Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Passos and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Passos: $956 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Passos
🇧🇷 Brazil
$956
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $956 per month in Passos vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Passos $956
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $1,537 per month in Passos vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Passos $1,537
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $2,119 per month in Passos vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Passos $2,119
  • Nosara $3,814

Passos is about 48% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Passos sits 29% below the global median, while Nosara is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Passos
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.06 R$51.0
$12.34 ₡5,535
-18.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.57 R$180
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-41.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.86 R$44.91
$7.76 ₡3,481
14.18%
Cappuccino
$2.28 R$11.54
$4.44 ₡1,992
-48.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 R$6.80
$1.79 ₡803
-25.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 R$4.80
$1.29 ₡580
-26.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 R$12.39
$3.24 ₡1,451
-24.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05 R$20.51
$4.43 ₡1,985
-8.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Passos
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 R$5.40
$1.55 ₡696
-31.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 R$10.40
$3.08 ₡1,380
-33.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 R$6.95
$2.53 ₡1,133
-45.85%
Eggs
$2.61 R$13.22
$3.45 ₡1,546
-24.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.74 R$54.4
$7.32 ₡3,284
46.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.97 R$25.18
$10.24 ₡4,594
-51.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.75 R$54.5
$14.10 ₡6,326
-23.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 R$11.87
$2.29 ₡1,027
2.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 R$8.42
$1.64 ₡737
1.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 R$7.76
$4.79 ₡2,149
-68.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 R$6.94
$1.64 ₡735
-16.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 R$6.60
$3.85 ₡1,727
-66.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.29
$3.75 ₡1,681
-66.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 R$5.01
$1.09 ₡488
-9.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 R$4.31
$2.59 ₡1,160
-67.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 R$12.34
$5.12 ₡2,295
-52.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 R$40.96
$19.92 ₡8,931
-59.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 R$7.89
$2.80 ₡1,255
-44.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 R$12.74
$3.52 ₡1,580
-28.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Passos
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 R$5.05
$1.22 ₡549
-18.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.39 R$220
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-41.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 R$5.93
$2.17 ₡973
-46.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 R$3.66
$1.56 ₡698
-53.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.38 R$42.46
$8.67 ₡3,886
-3.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 R$6.48
$1.55 ₡697
-17.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K R$121.6K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-30.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K R$162.0K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-17.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Passos
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 R$342
$94.8 ₡42.5K
-28.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.00 R$76.1
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-58.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.66 R$115
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-57.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Passos
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.76 R$131
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-65.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.49 R$139
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-22.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17 R$41.40
$7.91 ₡3,548
3.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Passos
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$443 R$2,246
$490 ₡219.9K
-9.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K R$54.8K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-8.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Passos
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.4 R$326
$54.8 ₡24.6K
17.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0 R$289
$55.9 ₡25.1K
1.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 R$449
$80.4 ₡36.0K
10.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 R$402
$77.9 ₡34.9K
1.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Passos
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$354 R$1,797
$801 ₡359.1K
-55.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 R$1,225
$790 ₡354.1K
-69.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 R$3,485
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-82.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$475 R$2,410
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-66.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,693 R$8,582
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-76.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,181 R$5,984
$1,236 ₡554.3K
-4.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Passos
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$419 R$2,122
$887 ₡397.6K
-52.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.81
8.62
25.41%

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

Last update for Passos: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Passos
$242
Nosara
$790 227% $548
Groceries & Markets
Passos
$221
Nosara
$350 58.6% $129
Eating Out
Passos
$164
Nosara
$213 29.8% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Passos
$130
Nosara
$121 7% $9.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Passos
$105
Nosara
$184 75.1% $79
Getting Around
Passos
$52
Nosara
$89 70.2% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Passos
$42
Nosara
$90 113% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Passos versus $801 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 112% 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 $36.00 in Passos versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $350 – making Passos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Passos
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
01:31 1:31 AM
22:31 10:31 PM
3 h behind Passos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
111,939
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Passos Nosara 5,460 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Passos
  • 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
Passos vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Passos and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $956 in Passos, $1,835 in Nosara – roughly 92% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Passos compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,433 per month in Passos and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Passos and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Passos, 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 Passos and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 70% less in Passos. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Passos and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $443 per month in Passos 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 $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Passos, where all-in costs run around $956, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Passos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Passos and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $956 in Passos to $1,835 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Passos 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 Passos and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Passos. 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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