Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Tomar

For one person, living is cheaper in Tomar: $1,295 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Tomar
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,295
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Tomar

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,295 in Tomar, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Tomar $1,295

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,821 in Tomar, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Tomar $1,821

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,347 in Tomar, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Tomar $2,347

Nosara costs about 42% more than Tomar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Tomar is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Tomar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$13.37 €11.89
-7.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$37.89 €33.71
61.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$8.69 €7.73
-13.46%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$1.88 €1.67
134.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.79 €1.59
-2.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$1.42 €1.27
-7.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.26 €2.01
45.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$2.51 €2.24
78.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Tomar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.08 €0.96
44.44%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.77 €1.57
70.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.41 €1.25
78.01%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.72 €2.42
31.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$12.80 €11.39
-41.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$6.50 €5.78
61.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$14.31 €12.73
-2.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.91 €1.69
23.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.41 €1.26
14.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.84 €1.64
160.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$2.51 €2.23
-35.86%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.83 €1.63
107.65%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.14 €1.01
223.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.53 €1.36
-26.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.14 €1.01
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$6.88 €6.12
-24.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$4.56 €4.05
335.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.34 €1.20
116.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.21 €1.96
64.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Tomar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$2.01 €1.79
-44.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$37.43 €33.29
94.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$4.34 €3.86
-50.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.49 €1.33
5.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$20.77 €18.48
-58.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.82 €1.62
-16.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$31.9K €28.3K
-32.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$38.0K €33.8K
-9.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Tomar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$106 €94.5
-9.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$17.23 €15.33
108.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$42.90 €38.16
24.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Tomar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$41.15 €36.61
73.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$17.73 €15.77
96.90%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$9.16 €8.15
-13.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Tomar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$311 €277
58.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$6,305 €5,608
88.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Tomar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$66.3 €59.0
-18.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$35.12 €31.24
57.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$74.5 €66.3
4.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$90.3 €80.3
-11.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Tomar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$757 €673
4.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$463 €412
71.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$907 €807
334.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$502 €447
182.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$3,038 €2,702
127.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$2,257 €2,008
-45.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Tomar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$1,077 €958
-19.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
3.7
132.97%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Tomar: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Tomar
$463 41.7% $331
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Tomar
$245 30.6% $108
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Tomar
$185 12.8% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Tomar
$166 10.5% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Tomar
$120 0.2% $0.3
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Tomar
$59 31.9% $28
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Tomar
$57 34.3% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $757 in Tomar. 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 25% higher in Tomar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $38.00 in Tomar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $245 – making Tomar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇵🇹 Tomar
🕒 Local time
19:23 7:23 PM
02:23 2:23 AM
7 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
36,414
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Tomar 8,210 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Tomar

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 Tomar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Tomar compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,295 in Tomar – roughly 42% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Tomar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,943 in Tomar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Tomar?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tomar, 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 Tomar?
Public transport costs about 94% less in Tomar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Tomar?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $311 in Tomar. 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 Tomar, where all-in costs run around $1,295, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Tomar 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 Tomar?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,295 in Tomar to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Tomar 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 Tomar?
If budget matters most, go with Tomar. 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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