Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Zaqatala

For one person, living is cheaper in Zaqatala: $347 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Zaqatala
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
$347
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Zaqatala

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $347 in Zaqatala, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Zaqatala $347

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $581 in Zaqatala, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Zaqatala $581

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $815 in Zaqatala, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Zaqatala $815

Nosara costs about 430% more than Zaqatala, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Nosara sits 37% above the global median, while Zaqatala is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Zaqatala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$4.61 ₼7.83
165.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$20.76 ₼35.28
189.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$5.26 ₼8.94
43.35%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$2.33 ₼3.97
84.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$0.56 ₼0.96
207.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$0.52 ₼0.88
159.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$1.71 ₼2.90
89.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$2.97 ₼5.05
50.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Zaqatala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$0.97 ₼1.66
61.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$0.42 ₼0.72
654.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$2.28 ₼3.87
6.14%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$1.38 ₼2.35
158.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$3.62 ₼6.16
105.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$2.42 ₼4.11
330.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$8.17 ₼13.89
67.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$0.80 ₼1.35
190.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$1.15 ₼1.96
40.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$0.58 ₼0.98
717.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$0.72 ₼1.23
130.56%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$0.30 ₼0.51
1140.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$0.37 ₼0.63
864.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$0.92 ₼1.57
19.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$0.60 ₼1.02
325.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$1.74 ₼2.96
184.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$8.97 ₼15.24
123.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$1.15 ₼1.96
142.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$2.03 ₼3.45
73.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Zaqatala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$0.18 ₼0.30
561.11%
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
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$0.67 ₼1.13
134.33%
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
Zaqatala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Zaqatala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$33.15 ₼56.3
115.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Zaqatala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Zaqatala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Zaqatala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$116 ₼198
575.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$81.7 ₼139
854.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$235 ₼400
1540.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$145 ₼246
872.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Zaqatala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
-
-
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 Zaqatala: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Zaqatala
$82 89.5% $698
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Zaqatala
$133 61.9% $216
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Zaqatala
$99 52.5% $110
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Zaqatala
- * 100%
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Zaqatala
- * 100%
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Zaqatala
$33 * 61.9% $54
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Zaqatala
$0.7 * 99.2% $86

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $116 in Zaqatala. 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 $21.00 in Zaqatala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $133 – making Zaqatala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇦🇿 Zaqatala
🕒 Local time
21:11 9:11 PM
07:11 7:11 AM
10 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
21,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AZN, 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 = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Azerbaijani Manat exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.7 AZN (1 AZN = 0.588 USD). 1 EUR = 1.91 AZN (1 AZN = 0.525 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Zaqatala 12,490 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Zaqatala

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 Zaqatala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Zaqatala compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Nosara, $347 in Zaqatala – roughly 430% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Zaqatala?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $520 in Zaqatala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Zaqatala?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zaqatala, 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 $21.00 in Zaqatala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nosara or Zaqatala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,837 in Nosara and $347 in Zaqatala. That's a gap of about 430%.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zaqatala, where all-in costs run around $347, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Zaqatala 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 Zaqatala?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $347 in Zaqatala to $1,837 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Zaqatala 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 Zaqatala?
If budget matters most, go with Zaqatala. 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?