Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Sioux Falls, SD

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,154 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index
103

Cost of Living Index in Sioux Falls, SD
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Sioux Falls, SD Living Index

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Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Sioux Falls, SD

🇺🇸 United States

$2,154

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Sioux Falls, SD

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 Sioux Falls, SD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $2,154 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent included.

Nosara $1,837
Sioux Falls, SD $2,154

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $3,162 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent included.

Nosara $2,775
Sioux Falls, SD $3,162

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $4,170 in Sioux Falls, SD, rent included.

Nosara $3,712
Sioux Falls, SD $4,170

Nosara is about 15% cheaper than Sioux Falls, SD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Nosara and Sioux Falls, SD sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Sioux Falls, SD by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 ₡5,509

$11.80 $11.80

3.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ₡27.1K

$75.4 $75.4

-20.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 ₡3,399

$10.02 $10.02

-24.75%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,941

$4.29 $4.29

0.47%

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

$1.72 ₡773

$2.65 $2.65

-35.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₡608

$1.90 $1.90

-28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,459

$4.04 $4.04

-19.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,018

$6.62 $6.62

-32.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡707

$0.82 $0.82

91.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,429

$2.83 $2.83

12.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,091

$4.88 $4.88

-50.41%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,609

$3.60 $3.60

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,349

$12.42 $12.42

-40.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.42 ₡4,697

$9.70 $9.70

7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 ₡6,156

$15.60 $15.60

-12.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ₡1,044

$4.58 $4.58

-49.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡728

$1.59 $1.59

1.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 ₡2,138

$3.50 $3.50

35.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡747

$3.60 $3.60

-53.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 ₡1,679

$2.11 $2.11

76.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,611

$3.31 $3.31

7.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₡497

$2.06 $2.06

-46.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,149

$1.73 $1.73

47.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,232

$9.48 $9.48

-47.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 ₡9,020

$11.10 $11.10

80.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,256

$2.13 $2.13

30.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ₡1,589

$2.66 $2.66

32.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 ₡537

$1.47 $1.47

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 ₡32.5K

$30.15 $30.15

139.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₡1,011

$3.85 $3.85

-41.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ₡701

$1.70 $1.70

-8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₡3,993

$35.30 $35.30

-74.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡708

$1.00 $1.00

57.00%

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

$21.8K ₡9.8M

$35.5K $35.5K

-38.61%

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

$34.6K ₡15.6M

$25.1K $25.1K

38.03%

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

$93.5 ₡42.1K

$245 $245

-61.92%

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

$35.11 ₡15.8K

$45.55 $45.55

-22.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 ₡23.2K

$56.3 $56.3

-8.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 ₡32.2K

$44.12 $44.12

61.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.44 ₡16.0K

$34.82 $34.82

1.78%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 ₡3,535

$12.32 $12.32

-36.36%

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

$490 ₡220.7K

$1,006 $1,006

-51.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.4M

$7,684 $7,684

54.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₡24.1K

$33.26 $33.26

60.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.1K

$30.10 $30.10

85.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₡35.7K

$117 $117

-32.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 ₡35.6K

$135 $135

-41.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$786 ₡354.3K

$1,355 $1,355

-41.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ₡351.6K

$934 $934

-16.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,860 ₡1.7M

$2,070 $2,070

86.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 ₡634.4K

$1,514 $1,514

-7.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,972 ₡3.1M

$2,504 $2,504

178.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡541.3K

$2,191 $2,191

-45.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$876 ₡395.0K

$4,346 $4,346

-79.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.87

25.47%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Sioux Falls, SD: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$780 43%

Sioux Falls, SD

$934 44.1% 19.7% $154

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.3%

Sioux Falls, SD

$347 16.4% 0.6% $2

Eating Out

Nosara

$209 11.6%

Sioux Falls, SD

$228 10.8% 8.7% $18

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$180 9.9%

Sioux Falls, SD

$347 16.4% 92.8% $167

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.6%

Sioux Falls, SD

$142 6.7% 17.9% $22

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Sioux Falls, SD

$69 3.3% 21% $18

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Sioux Falls, SD

$48 2.3% 44.3% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $1,355 in Sioux Falls, SD. 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 396% higher in Sioux Falls, SD, 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 $75.0 in Sioux Falls, SD. Groceries tell a different story – $350 in Nosara vs $347 in Sioux Falls, SD – so Sioux Falls, SD wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Sioux Falls, SD

🕒 Local time

21:58 9:58 PM

22:58 10:58 PM

1 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

192,517

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Nosara Sioux Falls, SD 3,880 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Sioux Falls, SD

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 Sioux Falls, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $2,154 in Sioux Falls, SD – roughly 17% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $3,231 in Sioux Falls, SD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 139% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $1,006 in Sioux Falls, SD. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Sioux Falls, SD at $2,154. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sioux Falls, SD 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 $1,837 in Nosara to $2,154 in Sioux Falls, SD. 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 Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sioux Falls, SD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.