Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,844 a month against $2,148 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Nosara, Costa Rica
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,844
/mo nomad
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,148
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

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 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,844 per month in Nosara vs $2,148 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,844
  • St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador $2,148

A couple spends around $2,817 per month in Nosara vs $3,185 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,817
  • St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador $3,185

A family of three spends $3,790 per month in Nosara vs $4,222 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,790
  • St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador $4,222

Nosara is about 14% cheaper than St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador by 59%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.38 ₡5,577
$17.69 CA$24.69
-30.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 ₡27.3K
$71.7 CA$100
-15.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.81 ₡3,518
$12.16 CA$16.98
-35.77%
Cappuccino
$4.37 ₡1,969
$4.08 CA$5.70
7.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ₡802
$2.64 CA$3.68
-32.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡606
$2.19 CA$3.06
-38.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 ₡1,528
$4.86 CA$6.79
-30.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31 ₡1,942
$5.30 CA$7.40
-18.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡700
$2.78 CA$3.88
-44.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,428
$3.02 CA$4.22
4.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,132
$6.22 CA$8.69
-59.65%
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,587
$3.75 CA$5.23
-5.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.37 ₡3,318
$9.53 CA$13.31
-22.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.46 ₡4,710
$13.20 CA$18.42
-20.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.91 ₡6,264
$11.85 CA$16.53
17.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ₡1,020
$4.81 CA$6.72
-53.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡703
$2.96 CA$4.14
-47.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.70 ₡2,116
$4.87 CA$6.79
-3.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 ₡730
$3.04 CA$4.25
-46.71%
Potato (1kg)
$3.88 ₡1,749
$2.73 CA$3.81
42.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.79 ₡1,706
$2.28 CA$3.18
66.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ₡482
$2.89 CA$4.03
-62.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 ₡1,176
$2.38 CA$3.32
9.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.16 ₡2,323
$13.78 CA$19.23
-62.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.33 ₡9,157
$16.02 CA$22.36
26.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 ₡1,312
$4.12 CA$5.76
-29.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ₡1,653
$4.29 CA$5.98
-14.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.31 ₡589
$1.75 CA$2.44
-25.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.2 ₡33.0K
$54.9 CA$76.6
33.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.19 ₡985
$3.24 CA$4.52
-32.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 ₡831
$1.81 CA$2.52
1.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.81 ₡3,519
$29.40 CA$41.05
-73.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡703
$1.43 CA$2.00
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K ₡15.0M
$27.9K CA$38.9K
19.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K ₡17.1M
$23.9K CA$33.4K
59.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.9 ₡43.2K
$183 CA$255
-47.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.37 ₡15.9K
$42.03 CA$58.7
-15.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 ₡24.2K
$103 CA$144
-47.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 ₡30.4K
$66.2 CA$92.5
1.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.43 ₡16.0K
$18.98 CA$26.50
86.67%
Cinema Ticket
$7.72 ₡3,478
$10.71 CA$14.95
-27.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$496 ₡223.2K
$526 CA$735
-5.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$10.2K CA$14.3K
16.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6 ₡24.6K
$66.2 CA$92.4
-17.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0 ₡24.8K
$50.5 CA$70.5
9.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 ₡36.0K
$79.3 CA$111
0.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡35.1K
$96.4 CA$135
-19.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡368.0K
$1,015 CA$1,417
-19.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$800 ₡360.3K
$827 CA$1,155
-3.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,889 ₡1.8M
$1,553 CA$2,168
150.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,396 ₡628.5K
$1,352 CA$1,887
3.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,977 ₡3.1M
$2,401 CA$3,351
190.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,222 ₡550.4K
$1,792 CA$2,501
-31.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$879 ₡395.9K
$2,852 CA$3,981
-69.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
4.57
88.62%

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

Last update for Nosara: November 3, 2026

Last update for St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$800
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$827 3.4% $27
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$353
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$419 18.7% $66
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$281 32% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$185
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$328 77.3% $143
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$132 9.4% $11
Getting Around
Nosara
$90
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$74 17.5% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$83
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
$88 5.7% $4.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Nosara versus $1,015 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador are about 3.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Nosara versus $72 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $353 vs $419 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇨🇦 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
🕒 Local time
21:02 9:02 PM
23:32 11:32 PM
2 h 30 min ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
110,525
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador 5,190 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

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 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,844 in Nosara, $2,148 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – Nosara comes out roughly 14% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,765 per month in Nosara and $3,223 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $817 there versus $1,015 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
Public transport costs about 25% less in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
Kindergarten costs $496 per month in Nosara and $526 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $3,000 go in Nosara compared to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,844 in Nosara and $2,148 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Nosara or St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
Families tend to lean toward Nosara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Nosara and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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