Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Olongapo and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Olongapo: $706 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Olongapo
🇵🇭 Philippines
$706
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Olongapo and in Nosara

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Olongapo and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $706 per month in Olongapo vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Olongapo $706
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,067 per month in Olongapo vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Olongapo $1,067
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,429 per month in Olongapo vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Olongapo $1,429
  • Nosara $3,818

Olongapo is about 62% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Olongapo sits 48% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Olongapo
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94 ₱248
$12.35 ₡5,539
-68.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.49 ₱1,038
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-73.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.77 ₱174
$7.52 ₡3,373
-63.16%
Cappuccino
$1.77 ₱111
$4.41 ₡1,978
-59.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₱38.13
$1.74 ₡780
-64.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₱19.29
$1.31 ₡587
-76.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ₱61.7
$3.28 ₡1,471
-70.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 ₱87.4
$4.47 ₡2,004
-68.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Olongapo
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 ₱101
$1.56 ₡701
2.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 ₱26.00
$3.02 ₡1,355
-86.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 ₱51.9
$2.51 ₡1,125
-67.33%
Eggs
$1.89 ₱119
$3.57 ₡1,603
-47.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.18 ₱326
$7.43 ₡3,333
-30.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.48 ₱156
$10.52 ₡4,717
-76.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.04 ₱506
$13.97 ₡6,265
-42.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 ₱140
$2.35 ₡1,052
-5.53%
Banana (1kg)
$0.91 ₱57.5
$1.61 ₡720
-43.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ₱147
$4.80 ₡2,152
-51.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 ₱64.4
$1.61 ₡724
-36.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 ₱106
$3.80 ₡1,703
-55.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 ₱107
$3.69 ₡1,657
-53.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ₱38.96
$1.13 ₡507
-45.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₱26.25
$2.66 ₡1,191
-84.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01 ₱189
$5.18 ₡2,321
-41.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.97 ₱565
$19.88 ₡8,916
-54.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₱57.5
$2.90 ₡1,300
-68.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ₱130
$3.63 ₡1,626
-43.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Olongapo
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ₱16.99
$1.12 ₡504
-75.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.17 ₱766
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-83.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 ₱48.96
$2.14 ₡958
-63.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.85
$1.57 ₡703
-84.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 ₱124
$8.52 ₡3,823
-76.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ₱70.6
$1.52 ₡682
-26.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ₱1.3M
$21.6K ₡9.7M
-2.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-43.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olongapo
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 ₱8,003
$96.3 ₡43.2K
32.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.27 ₱1,087
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-51.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.49 ₱1,479
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-56.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Olongapo
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.45 ₱2,043
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-54.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.67 ₱294
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-86.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.35 ₱274
$7.89 ₡3,539
-44.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Olongapo
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$79.1 ₱4,977
$494 ₡221.6K
-84.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₱670.6K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-10.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Olongapo
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.28 ₱1,844
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-45.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.67 ₱1,238
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-64.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.9 ₱4,529
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-7.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.7 ₱3,569
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-28.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Olongapo
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$266 ₱16.8K
$788 ₡353.4K
-66.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 ₱10.9K
$794 ₡356.2K
-78.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$258 ₱16.2K
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-93.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 ₱22.3K
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-75.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,473 ₱155.7K
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-64.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,008 ₱63.5K
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-17.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Olongapo
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$133 ₱8,371
$864 ₡387.3K
-84.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
8.62
-21.69%

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

Last update for Olongapo: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Olongapo
$173
Nosara
$794 360% $622
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olongapo
$168
Nosara
$186 10.7% $18
Groceries & Markets
Olongapo
$157
Nosara
$352 125% $196
Clothing & Footwear
Olongapo
$80
Nosara
$120 50.3% $40
Eating Out
Olongapo
$72
Nosara
$212 193% $139
Sport & Entertainment
Olongapo
$41
Nosara
$87 112% $46
Getting Around
Olongapo
$15
Nosara
$87 470% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Olongapo versus $788 in Nosara. 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 549% 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 $16.00 in Olongapo versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $157 vs $352 – making Olongapo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Olongapo
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
22:57 10:57 PM
08:57 8:57 AM
14 h behind Olongapo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
233,040
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Olongapo Nosara 16,040 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Olongapo
  • Nosara

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
Olongapo vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Olongapo and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $706 in Olongapo, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 161% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Olongapo compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,059 per month in Olongapo and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Olongapo and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Olongapo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Olongapo and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 497% less in Olongapo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Olongapo and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $79.1 per month in Olongapo and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Olongapo, where all-in costs run around $706, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Olongapo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Olongapo and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $706 in Olongapo to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Olongapo or Nosara 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 Olongapo and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Olongapo. 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.

Olongapo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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