Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Tumba

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,846 a month against $1,896 in Tumba, rent and utilities included – about $600 less a year. The total is higher in Tumba despite lower rent and utilities.

Nosara, Costa Rica
Tumba, Sweden
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,846
/mo nomad
Tumba
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,896
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Tumba

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

A single person spends $1,846 per month in Nosara vs $1,896 in Tumba, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,846
  • Tumba $1,896

A couple spends around $2,833 per month in Nosara vs $2,899 in Tumba, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,833
  • Tumba $2,899

A family of three spends $3,820 per month in Nosara vs $3,901 in Tumba, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,820
  • Tumba $3,901

Nosara is about 3% cheaper than Tumba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Nosara and Tumba sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Tumba by 39%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Tumba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.36 ₡5,578
$14.20 SEK 140
-12.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8 ₡27.4K
$64.9 SEK 642
-6.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 ₡3,558
$9.95 SEK 98.3
-20.80%
Cappuccino
$4.40 ₡1,987
$4.29 SEK 42.42
2.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡776
$2.65 SEK 26.20
-35.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 ₡603
$2.21 SEK 21.88
-39.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.34 ₡1,506
$7.17 SEK 70.8
-53.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 ₡2,049
$6.91 SEK 68.3
-34.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Tumba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ₡739
$1.79 SEK 17.66
-8.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.16 ₡1,427
$3.05 SEK 30.18
3.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 ₡1,080
$3.75 SEK 37.09
-36.27%
Eggs
$3.47 ₡1,564
$5.03 SEK 49.76
-31.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.13 ₡3,219
$13.00 SEK 128
-45.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.32 ₡4,657
$13.25 SEK 131
-22.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,305
$17.49 SEK 173
-20.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₡1,032
$3.25 SEK 32.11
-29.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₡732
$2.68 SEK 26.52
-39.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.81 ₡2,171
$2.06 SEK 20.35
133.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 ₡758
$4.50 SEK 44.50
-62.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,766
$1.45 SEK 14.33
169.66%
Onion (1kg)
$3.63 ₡1,641
$1.80 SEK 17.84
101.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡510
$2.30 SEK 22.76
-50.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 ₡1,188
$1.88 SEK 18.61
39.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.02 ₡2,268
$7.15 SEK 70.7
-29.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.71 ₡8,897
$10.04 SEK 99.3
96.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 ₡1,315
$2.01 SEK 19.89
44.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₡1,598
$2.25 SEK 22.26
57.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Tumba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 ₡545
$4.26 SEK 42.11
-71.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.8 ₡33.3K
$103 SEK 1,017
-28.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 ₡970
$5.79 SEK 57.2
-62.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 ₡738
$1.48 SEK 14.60
10.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.77 ₡3,960
$57.1 SEK 565
-84.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡701
$1.81 SEK 17.91
-14.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K ₡15.3M
$33.4K SEK 330.5K
1.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K ₡17.4M
$34.0K SEK 335.7K
13.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Tumba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.2 ₡43.0K
$176 SEK 1,738
-45.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.29 ₡16.4K
$21.42 SEK 212
69.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0 ₡23.5K
$48.20 SEK 476
7.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Tumba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.6 ₡30.5K
$40.34 SEK 399
67.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.55 ₡16.0K
$26.36 SEK 261
34.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.54 ₡3,405
$16.89 SEK 167
-55.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Tumba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$496 ₡224.1K
$158 SEK 1,562
214.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K ₡5.3M
$5,131 SEK 50.7K
129.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Tumba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ₡24.9K
$113 SEK 1,118
-51.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 ₡25.3K
$53.6 SEK 529
4.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.8 ₡35.1K
$94.8 SEK 937
-17.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.1 ₡35.7K
$186 SEK 1,834
-57.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Tumba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡369.0K
$792 SEK 7,830
3.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$806 ₡363.8K
$599 SEK 5,926
34.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,988 ₡1.8M
$1,375 SEK 13.6K
189.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,429 ₡645.2K
$1,011 SEK 9,996
41.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,068 ₡3.2M
$3,992 SEK 39.5K
77.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,197 ₡540.3K
$2,784 SEK 27.5K
-57.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Tumba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$888 ₡400.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
2.8
207.86%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 24, 2026

Last update for Tumba: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$806
Tumba
$599 25.6% $206
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$351
Tumba
$379 7.8% $28
Eating Out
Nosara
$213
Tumba
$264 23.8% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$184
Tumba
$245 33.7% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$121
Tumba
$201 66.7% $81
Getting Around
Nosara
$89
Tumba
$133 49.7% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$83
Tumba
$74 10.3% $8.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Nosara versus $792 in Tumba. 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 $65 in Tumba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $379 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇸🇪 Tumba
🕒 Local time
12:11 12:11 PM
19:11 7:11 PM
7 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
42,344
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 9.88 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.03 SEK (100 SEK = 9.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Tumba 9,810 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Tumba

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 Tumba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Tumba compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,846 in Nosara, $1,896 in Tumba – Nosara comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Tumba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,769 per month in Nosara and $2,844 in Tumba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do apartment prices compare in Nosara and in Tumba?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $817 in Nosara and $792 in Tumba. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Tumba?
Public transport costs about 28% 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 Tumba?
Kindergarten costs $496 per month in Nosara and $158 in Tumba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $3,000 go in Nosara compared to Tumba?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,846 in Nosara and $1,896 in Tumba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Tumba?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,846 in Nosara to $1,896 in Tumba. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Tumba safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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