Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Upala Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Upala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Nosara vs $1,299 in Upala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,615 per month in Nosara vs $1,980 in Upala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,553 per month in Nosara vs $2,660 in Upala, rent included.

Nosara costs about 29% more than Upala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nosara sits 25% above the global median, while Upala is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.84 ₡4,898

$11.06 ₡4,995

-1.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.6 ₡26.9K

$50.1 ₡22.6K

18.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 ₡3,227

$10.10 ₡4,564

-29.31%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,764

$3.41 ₡1,542

14.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₡738

$1.56 ₡706

4.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₡528

$1.60 ₡724

-26.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 ₡1,351

$3.06 ₡1,381

-2.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 ₡2,134

$4.64 ₡2,094

1.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 ₡643

$1.95 ₡880

-27.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,290

$1.50 ₡678

90.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₡980

$2.21 ₡998

-1.81%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,325

$2.35 ₡1,061

24.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.52 ₡2,946

$2.96 ₡1,340

120.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 ₡4,243

$6.06 ₡2,736

54.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.75 ₡6,215

$7.74 ₡3,499

77.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 ₡957

$1.56 ₡707

35.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₡661

$0.63 ₡284

131.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 ₡1,882

$2.58 ₡1,165

61.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ₡663

$2.35 ₡1,062

-37.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 ₡1,573

$3.32 ₡1,500

4.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 ₡1,466

$2.33 ₡1,052

39.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡434

$0.97 ₡438

-1.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₡1,047

$2.36 ₡1,068

-1.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 ₡2,049

$5.38 ₡2,430

-15.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.51 ₡9,269

$8.80 ₡3,977

133.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,131

$2.34 ₡1,057

6.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,314

$2.93 ₡1,326

-0.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₡425

$1.02 ₡461

-7.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.6 ₡30.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₡839

$1.88 ₡851

-1.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡841

$1.77 ₡800

5.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 ₡3,465

$6.01 ₡2,714

27.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ₡585

$1.29 ₡584

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.0K ₡14.4M

$37.8K ₡17.1M

-15.48%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.7K ₡14.8M

$32.3K ₡14.6M

1.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.3 ₡42.1K

$50.5 ₡22.8K

84.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.50 ₡11.5K

$25.87 ₡11.7K

-1.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.17 ₡21.3K

$20.24 ₡9,145

133.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₡25.5K

-0.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.00 ₡10.8K

$23.99 ₡10.8K

0.04%

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 ₡4,385

$9.68 ₡4,371

0.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$449 ₡202.7K

$568 ₡256.7K

-21.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₡4.7M

$12.8K ₡5.8M

-18.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 ₡22.7K

$30.39 ₡13.7K

64.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.9 ₡23.4K

$19.70 ₡8,900

163.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 ₡31.9K

$124 ₡55.8K

-42.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 ₡31.8K

$29.92 ₡13.5K

135.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ₡341.5K

$762 ₡344.1K

-0.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₡341.3K

$590 ₡266.5K

28.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,504 ₡679.6K

$1,534 ₡693.2K

-1.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 ₡601.0K

$973 ₡439.7K

36.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,228 ₡555.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$880 ₡397.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Nosara: June 7, 2026

Last update for Upala: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Nosara versus $762 in Upala. 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 $60.0 in Nosara versus $50.0 in Upala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $231 – making Upala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Upala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,677 in Nosara, $1,299 in Upala – roughly 29% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Nosara and $1,949 in Upala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Upala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara and $50.0 in Upala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Upala, where all-in costs run around $1,299, than in Nosara at $1,677. In Upala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,299 in Upala to $1,677 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Upala. 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.