M

$32.0K ₡14.2M

7.87%

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

$96.9 ₡43.1K

$82.0 ₡36.5K

18.09%

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

$37.39 ₡16.6K

$26.18 ₡11.6K

42.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 ₡23.9K

$49.27 ₡21.9K

9.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.6 ₡32.7K

$49.15 ₡21.8K

49.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.39 ₡16.2K

$23.85 ₡10.6K

52.58%

Cinema Ticket

$8.51 ₡3,781

$8.83 ₡3,926

-3.62%

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

$493 ₡219.2K

$574 ₡255.1K

-14.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K ₡5.3M

$12.5K ₡5.5M

-4.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ₡24.8K

$61.9 ₡27.5K

-9.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.7 ₡24.8K

$50.6 ₡22.5K

10.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ₡34.8K

$128 ₡56.7K

-38.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 ₡35.0K

$106 ₡47.1K

-25.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 ₡361.8K

$703 ₡312.5K

15.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₡350.5K

$603 ₡268.1K

30.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,935 ₡1.7M

$1,423 ₡632.4K

176.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,418 ₡630.1K

$967 ₡429.7K

46.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,031 ₡3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,208 ₡536.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$894 ₡397.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

10.17

-13.67%

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

Last update for Nosara: September 13, 2026

Last update for Santa Teresa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $814 in Nosara versus $703 in Santa Teresa. 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 $58.0 in Nosara versus $43.00 in Santa Teresa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $349 – making Santa Teresa 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 Teresa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,827 in Nosara, $1,518 in Santa Teresa – roughly 20% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,740 per month in Nosara and $2,277 in Santa Teresa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Teresa, 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 $58.0 in Nosara and $43.00 in Santa Teresa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santa Teresa, where all-in costs run around $1,518, than in Nosara at $1,827. In Santa Teresa 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 $1,518 in Santa Teresa to $1,827 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 Teresa. 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.