Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Tanjung Pandan

For one person, living is cheaper in Tanjung Pandan: $617 a month against $1,846 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $14,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara, Costa Rica
Tanjung Pandan, Indonesia
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,846
/mo nomad
Tanjung Pandan
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$617
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Tanjung Pandan

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

A single person spends $1,846 per month in Nosara vs $617 in Tanjung Pandan, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,846
  • Tanjung Pandan $617

A couple spends around $2,833 per month in Nosara vs $1,000 in Tanjung Pandan, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,833
  • Tanjung Pandan $1,000

A family of three spends $3,820 per month in Nosara vs $1,383 in Tanjung Pandan, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,820
  • Tanjung Pandan $1,383

Nosara costs about 199% more than Tanjung Pandan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Tanjung Pandan is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.36 ₡5,561
$1.59 Rp 28.9K
677.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8 ₡27.3K
$15.06 Rp 273.3K
303.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 ₡3,547
$3.59 Rp 65.2K
119.50%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₡1,981
$1.50 Rp 27.3K
193.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡774
$0.42 Rp 7,687
309.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 ₡602
$0.22 Rp 3,943
509.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.34 ₡1,501
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
63.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 ₡2,042
$3.33 Rp 60.4K
36.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.06 Rp 19.2K
54.72%
White Bread (500g)
$3.16 ₡1,422
$1.00 Rp 18.1K
216.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 ₡1,077
$0.94 Rp 17.1K
154.26%
Eggs
$3.47 ₡1,559
$1.25 Rp 22.7K
177.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.13 ₡3,209
$6.37 Rp 115.5K
11.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.32 ₡4,642
$3.26 Rp 59.2K
216.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,285
$8.49 Rp 154.1K
64.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,029
$1.93 Rp 35.0K
18.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₡729
$1.13 Rp 20.5K
43.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.81 ₡2,164
$1.76 Rp 31.9K
173.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 ₡756
$1.24 Rp 22.5K
35.48%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,760
$1.08 Rp 19.7K
262.04%
Onion (1kg)
$3.63 ₡1,636
$1.90 Rp 34.5K
91.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡508
$0.78 Rp 14.1K
44.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 ₡1,185
$0.40 Rp 7,297
557.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.02 ₡2,261
$2.51 Rp 45.6K
100.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.71 ₡8,870
$23.14 Rp 419.9K
-14.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 ₡1,311
$1.82 Rp 33.0K
59.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₡1,593
$3.38 Rp 61.3K
4.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 ₡544
$0.25 Rp 4,557
384.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.8 ₡33.2K
$10.41 Rp 188.8K
608.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 ₡967
$0.47 Rp 8,524
357.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 ₡736
$0.36 Rp 6,501
352.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.77 ₡3,948
$2.47 Rp 44.9K
255.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡698
$0.88 Rp 16.1K
76.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K ₡15.2M
$20.2K Rp 366.3M
67.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K ₡17.3M
$30.6K Rp 555.6M
25.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.2 ₡42.8K
$60.5 Rp 1.1M
57.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.29 ₡16.3K
$4.22 Rp 76.5K
759.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0 ₡23.4K
$20.00 Rp 362.9K
160.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.6 ₡30.4K
$19.60 Rp 355.7K
244.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.55 ₡16.0K
$8.42 Rp 152.8K
322.21%
Cinema Ticket
$7.54 ₡3,395
$3.08 Rp 55.9K
144.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$496 ₡223.4K
$88.3 Rp 1.6M
462.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K ₡5.3M
$7,394 Rp 134.2M
59.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ₡24.8K
$40.55 Rp 735.7K
35.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 ₡25.2K
$27.32 Rp 495.8K
105.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.8 ₡35.0K
$81.0 Rp 1.5M
-3.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.1 ₡35.6K
$60.3 Rp 1.1M
31.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡367.9K
$204 Rp 3.7M
300.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$806 ₡362.6K
$141 Rp 2.6M
471.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,988 ₡1.8M
$533 Rp 9.7M
648.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,429 ₡643.2K
$379 Rp 6.9M
277.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,068 ₡3.2M
$1,263 Rp 22.9M
459.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,197 ₡538.6K
$883 Rp 16.0M
35.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$888 ₡399.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
9.46
-8.88%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 24, 2026

Last update for Tanjung Pandan: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$806
Tanjung Pandan
$141 82.5% $665
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$351
Tanjung Pandan
$197 43.9% $154
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Tanjung Pandan
$61 71.4% $152
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Tanjung Pandan
$85 53.8% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Tanjung Pandan
$94 22% $26
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Tanjung Pandan
$14 84.6% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$83
Tanjung Pandan
$26 68.8% $57

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Nosara versus $204 in Tanjung Pandan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Nosara versus $15 in Tanjung Pandan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $197 – making Tanjung Pandan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇮🇩 Tanjung Pandan
🕒 Local time
09:58 9:58 AM
22:58 10:58 PM
13 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
103,062
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 18,145 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,281 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Tanjung Pandan 18,340 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Tanjung Pandan

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 Tanjung Pandan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Tanjung Pandan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,846 in Nosara, $617 in Tanjung Pandan – roughly 199% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Tanjung Pandan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,769 per month in Nosara and $926 in Tanjung Pandan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Tanjung Pandan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tanjung Pandan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $204 there versus $817 in Nosara.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Tanjung Pandan?
Public transport costs about 86% less in Tanjung Pandan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Tanjung Pandan?
Kindergarten costs $496 per month in Nosara and $88 in Tanjung Pandan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Tanjung Pandan, where all-in costs run around $617, than in Nosara at $1,846. In Tanjung Pandan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Nosara or Tanjung Pandan?
Families tend to lean toward Tanjung Pandan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: Nosara or Tanjung Pandan?
For expats, Tanjung Pandan is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 199% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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