Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Totnes

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,559 in Totnes, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Totnes
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,559
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Totnes

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

A single person spends $1,835 per month in Nosara vs $2,559 in Totnes, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,835
  • Totnes $2,559

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Nosara vs $3,763 in Totnes, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,825
  • Totnes $3,763

A family of three spends $3,814 per month in Nosara vs $4,967 in Totnes, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,814
  • Totnes $4,967

Nosara is about 28% cheaper than Totnes, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Totnes sit above the global median – Nosara by 35%, Totnes by 89%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Totnes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.34 ₡5,535
$20.89 £15.67
-40.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 ₡27.5K
$100.0 £75.0
-38.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 ₡3,481
$12.14 £9.11
-36.08%
Cappuccino
$4.44 ₡1,992
$4.89 £3.67
-9.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₡803
$3.06 £2.30
-41.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡580
$2.09 £1.57
-38.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,451
$6.69 £5.02
-51.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 ₡1,985
$7.35 £5.51
-39.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Totnes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡696
$1.69 £1.27
-8.28%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,380
$1.49 £1.12
106.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 ₡1,133
$2.21 £1.66
14.48%
Eggs
$3.45 ₡1,546
$4.20 £3.15
-17.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 ₡3,284
$6.18 £4.64
18.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,594
$11.89 £8.92
-13.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,326
$12.75 £9.56
10.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,027
$2.20 £1.65
4.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ₡737
$1.78 £1.34
-7.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 ₡2,149
$1.96 £1.47
144.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 ₡735
$2.17 £1.63
-24.42%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ₡1,727
$2.17 £1.63
77.42%
Onion (1kg)
$3.75 ₡1,681
$1.27 £0.95
195.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₡488
$1.94 £1.46
-43.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₡1,160
$1.94 £1.46
33.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,295
$23.85 £17.89
-78.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 ₡8,931
$9.79 £7.34
103.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 ₡1,255
$2.84 £2.13
-1.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₡1,580
$2.41 £1.81
46.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Totnes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 ₡549
$4.03 £3.02
-69.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.9 ₡33.1K
$95.8 £71.9
-22.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ₡973
$3.41 £2.55
-36.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 ₡698
$2.43 £1.83
-35.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.67 ₡3,886
$32.93 £24.70
-73.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡697
$2.09 £1.57
-25.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$38.2K £28.7K
-9.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K ₡17.4M
$39.7K £29.8K
-2.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Totnes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.8 ₡42.5K
$366 £274
-74.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.15 ₡16.2K
$16.02 £12.02
125.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡23.8K
$43.55 £32.68
21.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Totnes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 ₡33.1K
$45.72 £34.30
61.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 ₡3,548
$20.96 £15.73
-62.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Totnes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡219.9K
$2,264 £1,699
-78.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$34.6K £25.9K
-65.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Totnes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ₡24.6K
$88.3 £66.2
-37.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 ₡25.1K
$49.61 £37.22
12.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 ₡36.0K
$156 £117
-48.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$142 £107
-45.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Totnes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₡359.1K
$1,297 £973
-38.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 ₡354.1K
$1,098 £824
-28.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,005 ₡1.8M
$1,795 £1,346
123.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 ₡632.0K
$1,815 £1,362
-22.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,064 ₡3.2M
$5,128 £3,847
37.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,236 ₡554.3K
$4,321 £3,242
-71.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Totnes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₡397.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
4.96
73.79%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Totnes: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$790
Totnes
$1.1K 39.1% $309
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Totnes
$293 16.3% $57
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Totnes
$331 55.6% $118
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Totnes
$425 131% $241
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Totnes
$196 62.2% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$90
Totnes
$88 2.2% $2
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Totnes
$128 43.7% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $801 in Nosara versus $1,297 in Totnes. 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 $100 in Totnes. Groceries tell a different story – $350 in Nosara vs $293 in Totnes – so Totnes wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇬🇧 Totnes
🕒 Local time
13:06 1:06 PM
20:06 8:06 PM
7 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
8,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Totnes 8,590 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Totnes

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 Totnes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Totnes compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,835 in Nosara, $2,559 in Totnes – roughly 39% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Totnes?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,753 per month in Nosara and $3,839 in Totnes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Totnes?
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 Totnes?
Public transport costs about 30% 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 Totnes?
Kindergarten costs $490 per month in Nosara and $2,264 in Totnes. 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 $1,835, than in Totnes at $2,559. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Totnes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Totnes?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,835 in Nosara to $2,559 in Totnes. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Totnes 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 Totnes?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Totnes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?