Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Seogwipo

For one person, living is cheaper in Seogwipo: $1,427 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Seogwipo
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,427
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Seogwipo

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,427 in Seogwipo, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Seogwipo $1,427

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,220 in Seogwipo, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Seogwipo $2,220

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $3,014 in Seogwipo, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Seogwipo $3,014

Nosara costs about 29% more than Seogwipo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Seogwipo sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Seogwipo by 6%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Seogwipo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$7.43 ₩9,873
66.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$35.06 ₩46.6K
74.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$6.50 ₩8,637
15.69%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$3.57 ₩4,741
23.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.60 ₩2,129
8.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.67 ₩886
95.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$3.53 ₩4,694
-7.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$4.49 ₩5,964
-0.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Seogwipo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$2.24 ₩2,984
-30.36%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$3.14 ₩4,176
-3.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$2.64 ₩3,513
-4.92%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.61 ₩3,470
36.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$10.88 ₩14.5K
-31.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$8.11 ₩10.8K
29.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$21.44 ₩28.5K
-34.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$7.80 ₩10.4K
-69.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$3.63 ₩4,831
-55.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$7.59 ₩10.1K
-36.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$6.02 ₩8,003
-73.26%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$3.61 ₩4,802
5.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$2.62 ₩3,490
40.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$2.83 ₩3,764
-60.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.27 ₩1,695
109.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$3.46 ₩4,598
49.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$18.68 ₩24.8K
6.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$2.20 ₩2,926
31.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$3.48 ₩4,629
4.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Seogwipo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.09 ₩1,445
2.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$3.19 ₩4,243
-32.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$0.61 ₩809
157.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$12.89 ₩17.1K
-33.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.39 ₩1,850
9.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$29.7K ₩39.5M
-27.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$33.2K ₩44.1M
4.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Seogwipo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$197 ₩261.9K
-51.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$36.18 ₩48.1K
-0.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$22.11 ₩29.4K
142.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Seogwipo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$51.6 ₩68.6K
38.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$11.92 ₩15.8K
192.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$11.38 ₩15.1K
-30.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Seogwipo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$523 ₩695.5K
-5.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$22.0K ₩29.3M
-46.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Seogwipo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$64.5 ₩85.7K
-16.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$62.8 ₩83.6K
-11.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$75.4 ₩100.3K
3.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$98.2 ₩130.5K
-18.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Seogwipo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$479 ₩637.3K
64.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$362 ₩482.0K
119.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,189 ₩1.6M
231.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$748 ₩994.7K
89.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$7,181 ₩9.5M
-3.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$5,441 ₩7.2M
-77.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Seogwipo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$1,097 ₩1.5M
-21.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
4.1
110.24%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Seogwipo: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Seogwipo
$362 54.4% $432
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Seogwipo
$432 22.5% $79
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Seogwipo
$157 25.7% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Seogwipo
$255 37.4% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Seogwipo
$135 12.8% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Seogwipo
$74 14.9% $13
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Seogwipo
$11 * 87.9% $77

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $479 in Seogwipo. 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 27% higher in Seogwipo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $35.00 in Seogwipo. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Nosara vs $432 in Seogwipo – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇰🇷 Seogwipo
🕒 Local time
20:27 8:27 PM
11:27 11:27 AM
15 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
155,641
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

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).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Seogwipo 14,120 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Seogwipo

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 Seogwipo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Seogwipo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,427 in Seogwipo – roughly 29% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Seogwipo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $2,141 in Seogwipo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Seogwipo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Seogwipo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $35.00 in Seogwipo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Seogwipo, where all-in costs run around $1,427, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Seogwipo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Seogwipo?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,427 in Seogwipo to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Seogwipo safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Nosara and Seogwipo?
If budget matters most, go with Seogwipo. 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.

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