Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Victoria Falls

For one person, living is cheaper in Victoria Falls: $902 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Victoria Falls
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
$902
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Victoria Falls

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $902 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Victoria Falls $902

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $1,466 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Victoria Falls $1,466

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $2,031 in Victoria Falls, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Victoria Falls $2,031

Nosara costs about 104% more than Victoria Falls, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 37% above the global median, while Victoria Falls is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Victoria Falls
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$9.95 ZWL 266
22.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$45.68 ZWL 1,220
31.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$5.83 ZWL 156
-26.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$0.99 ZWL 26.34
73.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$0.48 ZWL 12.81
181.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$4.93 ZWL 132
-34.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Victoria Falls
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$1.98 ZWL 52.9
-20.71%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$1.02 ZWL 27.35
210.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$1.95 ZWL 52.0
24.10%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$3.59 ZWL 95.9
-0.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$2.57 ZWL 68.7
189.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$6.06 ZWL 162
71.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$7.78 ZWL 208
75.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$2.95 ZWL 78.7
-21.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$2.94 ZWL 78.6
-45.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$2.94 ZWL 78.4
61.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$3.91 ZWL 104
-57.54%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$1.97 ZWL 52.7
81.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$1.98 ZWL 53.0
-44.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$1.53 ZWL 40.77
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$3.38 ZWL 90.3
46.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$19.97 ZWL 533
0.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Victoria Falls
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$1.97 ZWL 52.6
-39.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$1.02 ZWL 27.32
51.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$1.78 ZWL 47.59
-11.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Victoria Falls
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$24.86 ZWL 664
275.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$25.21 ZWL 673
39.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$69.1 ZWL 1,845
-25.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Victoria Falls
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$61.1 ZWL 1,631
16.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
$14.83 ZWL 396
138.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$19.97 ZWL 533
-60.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Victoria Falls
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$99.6 ZWL 2,660
391.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$5,890 ZWL 157.3K
101.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Victoria Falls
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$15.17 ZWL 405
252.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$24.80 ZWL 662
124.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$60.3 ZWL 1,612
31.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$45.58 ZWL 1,217
73.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Victoria Falls
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$252 ZWL 6,728
212.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$178 ZWL 4,757
337.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$499 ZWL 13.3K
673.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$357 ZWL 9,533
294.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Victoria Falls
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$806 ZWL 21.5K
8.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
0
-

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Victoria Falls: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Victoria Falls
–
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Victoria Falls
–
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Victoria Falls
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Victoria Falls
–
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Victoria Falls
–
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Victoria Falls
–
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Victoria Falls
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $252 in Victoria Falls. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Nosara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara versus $46.00 in Victoria Falls. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $247 – making Victoria Falls the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇿🇼 Victoria Falls
🕒 Local time
06:14 6:14 AM
14:14 2:14 PM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
35,215
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 26.71 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.74 USD). 1 EUR = 29.93 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.34 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Victoria Falls 12,610 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Victoria Falls

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 Victoria Falls: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Victoria Falls compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $902 in Victoria Falls – roughly 104% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Victoria Falls?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $1,352 in Victoria Falls. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Victoria Falls?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Victoria Falls, 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 $60.0 in Nosara and $46.00 in Victoria Falls. 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 41% 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 Victoria Falls, where all-in costs run around $902, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Victoria Falls 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 Victoria Falls?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $902 in Victoria Falls to $1,837 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Victoria Falls 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 Victoria Falls?
If budget matters most, go with Victoria Falls. 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

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