Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Targu Frumos

For one person, living is cheaper in Targu Frumos: $998 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Targu Frumos
🇷🇴 Romania
$998
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Targu Frumos

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $998 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Targu Frumos $998

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,521 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Targu Frumos $1,521

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,043 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Targu Frumos $2,043

Nosara costs about 84% more than Targu Frumos, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Targu Frumos is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Targu Frumos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$10.68 RON 50.5
15.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$42.45 RON 201
44.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$7.21 RON 34.12
4.30%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.42 RON 11.46
82.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$2.08 RON 9.86
-16.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$1.87 RON 8.87
-29.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.05 RON 9.68
60.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$3.18 RON 15.06
40.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Targu Frumos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.17 RON 5.56
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$0.70 RON 3.32
331.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.79 RON 8.48
40.22%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$3.41 RON 16.11
4.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$7.51 RON 35.53
-1.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$5.94 RON 28.09
77.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$8.59 RON 40.65
62.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.28 RON 6.07
83.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.59 RON 7.52
1.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.50 RON 7.11
220.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$1.76 RON 8.35
-8.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.95 RON 4.49
300.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.00 RON 4.75
269.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$0.80 RON 3.78
41.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.73 RON 3.47
264.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$5.60 RON 26.49
-7.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$5.29 RON 25.05
275.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.00 RON 4.73
190.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.19 RON 5.61
205.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Targu Frumos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.77 RON 3.67
45.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$21.57 RON 102
236.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$0.66 RON 3.10
224.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$0.64 RON 3.02
145.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$7.09 RON 33.52
20.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.81 RON 8.55
-16.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$28.6K RON 135.2K
-24.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$24.6K RON 116.5K
40.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Targu Frumos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$146 RON 693
-34.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$7.75 RON 36.67
363.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$7.69 RON 36.37
596.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Targu Frumos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$38.18 RON 181
87.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$20.15 RON 95.3
73.25%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$6.23 RON 29.48
26.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Targu Frumos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$603 RON 2,852
-18.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$4,996 RON 23.6K
137.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Targu Frumos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$95.3 RON 451
-43.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$32.26 RON 153
71.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$61.0 RON 289
27.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$84.3 RON 399
-5.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Targu Frumos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$379 RON 1,795
107.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$283 RON 1,337
181.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$602 RON 2,848
554.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$438 RON 2,073
223.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$1,837 RON 8,691
276.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$1,368 RON 6,472
-10.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Targu Frumos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
7.2
19.72%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Targu Frumos: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Targu Frumos
$283 64.4% $512
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Targu Frumos
$183 48% $169
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Targu Frumos
$169 20.4% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Targu Frumos
$162 12.8% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Targu Frumos
$123 2.2% $2.7
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Targu Frumos
$51 42% $37
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Targu Frumos
$29 67.3% $59

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $379 in Targu Frumos. 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 $61.0 in Nosara versus $42.00 in Targu Frumos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $183 – making Targu Frumos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇷🇴 Targu Frumos
🕒 Local time
03:14 3:14 AM
12:14 12:14 PM
9 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
13,875
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Targu Frumos 10,840 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Targu Frumos

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 Targu Frumos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Targu Frumos compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $998 in Targu Frumos – roughly 84% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Targu Frumos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,497 in Targu Frumos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Targu Frumos?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Targu Frumos, 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 Targu Frumos?
Public transport costs about 237% less in Targu Frumos. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Targu Frumos?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $603 in Targu Frumos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Targu Frumos, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Targu Frumos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Targu Frumos?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $998 in Targu Frumos to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Targu Frumos 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 Targu Frumos?
If budget matters most, go with Targu Frumos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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