Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Paramaribo and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Paramaribo: $984 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Paramaribo
🇸🇷 Suriname
$984
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $984 per month in Paramaribo vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Paramaribo $984
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $1,657 per month in Paramaribo vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Paramaribo $1,657
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $2,331 per month in Paramaribo vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Paramaribo $2,331
  • Nosara $3,712

Paramaribo is about 46% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Paramaribo sits 27% below the global median, while Nosara is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paramaribo
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.44 SRD 504
$12.22 ₡5,509
9.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.4 SRD 1,964
$60.2 ₡27.1K
-12.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.99 SRD 412
$7.54 ₡3,399
45.76%
Cappuccino
$2.88 SRD 108
$4.31 ₡1,941
-33.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 SRD 52.9
$1.72 ₡773
-18.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 SRD 32.91
$1.35 ₡608
-34.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.66 SRD 99.7
$3.24 ₡1,459
-17.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 SRD 146
$4.48 ₡2,018
-13.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paramaribo
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 SRD 68.7
$1.57 ₡707
16.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 SRD 52.2
$3.17 ₡1,429
-56.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 SRD 60.3
$2.42 ₡1,091
-33.47%
Eggs
$2.98 SRD 112
$3.57 ₡1,609
-16.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.84 SRD 444
$7.43 ₡3,349
59.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.17 SRD 231
$10.42 ₡4,697
-40.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.18 SRD 381
$13.66 ₡6,156
-25.48%
Apples (1kg)
$4.77 SRD 179
$2.32 ₡1,044
105.60%
Banana (1kg)
$3.11 SRD 116
$1.61 ₡728
93.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.73 SRD 140
$4.74 ₡2,138
-21.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.89 SRD 221
$1.66 ₡747
254.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 SRD 49.77
$3.72 ₡1,679
-64.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 SRD 75.6
$3.57 ₡1,611
-43.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 SRD 55.6
$1.10 ₡497
34.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 SRD 56.4
$2.55 ₡1,149
-40.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.58 SRD 209
$4.95 ₡2,232
12.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.80 SRD 292
$20.01 ₡9,020
-61.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 SRD 75.0
$2.79 ₡1,256
-28.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 SRD 142
$3.53 ₡1,589
7.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Paramaribo
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 SRD 28.90
$1.19 ₡537
-35.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 SRD 79.8
$2.24 ₡1,011
-4.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 SRD 57.8
$1.55 ₡701
-0.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.17 SRD 269
$8.86 ₡3,993
-19.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 SRD 44.50
$1.57 ₡708
-24.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K SRD 921.2K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
12.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K SRD 948.6K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-26.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paramaribo
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.31 SRD 1,398
$93.5 ₡42.1K
-60.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.70 SRD 963
$35.11 ₡15.8K
-26.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.67 SRD 1,149
$51.5 ₡23.2K
-40.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paramaribo
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.84 SRD 518
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-80.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.32 SRD 761
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-42.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 SRD 186
$7.84 ₡3,535
-36.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paramaribo
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$62.3 SRD 2,335
$490 ₡220.7K
-87.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,739 SRD 65.2K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
-85.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paramaribo
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.84 SRD 1,268
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-36.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.87 SRD 782
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-62.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 SRD 2,525
$79.3 ₡35.7K
-14.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 SRD 3,903
$78.9 ₡35.6K
32.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paramaribo
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 SRD 18.3K
$786 ₡354.3K
-38.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 SRD 9,855
$780 ₡351.6K
-66.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$949 SRD 35.6K
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-75.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 SRD 19.0K
$1,407 ₡634.4K
-63.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$462 SRD 17.3K
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-93.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$400 SRD 15.0K
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-66.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paramaribo
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$279 SRD 10.5K
$876 ₡395.0K
-68.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16
8.62
85.61%

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

Last update for Paramaribo: October 5, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Paramaribo
$300
Nosara
$350 16.7% $50
Accommodation & Living
Paramaribo
$263
Nosara
$780 197% $517
Eating Out
Paramaribo
$205
Nosara
$209 2% $4.2
Clothing & Footwear
Paramaribo
$102
Nosara
$120 18.2% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paramaribo
$94
Nosara
$180 92.2% $86
Sport & Entertainment
Paramaribo
$24
Nosara
$87 267% $63
Getting Around
Paramaribo
$13 *
Nosara
$87 572% $74

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Paramaribo 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 214% 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 $52.0 in Paramaribo versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $350 – making Paramaribo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇷 Paramaribo
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
22:37 10:37 PM
19:37 7:37 PM
3 h behind Paramaribo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
242,946 Capital
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to SRD – Surinamese Dollar Converter

Surinamese Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 37.47 SRD (100 SRD = 2.67 USD). 1 EUR = 42.03 SRD (100 SRD = 2.38 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
  • Paramaribo Nosara 3,390 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Paramaribo
  • 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
Paramaribo vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Paramaribo and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $984 in Paramaribo, $1,837 in Nosara – roughly 87% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Paramaribo compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,476 per month in Paramaribo 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 Paramaribo and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Paramaribo, 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 $52.0 in Paramaribo 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 17% 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 $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Paramaribo, where all-in costs run around $984, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Paramaribo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Paramaribo and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $984 in Paramaribo to $1,837 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Paramaribo 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 Paramaribo and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Paramaribo. 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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