Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Singapore

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $3,454 in Singapore, rent and utilities included – about $19,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Singapore
🇸🇬 Singapore
$3,454
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Singapore

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $3,454 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Singapore $3,454

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $5,224 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Singapore $5,224

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $6,994 in Singapore, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Singapore $6,994

Nosara is about 47% cheaper than Singapore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Singapore sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Singapore by 158%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Singapore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$11.53 SGD 14.77
5.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$71.2 SGD 91.2
-15.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$8.76 SGD 11.22
-13.93%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$5.25 SGD 6.73
-17.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$1.83 SGD 2.34
-6.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$1.25 SGD 1.60
8.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$8.42 SGD 10.79
-61.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$10.02 SGD 12.83
-55.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Singapore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$2.94 SGD 3.76
-46.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$2.47 SGD 3.16
28.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$2.71 SGD 3.47
-10.70%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$3.73 SGD 4.77
-4.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$21.54 SGD 27.58
-65.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$9.52 SGD 12.20
9.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$25.98 SGD 33.27
-47.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$4.48 SGD 5.74
-48.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$3.11 SGD 3.99
-48.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$4.62 SGD 5.92
2.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$2.23 SGD 2.86
-25.56%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$2.50 SGD 3.20
48.80%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$2.38 SGD 3.05
50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$1.78 SGD 2.28
-38.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$1.51 SGD 1.93
68.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$14.18 SGD 18.16
-65.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$23.79 SGD 30.47
-15.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$4.51 SGD 5.78
-38.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$4.57 SGD 5.86
-22.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Singapore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$1.58 SGD 2.03
-24.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
$96.4 SGD 123
-25.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$3.63 SGD 4.65
-38.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$0.80 SGD 1.02
93.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$16.18 SGD 20.72
-45.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$2.51 SGD 3.21
-37.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$155.9K SGD 199.6K
-86.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$145.8K SGD 186.7K
-76.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Singapore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$175 SGD 224
-46.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$12.45 SGD 15.94
182.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$26.64 SGD 34.11
93.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Singapore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$112 SGD 143
-35.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
$12.07 SGD 15.46
193.62%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$11.60 SGD 14.85
-32.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Singapore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$1,463 SGD 1,874
-66.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$28.4K SGD 36.3K
-58.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Singapore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$81.5 SGD 104
-34.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$50.6 SGD 64.8
10.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$112 SGD 143
-29.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$130 SGD 166
-39.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Singapore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$2,916 SGD 3,734
-73.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$2,128 SGD 2,725
-63.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$5,654 SGD 7,241
-31.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$3,968 SGD 5,081
-64.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$23.6K SGD 30.2K
-70.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$16.8K SGD 21.5K
-92.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Singapore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$4,369 SGD 5,594
-79.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
2.44
253.28%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Singapore: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Singapore
$2.1K 173% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Singapore
$457 30.9% $108
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Singapore
$256 22.2% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Singapore
$214 18.9% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Singapore
$168 39.7% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Singapore
$135 54.7% $48
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Singapore
$110 27% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $2,916 in Singapore. 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 399% higher in Singapore, 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 $71.0 in Singapore. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $457 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇸🇬 Singapore
🕒 Local time
00:00 12:00 AM
14:00 2:00 PM
14 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
5,535,002 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Singapore Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 SGD (1 SGD = 0.781 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 SGD (1 SGD = 0.696 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Singapore 18,380 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Singapore

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 Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Singapore compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $3,454 in Singapore – roughly 88% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Singapore?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $5,180 in Singapore. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Singapore?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Singapore?
Public transport costs about 34% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Singapore?
Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $1,463 in Singapore. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Singapore at $3,454. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Singapore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Singapore?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Nosara to $3,454 in Singapore. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Singapore 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 Singapore?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Singapore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?