Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Palma de Mallorca and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,239 in Palma de Mallorca, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Palma de Mallorca
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,239
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,239 per month in Palma de Mallorca vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Palma de Mallorca $2,239
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $3,269 per month in Palma de Mallorca vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Palma de Mallorca $3,269
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $4,300 per month in Palma de Mallorca vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Palma de Mallorca $4,300
  • Nosara $3,712

Palma de Mallorca costs about 22% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Palma de Mallorca and Nosara sit above the global median – Palma de Mallorca by 67%, Nosara by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palma de Mallorca
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.64 €16.63
$12.22 ₡5,509
52.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2 €59.1
$60.2 ₡27.1K
10.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.35 €11.91
$7.54 ₡3,399
77.06%
Cappuccino
$3.20 €2.86
$4.31 ₡1,941
-25.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 €2.41
$1.72 ₡773
56.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 €2.42
$1.35 ₡608
100.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.61 €4.11
$3.24 ₡1,459
42.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 €3.46
$4.48 ₡2,018
-13.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palma de Mallorca
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.21
$1.57 ₡707
-14.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 €1.03
$3.17 ₡1,429
-63.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 €1.45
$2.42 ₡1,091
-33.06%
Eggs
$3.41 €3.04
$3.57 ₡1,609
-4.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.56 €13.00
$7.43 ₡3,349
95.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.77 €7.83
$10.42 ₡4,697
-15.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.90 €14.19
$13.66 ₡6,156
16.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 €2.30
$2.32 ₡1,044
10.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 €1.74
$1.61 ₡728
21.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 €1.57
$4.74 ₡2,138
-62.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.87 €2.56
$1.66 ₡747
72.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 €1.73
$3.72 ₡1,679
-47.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 €1.94
$3.57 ₡1,611
-38.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 €1.12
$1.10 ₡497
14.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 €0.58
$2.55 ₡1,149
-74.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.13
$4.95 ₡2,232
38.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.55 €4.95
$20.01 ₡9,020
-72.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.24
$2.79 ₡1,256
-50.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 €1.71
$3.53 ₡1,589
-45.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Palma de Mallorca
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 €2.02
$1.19 ₡537
89.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.95 €36.54
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-43.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.09 €4.54
$2.24 ₡1,011
127.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 €1.23
$1.55 ₡701
-10.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.04 €21.45
$8.86 ₡3,993
171.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 €1.62
$1.57 ₡708
15.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K €31.6K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
62.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K €28.0K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-9.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palma de Mallorca
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 €226
$93.5 ₡42.1K
171.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.84 €21.28
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-32.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.93 €38.31
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-16.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palma de Mallorca
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.0 €55.3
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-13.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.84 €24.85
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-21.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.77 €8.72
$7.84 ₡3,535
24.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palma de Mallorca
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$610 €544
$490 ₡220.7K
24.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K €9,246
$11.9K ₡5.4M
-12.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palma de Mallorca
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1 €63.5
$53.5 ₡24.1K
32.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 €49.34
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-0.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €89.0
$79.3 ₡35.7K
25.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 €115
$78.9 ₡35.6K
62.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palma de Mallorca
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 €1,336
$786 ₡354.3K
90.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 €941
$780 ₡351.6K
35.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,356 €2,103
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-38.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,841 €1,643
$1,407 ₡634.4K
30.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,887 €6,146
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-1.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,721 €3,321
$1,201 ₡541.3K
209.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palma de Mallorca
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,018 €1,801
$876 ₡395.0K
130.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.07
8.62
-64.39%

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

Last update for Palma de Mallorca: October 4, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Palma de Mallorca
$1.1K
Nosara
$780 26.1% $275
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palma de Mallorca
$320
Nosara
$180 43.8% $140
Eating Out
Palma de Mallorca
$280
Nosara
$209 25.2% $71
Groceries & Markets
Palma de Mallorca
$271
Nosara
$350 28.8% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Palma de Mallorca
$160
Nosara
$120 24.6% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Palma de Mallorca
$82
Nosara
$87 6.8% $5.6
Getting Around
Palma de Mallorca
$62
Nosara
$87 40.1% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,497 in Palma de Mallorca 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 130% higher in Palma de Mallorca, 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 $66.0 in Palma de Mallorca versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $271 in Palma de Mallorca vs $350 in Nosara – so Palma de Mallorca wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Palma de Mallorca
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
11:42 11:42 AM
03:42 3:42 AM
8 h behind Palma de Mallorca
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
423,350
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Palma de Mallorca Nosara 9,160 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Palma de Mallorca
  • 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
Palma de Mallorca vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Palma de Mallorca and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,239 in Palma de Mallorca, $1,837 in Nosara – roughly 22% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Palma de Mallorca compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,358 per month in Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, 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 Palma de Mallorca and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 76% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Palma de Mallorca and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $610 per month in Palma de Mallorca and $490 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 $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Palma de Mallorca at $2,239. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Palma de Mallorca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Palma de Mallorca and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Nosara to $2,239 in Palma de Mallorca. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Palma de Mallorca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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