Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Skelleftea

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $1,961 in Skelleftea, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. The total is higher in Skelleftea despite lower rent and utilities.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Skelleftea
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,961
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Skelleftea

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,961 in Skelleftea, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Skelleftea $1,961

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,962 in Skelleftea, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Skelleftea $2,962

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $3,964 in Skelleftea, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Skelleftea $3,964

Nosara is about 6% cheaper than Skelleftea, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Skelleftea sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Skelleftea by 45%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Skelleftea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$15.89 SEK 157
-22.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$78.2 SEK 775
-21.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$13.16 SEK 130
-42.86%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$4.65 SEK 46.09
-5.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$2.56 SEK 25.38
-32.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$2.30 SEK 22.75
-43.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$7.88 SEK 78.1
-58.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$7.69 SEK 76.2
-41.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Skelleftea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.59 SEK 15.76
-1.89%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$2.47 SEK 24.43
22.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$4.91 SEK 48.67
-48.88%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$5.14 SEK 51.0
-30.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$10.90 SEK 108
-31.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$10.78 SEK 107
-2.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$24.10 SEK 239
-42.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$3.17 SEK 31.45
-25.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$2.40 SEK 23.80
-32.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$3.07 SEK 30.42
56.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$3.56 SEK 35.25
-54.78%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$2.24 SEK 22.17
69.64%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.62 SEK 16.01
127.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$2.28 SEK 22.58
-50.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.57 SEK 15.52
69.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$7.34 SEK 72.8
-29.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$15.00 SEK 149
32.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.71 SEK 16.90
69.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.59 SEK 15.72
128.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Skelleftea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$2.78 SEK 27.53
-59.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$51.6 SEK 511
40.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$7.83 SEK 77.6
-72.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.73 SEK 17.13
-9.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$58.9 SEK 583
-85.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.72 SEK 17.00
-11.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$32.9K SEK 326.1K
-34.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$32.2K SEK 319.5K
7.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Skelleftea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$103 SEK 1,017
-6.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$33.24 SEK 329
7.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$51.7 SEK 513
3.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Skelleftea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$37.65 SEK 373
90.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$25.55 SEK 253
36.63%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$14.79 SEK 147
-46.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Skelleftea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$140 SEK 1,388
252.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$5,481 SEK 54.3K
116.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Skelleftea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$94.8 SEK 940
-43.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$39.10 SEK 387
41.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$78.9 SEK 781
-1.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$153 SEK 1,515
-47.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Skelleftea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$1,127 SEK 11.2K
-30.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$786 SEK 7,792
1.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,588 SEK 15.7K
147.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,195 SEK 11.8K
18.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$4,005 SEK 39.7K
72.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$2,822 SEK 28.0K
-56.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Skelleftea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$2,556 SEK 25.3K
-66.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
3.9
121.03%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Skelleftea: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Skelleftea
$786 1% $8
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Skelleftea
$380 7.7% $27
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Skelleftea
$297 40% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Skelleftea
$188 1% $1.9
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Skelleftea
$165 37% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Skelleftea
$67 23.1% $20
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Skelleftea
$79 9.1% $7.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $1,127 in Skelleftea. 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 196% higher in Skelleftea, 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 $78.0 in Skelleftea. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $380 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇸🇪 Skelleftea
🕒 Local time
08:42 8:42 AM
16:42 4:42 PM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
32,775
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Skelleftea 9,770 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Skelleftea

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 Skelleftea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Skelleftea compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,961 in Skelleftea – roughly 7% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Skelleftea?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $2,942 in Skelleftea. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Skelleftea?
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 Skelleftea?
Public transport costs about 41% 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 Skelleftea?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $140 in Skelleftea. 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 $1,839, than in Skelleftea at $1,961. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skelleftea it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Skelleftea?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,839 in Nosara to $1,961 in Skelleftea. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Skelleftea 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 Skelleftea?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Skelleftea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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