Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Coco and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,796 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,703 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,728 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,623 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,543 in Nosara, rent included.

Playa del Coco costs about 5% more than Nosara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Coco and Nosara sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 34%, Nosara by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.81 ₡7,054

$10.85 ₡4,840

45.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 ₡35.7K

$60.4 ₡27.0K

32.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 ₡4,333

$7.14 ₡3,183

35.99%

Cappuccino

$7.01 ₡3,129

$3.79 ₡1,692

84.96%

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

$2.37 ₡1,057

$1.57 ₡698

50.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₡853

$1.22 ₡544

56.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 ₡1,468

$3.04 ₡1,358

8.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 ₡2,642

$4.78 ₡2,132

23.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.58 ₡1,150

$1.48 ₡661

74.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,286

$2.89 ₡1,288

-0.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡954

$2.21 ₡984

-3.17%

Eggs

$3.04 ₡1,358

$3.00 ₡1,339

1.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.20 ₡3,657

$6.73 ₡3,004

21.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.79 ₡5,705

$8.99 ₡4,012

42.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 ₡6,170

$13.52 ₡6,031

2.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₡2,027

$2.11 ₡943

115.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡654

$1.42 ₡633

3.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 ₡1,913

$4.28 ₡1,909

0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₡718

$1.52 ₡677

5.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 ₡1,483

$3.37 ₡1,502

-1.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₡1,326

$3.08 ₡1,372

-3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡447

$1.01 ₡451

-0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,298

$2.38 ₡1,061

22.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 ₡2,158

$4.64 ₡2,068

4.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ₡8,284

$21.02 ₡9,378

-11.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₡963

$2.45 ₡1,092

-11.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,135

$2.89 ₡1,291

-12.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 ₡543

$0.98 ₡435

24.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ₡30.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 ₡1,294

$1.78 ₡795

62.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡819

$1.80 ₡802

2.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.06 ₡3,597

$7.70 ₡3,436

4.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 ₡853

$1.31 ₡584

45.80%

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

$38.0K ₡16.9M

$32.6K ₡14.5M

16.55%

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

$32.9K ₡14.7M

$32.4K ₡14.5M

1.57%

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

$173 ₡77.2K

$94.4 ₡42.1K

83.22%

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

$26.40 ₡11.8K

$25.89 ₡11.5K

1.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.8 ₡26.7K

$47.27 ₡21.1K

26.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₡25.2K

$57.3 ₡25.6K

-1.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.92 ₡10.7K

$23.50 ₡10.5K

1.79%

Cinema Ticket

$10.24 ₡4,567

$9.68 ₡4,320

5.79%

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

$515 ₡229.8K

$446 ₡199.0K

15.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.7M

$10.8K ₡4.8M

18.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡28.3K

$49.75 ₡22.2K

27.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 ₡23.1K

$52.0 ₡23.2K

-0.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡56.5K

$70.9 ₡31.6K

78.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡47.1K

$70.2 ₡31.3K

50.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₡347.4K

$772 ₡344.6K

0.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡268.6K

$735 ₡328.0K

-18.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,539 ₡686.7K

$1,506 ₡671.7K

2.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$980 ₡437.4K

$1,325 ₡591.0K

-25.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,053 ₡3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$326 ₡145.3K

$1,215 ₡542.2K

-73.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$783 ₡349.1K

$878 ₡391.5K

-10.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Playa del Coco: July 14, 2026

Last update for Nosara: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $779 in Playa del Coco versus $772 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 12% higher in Nosara, 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 $80.0 in Playa del Coco versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $323 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Playa del Coco vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,796 in Playa del Coco, $1,703 in Nosara – roughly 5% apart. Playa del Coco costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,694 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,554 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Playa del Coco and $60.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Playa del Coco, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,703, than in Playa del Coco at $1,796. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco 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 $1,703 in Nosara to $1,796 in Playa del Coco. 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 Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Coco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.