Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa Flamingo and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa Flamingo and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,564 per month in Playa Flamingo vs $1,712 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,429 per month in Playa Flamingo vs $2,637 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,294 per month in Playa Flamingo vs $3,562 in Nosara, rent included.

Playa Flamingo is about 9% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Playa Flamingo and Nosara sit above the global median – Playa Flamingo by 17%, Nosara by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.02 ₡5,050

$11.04 ₡5,063

-0.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 ₡27.4K

$60.5 ₡27.7K

-1.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.78 ₡4,485

$7.09 ₡3,251

37.94%

Cappuccino

$3.92 ₡1,798

$3.89 ₡1,783

0.77%

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

$1.99 ₡914

$1.57 ₡721

26.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₡723

$1.17 ₡534

35.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 ₡1,360

$2.94 ₡1,349

1.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 ₡2,189

$4.71 ₡2,157

1.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡909

$1.47 ₡673

34.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,326

$2.81 ₡1,290

2.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₡994

$2.25 ₡1,029

-3.56%

Eggs

$2.37 ₡1,085

$2.94 ₡1,350

-19.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ₡4,595

$6.78 ₡3,109

47.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.07 ₡4,158

$9.03 ₡4,140

0.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 ₡6,149

$13.62 ₡6,244

-1.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 ₡2,099

$2.05 ₡938

123.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₡695

$1.46 ₡670

4.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 ₡1,968

$4.18 ₡1,914

2.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 ₡1,580

$1.51 ₡693

128.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₡1,556

$3.44 ₡1,578

-1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₡1,431

$3.19 ₡1,462

-2.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡471

$0.96 ₡438

7.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₡1,344

$2.42 ₡1,108

21.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,334

$4.61 ₡2,114

10.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.89 ₡10.0K

$21.01 ₡9,633

4.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₡1,112

$2.41 ₡1,103

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,292

$2.85 ₡1,306

-1.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₡447

$0.96 ₡440

2.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡824

$1.80 ₡825

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡848

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 ₡3,533

$7.77 ₡3,561

-0.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡640

$1.28 ₡587

9.37%

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

$38.0K ₡17.4M

$32.4K ₡14.9M

17.19%

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

$32.6K ₡14.9M

$32.2K ₡14.8M

1.18%

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

$94.1 ₡43.1K

$95.5 ₡43.8K

-1.48%

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

$20.34 ₡9,324

$26.09 ₡12.0K

-22.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.7 ₡26.9K

$47.42 ₡21.7K

23.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₡26.0K

$57.8 ₡26.5K

-2.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.58 ₡10.8K

$23.56 ₡10.8K

0.08%

Cinema Ticket

$9.93 ₡4,554

$10.18 ₡4,666

-2.46%

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

$568 ₡260.4K

$442 ₡202.8K

28.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,156 ₡4.2M

$10.5K ₡4.8M

-12.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 ₡28.8K

$50.6 ₡23.2K

24.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 ₡23.8K

$51.4 ₡23.6K

1.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡58.5K

$72.2 ₡33.1K

76.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡49.2K

$70.4 ₡32.3K

52.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₡348.5K

$770 ₡353.2K

-1.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₡271.0K

$733 ₡335.9K

-19.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,502 ₡688.7K

$1,500 ₡687.8K

0.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$945 ₡433.3K

$1,290 ₡591.4K

-26.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,560 ₡1.6M

$7,047 ₡3.2M

-49.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,234 ₡565.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 ₡411.3K

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 Flamingo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nosara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $760 in Playa Flamingo versus $770 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 $60.0 in Playa Flamingo versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $366 in Playa Flamingo vs $323 in Nosara – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Flamingo vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,564 in Playa Flamingo, $1,712 in Nosara – roughly 9% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,346 per month in Playa Flamingo and $2,568 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa Flamingo, 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 $60.0 in Playa Flamingo and $60.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Playa Flamingo, where all-in costs run around $1,564, than in Nosara at $1,712. In Playa Flamingo 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 $1,564 in Playa Flamingo to $1,712 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 Playa Flamingo. 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.