Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pathein and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Pathein: $1,021 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pathein
🇲🇲 Myanmar
$1,021
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,021 per month in Pathein vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Pathein $1,021
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,830 per month in Pathein vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Pathein $1,830
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $2,639 per month in Pathein vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Pathein $2,639
  • Nosara $3,818

Pathein is about 44% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Pathein sits 24% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pathein
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.48 MMK 3,095
$12.35 ₡5,539
-88.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.79 MMK 41.4K
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-67.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.97 MMK 16.7K
$7.52 ₡3,373
5.98%
Cappuccino
$1.47 MMK 3,082
$4.41 ₡1,978
-66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MMK 1,098
$1.74 ₡780
-70.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 MMK 1,078
$1.31 ₡587
-61.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 MMK 3,108
$3.28 ₡1,471
-54.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 MMK 2,048
$4.47 ₡2,004
-78.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pathein
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.56 ₡701
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 MMK 3,047
$3.02 ₡1,355
-51.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.98 MMK 6,249
$2.51 ₡1,125
18.73%
Eggs
$2.47 MMK 5,165
$3.57 ₡1,603
-30.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$40.74 MMK 85.3K
$7.43 ₡3,333
448.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.92 MMK 12.4K
$10.52 ₡4,717
-43.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.06 MMK 16.9K
$13.97 ₡6,265
-42.30%
Apples (1kg)
$10.02 MMK 21.0K
$2.35 ₡1,052
326.38%
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.61 ₡720
-
Oranges (1kg)
$10.08 MMK 21.1K
$4.80 ₡2,152
110.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.91 MMK 10.3K
$1.61 ₡724
204.97%
Potato (1kg)
$4.07 MMK 8,530
$3.80 ₡1,703
7.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MMK 4,217
$3.69 ₡1,657
-45.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 MMK 1,098
$1.13 ₡507
-53.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.66 ₡1,191
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 MMK 6,185
$5.18 ₡2,321
-43.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.03 MMK 41.9K
$19.88 ₡8,916
0.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 MMK 3,094
$2.90 ₡1,300
-48.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 MMK 4,152
$3.63 ₡1,626
-45.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Pathein
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.12 ₡504
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.14 ₡958
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 MMK 2,145
$1.57 ₡703
-35.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 MMK 6,222
$8.52 ₡3,823
-65.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 MMK 4,161
$1.52 ₡682
30.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K MMK 68.0M
$21.6K ₡9.7M
50.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K MMK 65.7M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-9.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pathein
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.30 MMK 42.5K
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-43.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.18 MMK 21.3K
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-81.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pathein
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$151 MMK 316.3K
$71.6 ₡32.1K
111.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.05 MMK 4,298
$7.89 ₡3,539
-74.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pathein
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$396 MMK 829.8K
$494 ₡221.6K
-19.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,748 MMK 9.9M
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-59.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pathein
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.34 MMK 42.6K
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-62.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.75 MMK 30.9K
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-73.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.03 MMK 102.7K
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-37.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.1 MMK 125.8K
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-24.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pathein
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$401 MMK 840.1K
$788 ₡353.4K
-49.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$301 MMK 631.0K
$794 ₡356.2K
-62.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,089 MMK 2.3M
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-72.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$984 MMK 2.1M
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-30.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pathein
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
8.62
-

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

Last update for Pathein: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Pathein
$397 *
Nosara
$352 11.3% $45
Accommodation & Living
Pathein
$301
Nosara
$794 164% $493
Sport & Entertainment
Pathein
$155
Nosara
$87 43.7% $68
Eating Out
Pathein
$67
Nosara
$212 216% $145
Clothing & Footwear
Pathein
$65
Nosara
$120 85% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pathein
$30 *
Nosara
$186 509% $155
Getting Around
Pathein
$5.1 *
Nosara
$87 1601% $82

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $401 in Pathein versus $788 in Nosara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Pathein versus $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $397 in Pathein vs $352 in Nosara – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇲 Pathein
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
09:22 9:22 AM
20:52 8:52 PM
12 h 30 min behind Pathein
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
315,600
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to MMK – Myanmar Kyat Converter

Myanmar Kyat exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 2,094 MMK (10,000 MMK = 4.78 USD). 1 EUR = 2,354 MMK (10,000 MMK = 4.25 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Pathein Nosara 17,040 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pathein
  • 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
Pathein vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Pathein and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,021 in Pathein, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 80% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Pathein compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,532 per month in Pathein and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Pathein and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pathein, 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 $20.00 in Pathein and $61.0 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pathein, where all-in costs run around $1,021, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Pathein it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Pathein and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,021 in Pathein to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Pathein 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 Pathein and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Pathein. 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.

Pathein vs other spots: cost of living compared

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