Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Shahrekord

For one person, living is cheaper in Shahrekord: $529 a month against $1,846 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $15,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara, Costa Rica
Shahrekord, Iran
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,846
/mo nomad
Shahrekord
🇮🇷 Iran
$529
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Shahrekord

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

A single person spends $1,846 per month in Nosara vs $529 in Shahrekord, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,846
  • Shahrekord $529

A couple spends around $2,833 per month in Nosara vs $830 in Shahrekord, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,833
  • Shahrekord $830

A family of three spends $3,820 per month in Nosara vs $1,130 in Shahrekord, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,820
  • Shahrekord $1,130

Nosara costs about 249% more than Shahrekord, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Shahrekord is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Shahrekord
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.36 ₡5,578
$2.56 $2.56
382.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8 ₡27.4K
$15.92 $15.92
281.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 ₡3,558
$4.19 $4.19
88.07%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.66 $0.66
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.15 $1.15
-
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₡1,987
$0.67 $0.67
556.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡776
$0.47 $0.47
265.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 ₡603
$1.00 $1.00
34.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.34 ₡1,506
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 ₡2,049
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Shahrekord
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ₡739
$0.70 $0.70
134.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.16 ₡1,427
$0.53 $0.53
496.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 ₡1,080
$1.98 $1.98
20.71%
Eggs
$3.47 ₡1,564
$1.15 $1.15
201.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.13 ₡3,219
$4.38 $4.38
62.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.32 ₡4,657
$3.63 $3.63
184.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,305
$8.87 $8.87
57.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,032
$0.97 $0.97
136.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₡732
$1.62 $1.62
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.81 ₡2,171
$0.87 $0.87
452.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 ₡758
$0.61 $0.61
175.41%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,766
$0.54 $0.54
624.07%
Onion (1kg)
$3.63 ₡1,641
$0.50 $0.50
626.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡510
$0.54 $0.54
109.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 ₡1,188
$0.29 $0.29
806.90%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.84 $0.84
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.55 $0.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.55 $1.55
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.02 ₡2,268
$2.87 $2.87
74.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.71 ₡8,897
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 ₡1,315
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₡1,598
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Shahrekord
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 ₡545
$0.15 $0.15
706.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.8 ₡33.3K
$10.12 $10.12
628.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 ₡970
$0.38 $0.38
465.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 ₡738
$0.28 $0.28
482.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.77 ₡3,960
$2.94 $2.94
198.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡701
$0.10 $0.10
1450.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K ₡15.3M
$45.5K $45.5K
-25.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K ₡17.4M
$45.2K $45.2K
-14.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Shahrekord
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.2 ₡43.0K
$11.69 $11.69
714.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.29 ₡16.4K
$1.58 $1.58
2196.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0 ₡23.5K
$4.13 $4.13
1159.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Shahrekord
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.6 ₡30.5K
$18.28 $18.28
269.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.55 ₡16.0K
$13.10 $13.10
171.37%
Cinema Ticket
$7.54 ₡3,405
$1.92 $1.92
292.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Shahrekord
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$496 ₡224.1K
$92.9 $92.9
434.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K ₡5.3M
$2,147 $2,147
448.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Shahrekord
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ₡24.9K
$23.07 $23.07
138.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 ₡25.3K
$28.39 $28.39
97.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.8 ₡35.1K
$108 $108
-27.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.1 ₡35.7K
$73.8 $73.8
7.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Shahrekord
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡369.0K
$295 $295
176.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$806 ₡363.8K
$214 $214
277.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,988 ₡1.8M
$892 $892
347.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,429 ₡645.2K
$349 $349
308.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,068 ₡3.2M
$903 $903
682.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,197 ₡540.3K
$495 $495
142.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Shahrekord
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$888 ₡400.9K
$200 $200
343.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
24.3
-64.53%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 24, 2026

Last update for Shahrekord: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$806
Shahrekord
$214 73.5% $592
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$351
Shahrekord
$112 68.1% $239
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Shahrekord
$47 78% $166
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Shahrekord
$17 90.5% $166
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Shahrekord
$105 13% $16
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Shahrekord
$13 85.9% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$83
Shahrekord
$22 73.2% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Nosara versus $295 in Shahrekord. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Nosara are about 4.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Nosara versus $16 in Shahrekord. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $112 – making Shahrekord the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇮🇷 Shahrekord
🕒 Local time
16:24 4:24 PM
01:54 1:54 AM
9 h 30 min ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
129,153
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.897 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Shahrekord 13,430 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Shahrekord

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 Shahrekord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Shahrekord compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,846 in Nosara, $529 in Shahrekord – Shahrekord comes out roughly 71% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Shahrekord?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,769 per month in Nosara and $794 in Shahrekord. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Shahrekord?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shahrekord, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $295 there versus $817 in Nosara.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Shahrekord?
Public transport costs about 86% less in Shahrekord. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Shahrekord?
Kindergarten costs $496 per month in Nosara and $93 in Shahrekord. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shahrekord, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Nosara at $1,846. In Shahrekord it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Nosara or Shahrekord?
Families tend to lean toward Shahrekord – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Nosara or Shahrekord safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
How do I decide between Nosara and Shahrekord?
If budget matters most, go with Shahrekord. If higher salaries 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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