Cost of Living Comparison Between Ojochal and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Ojochal and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,595 per month in Ojochal vs $1,712 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,382 per month in Ojochal vs $2,637 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,170 per month in Ojochal vs $3,562 in Nosara, rent included.

Ojochal is about 7% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ojochal and Nosara sit above the global median – Ojochal by 19%, Nosara by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 ₡4,591

$11.04 ₡5,046

-8.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 ₡23.3K

$60.5 ₡27.6K

-15.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 ₡4,527

$7.09 ₡3,240

39.77%

Cappuccino

$3.72 ₡1,697

$3.89 ₡1,777

-4.37%

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

$2.04 ₡934

$1.57 ₡719

29.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₡718

$1.17 ₡533

34.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 ₡1,395

$2.94 ₡1,345

3.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 ₡2,095

$4.71 ₡2,150

-2.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡904

$1.47 ₡671

34.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 ₡1,328

$2.81 ₡1,286

3.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡973

$2.25 ₡1,026

-5.33%

Eggs

$3.02 ₡1,382

$2.94 ₡1,345

2.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.84 ₡4,498

$6.78 ₡3,099

45.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.27 ₡4,234

$9.03 ₡4,126

2.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.71 ₡6,263

$13.62 ₡6,223

0.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 ₡2,093

$2.05 ₡935

123.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₡686

$1.46 ₡668

2.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 ₡1,974

$4.18 ₡1,908

3.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 ₡1,472

$1.51 ₡691

113.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 ₡1,523

$3.44 ₡1,573

-3.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₡1,339

$3.19 ₡1,457

-8.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡469

$0.96 ₡437

7.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,329

$2.42 ₡1,104

20.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.04 ₡2,301

$4.61 ₡2,107

9.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.25 ₡7,883

$21.01 ₡9,601

-17.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₡1,042

$2.41 ₡1,100

-5.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,165

$2.85 ₡1,301

-10.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡438

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡29.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡824

$1.80 ₡822

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡812

$1.85 ₡845

-3.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.97 ₡3,640

$7.77 ₡3,550

2.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡639

$1.28 ₡585

9.37%

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

$37.1K ₡16.9M

$32.4K ₡14.8M

14.30%

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

$32.1K ₡14.7M

$32.2K ₡14.7M

-0.25%

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

$95.7 ₡43.7K

$95.5 ₡43.6K

0.21%

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

$25.72 ₡11.8K

$26.09 ₡11.9K

-1.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 ₡23.7K

$47.42 ₡21.7K

9.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₡26.4K

$57.8 ₡26.4K

-0.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.22 ₡11.1K

$23.56 ₡10.8K

2.80%

Cinema Ticket

$10.05 ₡4,593

$10.18 ₡4,651

-1.28%

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

$526 ₡240.5K

$442 ₡202.1K

18.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K ₡5.7M

$10.5K ₡4.8M

18.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡28.3K

$50.6 ₡23.1K

22.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡23.4K

$51.4 ₡23.5K

-0.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡56.5K

$72.2 ₡33.0K

71.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡49.1K

$70.4 ₡32.1K

52.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$766 ₡350.1K

$770 ₡352.0K

-0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 ₡274.2K

$733 ₡334.8K

-18.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ₡689.7K

$1,500 ₡685.6K

0.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$973 ₡444.5K

$1,290 ₡589.4K

-24.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,047 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,234 ₡563.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 ₡409.9K

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 Ojochal: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nosara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $766 in Ojochal versus $770 in Nosara. 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 $51.0 in Ojochal versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $358 in Ojochal vs $323 in Nosara – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Ojochal vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,595 in Ojochal, $1,712 in Nosara – roughly 7% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,392 per month in Ojochal and $2,568 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ojochal, 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 $51.0 in Ojochal and $60.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ojochal, where all-in costs run around $1,595, than in Nosara at $1,712. In Ojochal 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 $1,595 in Ojochal to $1,712 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 Ojochal. 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.