Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ushuaia

For one person, living is cheaper in Ushuaia: $957 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Ushuaia
🇦🇷 Argentina
$957
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ushuaia

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

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $957 in Ushuaia, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Ushuaia $957

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $1,570 in Ushuaia, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Ushuaia $1,570

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $2,183 in Ushuaia, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Ushuaia $2,183

Nosara costs about 92% more than Ushuaia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 36% above the global median, while Ushuaia is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Ushuaia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$10.38 ARS 15.8K
18.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$33.08 ARS 50.2K
84.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$9.06 ARS 13.7K
-17.00%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.78 ARS 4,224
58.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$1.67 ARS 2,528
4.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$1.54 ARS 2,330
-14.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$2.16 ARS 3,274
51.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$3.04 ARS 4,610
47.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Ushuaia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.31 ARS 1,984
19.08%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.57 ARS 2,388
92.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$2.02 ARS 3,069
24.26%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$2.27 ARS 3,449
57.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$10.15 ARS 15.4K
-26.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$6.35 ARS 9,633
65.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$9.23 ARS 14.0K
51.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$2.01 ARS 3,052
16.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$2.06 ARS 3,132
-21.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.27 ARS 1,933
277.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$2.62 ARS 3,980
-38.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$1.17 ARS 1,779
224.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.19 ARS 1,809
210.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.32 ARS 2,005
-14.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$1.45 ARS 2,197
83.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$3.11 ARS 4,716
66.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$5.02 ARS 7,625
296.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.97 ARS 2,994
47.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$3.02 ARS 4,583
20.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Ushuaia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.77 ARS 1,173
45.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.47 ARS 2,224
45.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$0.86 ARS 1,308
82.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$5.86 ARS 8,894
45.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.10 ARS 1,671
38.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$27.9K ARS 42.3M
-22.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$30.4K ARS 46.1M
13.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Ushuaia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$65.8 ARS 99.8K
46.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$17.24 ARS 26.2K
108.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$22.31 ARS 33.9K
140.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Ushuaia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$26.50 ARS 40.2K
170.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$13.68 ARS 20.8K
155.19%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$6.16 ARS 9,341
28.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Ushuaia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$220 ARS 333.3K
124.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$2,731 ARS 4.1M
334.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Ushuaia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$75.1 ARS 113.9K
-28.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$70.4 ARS 106.8K
-21.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$114 ARS 173.1K
-31.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$111 ARS 168.4K
-28.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Ushuaia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$342 ARS 519.2K
130.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$233 ARS 354.2K
240.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$694 ARS 1.1M
467.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$537 ARS 814.2K
164.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$1,848 ARS 2.8M
274.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$1,594 ARS 2.4M
-23.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Ushuaia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
58.5
-85.26%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ushuaia: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Ushuaia
$233 70.6% $561
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Ushuaia
$231 34.4% $121
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Ushuaia
$173 18.2% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Ushuaia
$105 43.3% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Ushuaia
$167 38.8% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Ushuaia
$39 55.6% $49
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Ushuaia
$8.9 * 89.8% $78

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $342 in Ushuaia. 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 $33.00 in Ushuaia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $231 – making Ushuaia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇦🇷 Ushuaia
🕒 Local time
08:29 8:29 AM
11:29 11:29 AM
3 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
79,538
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR 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).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Ushuaia 7,380 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Ushuaia

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 Ushuaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Ushuaia compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $957 in Ushuaia – roughly 92% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Ushuaia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $1,436 in Ushuaia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Ushuaia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ushuaia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara and $33.00 in Ushuaia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ushuaia, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $957 in Ushuaia to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia?
If budget matters most, go with Ushuaia. 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.

Nosara vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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