Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangyo and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Pangyo: $1,460 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Nosara outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

72

Cost of Living Index in Pangyo
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Pangyo Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Pangyo

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,460

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,460 per month in Pangyo vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

Pangyo $1,460
Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Pangyo vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

Pangyo $2,303
Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $3,145 per month in Pangyo vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

Pangyo $3,145
Nosara $3,712

Pangyo is about 21% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Pangyo and Nosara sit above the global median – Pangyo by 9%, Nosara by 37%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.17 ₩9,634

$12.22 ₡5,509

-41.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.05 ₩40.4K

$60.2 ₡27.1K

-50.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.54 ₩8,788

$7.54 ₡3,399

-13.26%

Cappuccino

$4.03 ₩5,407

$4.31 ₡1,941

-6.50%

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

$1.51 ₩2,028

$1.72 ₡773

-12.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₩956

$1.35 ₡608

-47.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 ₩3,982

$3.24 ₡1,459

-8.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 ₩5,348

$4.48 ₡2,018

-11.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₩3,091

$1.57 ₡707

46.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 ₩4,284

$3.17 ₡1,429

0.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 ₩3,682

$2.42 ₡1,091

13.22%

Eggs

$2.69 ₩3,615

$3.57 ₡1,609

-24.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 ₩14.6K

$7.43 ₡3,349

46.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 ₩10.6K

$10.42 ₡4,697

-24.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.43 ₩28.8K

$13.66 ₡6,156

56.88%

Apples (1kg)

$7.68 ₩10.3K

$2.32 ₡1,044

231.03%

Banana (1kg)

$3.62 ₩4,858

$1.61 ₡728

124.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.50 ₩10.1K

$4.74 ₡2,138

58.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.11 ₩8,201

$1.66 ₡747

268.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.62 ₩4,859

$3.72 ₡1,679

-2.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 ₩3,596

$3.57 ₡1,611

-24.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 ₩3,740

$1.10 ₡497

152.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₩1,719

$2.55 ₡1,149

-49.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ₩4,635

$4.95 ₡2,232

-30.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.84 ₩25.3K

$20.01 ₡9,020

-5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₩3,078

$2.79 ₡1,256

-17.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ₩4,649

$3.53 ₡1,589

-1.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 ₩1,479

$1.19 ₡537

-7.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.53 ₩63.8K

$72.1 ₡32.5K

-34.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 ₩4,515

$2.24 ₡1,011

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₩884

$1.55 ₡701

-57.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.05 ₩17.5K

$8.86 ₡3,993

47.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₩1,891

$1.57 ₡708

-10.19%

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

$30.8K ₩41.3M

$21.8K ₡9.8M

41.06%

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

$38.4K ₩51.6M

$34.6K ₡15.6M

10.85%

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

$199 ₩267.4K

$93.5 ₡42.1K

113.08%

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

$36.74 ₩49.3K

$35.11 ₡15.8K

4.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.15 ₩29.8K

$51.5 ₡23.2K

-56.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.2 ₩68.7K

$71.4 ₡32.2K

-28.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.91 ₩16.0K

$35.44 ₡16.0K

-66.39%

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 ₩14.9K

$7.84 ₡3,535

41.96%

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

$526 ₩706.1K

$490 ₡220.7K

7.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.7K ₩29.1M

$11.9K ₡5.4M

82.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 ₩88.2K

$53.5 ₡24.1K

22.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.1 ₩86.1K

$55.8 ₡25.1K

14.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 ₩100.1K

$79.3 ₡35.7K

-5.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₩135.6K

$78.9 ₡35.6K

28.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 ₩642.6K

$786 ₡354.3K

-39.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 ₩484.9K

$780 ₡351.6K

-53.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 ₩1.6M

$3,860 ₡1.7M

-69.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ₩987.8K

$1,407 ₡634.4K

-47.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,053 ₩9.5M

$6,972 ₡3.1M

1.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,546 ₩7.4M

$1,201 ₡541.3K

361.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,262 ₩7.1M

$876 ₡395.0K

500.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

8.62

-52.44%

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

Last update for Pangyo: October 4, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Pangyo

$433 29.3%

Nosara

$350 19.3% 19.2% $83

Accommodation & Living

Pangyo

$361 24.4%

Nosara

$780 43% 116% $419

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pangyo

$258 17.5%

Nosara

$180 9.9% 30.2% $78

Eating Out

Pangyo

$157 10.6%

Nosara

$209 11.6% 33.4% $52

Clothing & Footwear

Pangyo

$137 9.3%

Nosara

$120 6.6% 12.4% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Pangyo

$73 5%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 18.6% $14

Getting Around

Pangyo

$59 4%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 48.2% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Pangyo 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 500% higher in Pangyo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Pangyo versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $433 in Pangyo vs $350 in Nosara – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇰🇷 Pangyo

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

10:53 10:53 AM

19:53 7:53 PM

15 h behind Pangyo

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

💱 Currency

South Korean Won KRW ₩

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.64 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇷 South Korean Won (₩)

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,343 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,506 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.64 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).

USD to KRW in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Pangyo Nosara 13,740 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight

From you

Pangyo
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

Pangyo vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,460 in Pangyo, $1,837 in Nosara – roughly 26% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,191 per month in Pangyo and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pangyo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Pangyo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $526 per month in Pangyo and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pangyo, where all-in costs run around $1,460, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Pangyo 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 $1,460 in Pangyo to $1,837 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 Pangyo. 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.