Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Toyama

For one person, living is cheaper in Toyama: $1,156 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Toyama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,156
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Toyama

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,156 in Toyama, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Toyama $1,156

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,838 in Toyama, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Toyama $1,838

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,519 in Toyama, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Toyama $2,519

Nosara costs about 59% more than Toyama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Toyama is 14% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Toyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$3.93 ¥621
214.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$41.37 ¥6,536
47.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$5.18 ¥819
45.17%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$3.51 ¥555
25.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.04 ¥164
67.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$0.74 ¥117
77.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.59 ¥410
26.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$3.19 ¥504
40.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Toyama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.07 ¥169
45.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$0.77 ¥122
292.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$3.66 ¥579
-31.42%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$1.98 ¥313
80.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$10.52 ¥1,662
-29.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$5.98 ¥945
75.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$14.45 ¥2,283
-3.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$5.75 ¥909
-59.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$2.70 ¥426
-40.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$2.95 ¥467
62.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$4.20 ¥663
-61.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$2.52 ¥398
50.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$2.53 ¥400
45.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.23 ¥195
-8.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.64 ¥102
315.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$3.80 ¥600
36.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$6.25 ¥988
218.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.82 ¥287
59.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$2.00 ¥315
81.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Toyama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.52 ¥240
-26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$58.7 ¥9,270
23.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$3.19 ¥503
-32.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$2.71 ¥428
-42.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$20.33 ¥3,211
-58.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.11 ¥176
36.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$21.7K ¥3.4M
-0.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$18.2K ¥2.9M
89.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Toyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$133 ¥21.0K
-27.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$23.98 ¥3,788
49.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$32.22 ¥5,091
66.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Toyama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$52.9 ¥8,351
35.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$11.50 ¥1,817
-31.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Toyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$634 ¥100.2K
-22.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$14.6K ¥2.3M
-18.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Toyama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$61.6 ¥9,735
-12.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$37.28 ¥5,889
48.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$60.7 ¥9,583
28.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$100 ¥15.8K
-20.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Toyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$233 ¥36.8K
238.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$303 ¥47.8K
162.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,105 ¥174.6K
256.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$648 ¥102.4K
118.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$3,962 ¥625.9K
74.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$1,608 ¥254.1K
-23.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Toyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
2.64
226.52%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Toyama: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Toyama
$303 61.9% $491
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Toyama
$274 22.1% $78
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Toyama
$116 45.4% $96
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Toyama
$189 1.8% $3.4
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Toyama
$117 2.7% $3.2
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Toyama
$76 13.2% $12
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Toyama
$81 6.5% $5.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $233 in Toyama. 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 $41.00 in Toyama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $274 – making Toyama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇯🇵 Toyama
🕒 Local time
02:44 2:44 AM
17:44 5:44 PM
15 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
421,259
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Toyama 13,160 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Toyama

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 Toyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Toyama compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,156 in Toyama – roughly 59% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Toyama?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,735 in Toyama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Toyama?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Toyama, 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 Toyama?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Toyama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Toyama?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $634 in Toyama. 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 Toyama, where all-in costs run around $1,156, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Toyama 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 Toyama?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,156 in Toyama to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Toyama 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 Toyama?
If budget matters most, go with Toyama. 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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