Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Sfantu Gheorghe

For one person, living is cheaper in Sfantu Gheorghe: $813 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Sfantu Gheorghe
🇷🇴 Romania
$813
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Sfantu Gheorghe

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

A single person spends $1,835 per month in Nosara vs $813 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Sfantu Gheorghe $813

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Nosara vs $1,297 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Sfantu Gheorghe $1,297

A family of three spends $3,814 per month in Nosara vs $1,781 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Sfantu Gheorghe $1,781

Nosara costs about 126% more than Sfantu Gheorghe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 35% above the global median, while Sfantu Gheorghe is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$8.56 RON 40.51
44.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$41.50 RON 196
47.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$7.21 RON 34.10
7.63%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$2.54 RON 12.04
74.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$1.23 RON 5.81
45.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$1.07 RON 5.06
20.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$2.48 RON 11.74
30.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$2.16 RON 10.20
105.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.39 RON 6.55
11.51%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$1.13 RON 5.36
172.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$1.40 RON 6.64
80.71%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$3.28 RON 15.52
5.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$7.81 RON 36.97
-6.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$4.61 RON 21.83
122.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$7.72 RON 36.51
82.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$1.08 RON 5.11
112.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.51 RON 7.14
8.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$1.17 RON 5.52
309.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$2.52 RON 11.92
-34.92%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$0.69 RON 3.27
457.97%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$0.60 RON 2.84
525.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$1.03 RON 4.86
5.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$0.81 RON 3.81
219.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$4.90 RON 23.17
4.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$7.42 RON 35.10
168.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$0.96 RON 4.56
191.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$1.07 RON 5.05
228.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$0.87 RON 4.10
40.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
$15.61 RON 73.9
373.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$1.00 RON 4.72
117.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$0.88 RON 4.17
77.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$8.38 RON 39.63
3.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$1.62 RON 7.68
-4.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$28.9K RON 136.9K
19.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$24.9K RON 117.8K
55.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$113 RON 536
-16.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$9.41 RON 44.53
284.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$12.23 RON 57.9
333.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$40.71 RON 193
81.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
$20.72 RON 98.0
71.96%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$3.13 RON 14.80
152.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$444 RON 2,102
10.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$6,646 RON 31.4K
78.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$25.88 RON 122
111.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$13.62 RON 64.4
310.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$39.45 RON 187
103.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$63.3 RON 299
23.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$294 RON 1,389
172.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$212 RON 1,003
272.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$524 RON 2,479
664.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$401 RON 1,897
251.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$1,843 RON 8,718
283.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$1,362 RON 6,445
-9.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
$691 RON 3,271
28.23%
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 20, 2026

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Sfantu Gheorghe
$212 73.1% $577
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Sfantu Gheorghe
$184 47.3% $166
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Sfantu Gheorghe
$147 31.1% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Sfantu Gheorghe
$135 26.7% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Sfantu Gheorghe
$64 47.1% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Sfantu Gheorghe
$47 47.6% $43
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Sfantu Gheorghe
$24 72.4% $64

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $801 in Nosara versus $294 in Sfantu Gheorghe. 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 28% higher in Nosara, 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 $61.0 in Nosara versus $41.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $184 – making Sfantu Gheorghe the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇷🇴 Sfantu Gheorghe
🕒 Local time
19:04 7:04 PM
04:04 4:04 AM
9 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
56,006
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Sfantu Gheorghe 10,810 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Sfantu Gheorghe

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 Sfantu Gheorghe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Sfantu Gheorghe compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,835 in Nosara, $813 in Sfantu Gheorghe – roughly 126% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Sfantu Gheorghe?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,753 per month in Nosara and $1,220 in Sfantu Gheorghe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Sfantu Gheorghe?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sfantu Gheorghe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Sfantu Gheorghe?
Public transport costs about 373% less in Sfantu Gheorghe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Sfantu Gheorghe?
Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $444 in Sfantu Gheorghe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfantu Gheorghe, where all-in costs run around $813, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $813 in Sfantu Gheorghe to $1,835 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe?
If budget matters most, go with Sfantu Gheorghe. 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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