Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oskemen and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Oskemen: $897 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oskemen
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$897
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Oskemen 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 Oskemen and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $897 per month in Oskemen vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Oskemen $897
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $1,498 per month in Oskemen vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Oskemen $1,498
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $2,099 per month in Oskemen vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Oskemen $2,099
  • Nosara $3,712

Oskemen is about 51% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oskemen
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96 ₸5,835
$12.22 ₡5,509
6.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.65 ₸12.0K
$60.2 ₡27.1K
-55.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.96 ₸1,784
$7.54 ₡3,399
-47.48%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₸1,534
$4.31 ₡1,941
-20.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₸457
$1.72 ₡773
-40.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₸263
$1.35 ₡608
-57.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.57 ₸709
$3.24 ₡1,459
-51.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₸755
$4.48 ₡2,018
-62.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oskemen
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 ₸636
$1.57 ₡707
-10.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 ₸223
$3.17 ₡1,429
-84.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 ₸579
$2.42 ₡1,091
-46.69%
Eggs
$1.72 ₸773
$3.57 ₡1,609
-51.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.25 ₸4,614
$7.43 ₡3,349
37.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.73 ₸2,581
$10.42 ₡4,697
-45.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.97 ₸3,586
$13.66 ₡6,156
-41.65%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 ₸516
$2.32 ₡1,044
-50.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 ₸892
$1.61 ₡728
22.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 ₸1,174
$4.74 ₡2,138
-44.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 ₸1,133
$1.66 ₡747
51.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 ₸399
$3.72 ₡1,679
-76.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₸219
$3.57 ₡1,611
-86.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 ₸142
$1.10 ₡497
-71.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₸471
$2.55 ₡1,149
-58.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13 ₸960
$4.95 ₡2,232
-56.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.95 ₸2,227
$20.01 ₡9,020
-75.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 ₸652
$2.79 ₡1,256
-48.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ₸746
$3.53 ₡1,589
-52.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Oskemen
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₸117
$1.19 ₡537
-78.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 ₸485
$2.24 ₡1,011
-51.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₸133
$1.55 ₡701
-80.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 ₸1,052
$8.86 ₡3,993
-73.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 ₸305
$1.57 ₡708
-56.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K ₸14.5M
$21.8K ₡9.8M
47.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K ₸13.5M
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-13.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oskemen
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.73 ₸20.6K
$93.5 ₡42.1K
-51.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.11 ₸5,003
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-68.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.78 ₸10.3K
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-55.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oskemen
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.16 ₸11.8K
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-63.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.98 ₸8,993
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-43.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.02 ₸2,259
$7.84 ₡3,535
-35.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oskemen
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$66.5 ₸30.0K
$490 ₡220.7K
-86.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,760 ₸1.2M
$11.9K ₡5.4M
-76.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oskemen
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115 ₸51.7K
$53.5 ₡24.1K
114.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.4 ₸36.2K
$55.8 ₡25.1K
44.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ₸44.1K
$79.3 ₡35.7K
23.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₸55.0K
$78.9 ₡35.6K
54.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oskemen
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$341 ₸153.4K
$786 ₡354.3K
-56.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 ₸101.0K
$780 ₡351.6K
-71.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$650 ₸292.7K
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-83.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$576 ₸259.2K
$1,407 ₡634.4K
-59.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,118 ₸503.5K
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-83.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$810 ₸364.8K
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-32.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oskemen
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$794 ₸357.5K
$876 ₡395.0K
-9.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.5
8.62
126.22%

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

Last update for Oskemen: October 3, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Oskemen
$224
Nosara
$780 248% $556
Groceries & Markets
Oskemen
$193
Nosara
$350 81.2% $157
Clothing & Footwear
Oskemen
$187
Nosara
$120 35.7% $67
Eating Out
Oskemen
$174
Nosara
$209 20.3% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oskemen
$80
Nosara
$180 126% $100
Sport & Entertainment
Oskemen
$36
Nosara
$87 141% $51
Getting Around
Oskemen
$3.6 *
Nosara
$87 2313% $83

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $341 in Oskemen versus $786 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 10% 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 $27.00 in Oskemen versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $350 – making Oskemen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Oskemen
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
07:54 7:54 AM
19:54 7:54 PM
12 h behind Oskemen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
354,770
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 450 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Oskemen Nosara 13,250 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Oskemen
  • 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
Oskemen vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Oskemen and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $897 in Oskemen, $1,837 in Nosara – roughly 105% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Oskemen compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,346 per month in Oskemen and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Oskemen and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oskemen, 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 $27.00 in Oskemen and $60.0 in Nosara. 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 81% 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 Oskemen, where all-in costs run around $897, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Oskemen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Oskemen and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $897 in Oskemen to $1,837 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Oskemen 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 Oskemen and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Oskemen. 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.

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