Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Galera and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Galera: $831 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

40

Cost of Living Index in Puerto Galera
Learn more

Puerto Galera Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
Learn more

Nosara Living Index

Jump to prices

Puerto Galera

🇵🇭 Philippines

$831

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $831 per month in Puerto Galera vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

Puerto Galera $831
Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,253 per month in Puerto Galera vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

Puerto Galera $1,253
Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,675 per month in Puerto Galera vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

Puerto Galera $1,675
Nosara $3,818

Puerto Galera is about 55% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Puerto Galera sits 38% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.30 ₱271

$12.35 ₡5,539

-65.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.98 ₱1,195

$61.2 ₡27.4K

-68.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.76 ₱174

$7.52 ₡3,373

-63.30%

Cappuccino

$2.67 ₱168

$4.41 ₡1,978

-39.46%

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

$0.73 ₱46.07

$1.74 ₡780

-58.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₱16.92

$1.31 ₡587

-79.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ₱91.9

$3.28 ₡1,471

-55.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₱177

$4.47 ₡2,004

-37.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ₱110

$1.56 ₡701

11.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$3.02 ₡1,355

-62.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₱53.0

$2.51 ₡1,125

-66.53%

Eggs

$1.76 ₱111

$3.57 ₡1,603

-50.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 ₱418

$7.43 ₡3,333

-10.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$10.52 ₡4,717

-60.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.92 ₱435

$13.97 ₡6,265

-50.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 ₱250

$2.35 ₡1,052

68.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₱89.7

$1.61 ₡720

-11.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.43 ₱216

$4.80 ₡2,152

-28.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ₱71.0

$1.61 ₡724

-29.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$3.80 ₡1,703

-37.89%

Onion (1kg)

$3.38 ₱213

$3.69 ₡1,657

-8.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ₱86.1

$1.13 ₡507

21.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₱57.0

$2.66 ₡1,191

-65.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 ₱173

$5.18 ₡2,321

-47.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.51 ₱473

$19.88 ₡8,916

-62.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$2.90 ₡1,300

-55.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₱112

$3.63 ₡1,626

-51.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.65

$1.12 ₡504

-75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.50 ₱598

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-86.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱48.10

$2.14 ₡958

-64.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.50

$1.57 ₡703

-85.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₱157

$8.52 ₡3,823

-70.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.4

$1.52 ₡682

-22.37%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₡9.7M

-1.33%

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

$18.9K ₱1.2M

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-45.11%

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

$166 ₱10.4K

$96.3 ₡43.2K

71.96%

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

$14.43 ₱908

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-59.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.90 ₱1,505

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-55.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.56 ₱2,302

$71.6 ₡32.1K

-48.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.30 ₱271

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-87.68%

Cinema Ticket

$7.22 ₱454

$7.89 ₡3,539

-8.49%

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

$71.8 ₱4,521

$494 ₡221.6K

-85.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,507 ₱157.8K

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-78.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.23 ₱2,281

$53.9 ₡24.2K

-32.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.91 ₱1,443

$55.4 ₡24.8K

-58.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,896

$77.9 ₡34.9K

-0.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 ₱4,819

$79.6 ₡35.7K

-3.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱17.1K

$788 ₡353.4K

-65.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ₱10.8K

$794 ₡356.2K

-78.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₱33.1K

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-86.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 ₱22.4K

$1,419 ₡636.5K

-74.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,278 ₱143.4K

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-67.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$901 ₱56.7K

$1,224 ₡549.0K

-26.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

-18.79%

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

Last update for Puerto Galera: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Puerto Galera

$204 24.6%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 8.9% $18

Groceries & Markets

Puerto Galera

$203 24.5%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 73.2% $149

Accommodation & Living

Puerto Galera

$172 20.7%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 361% $622

Clothing & Footwear

Puerto Galera

$96 11.6%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 25% $24

Eating Out

Puerto Galera

$92 11%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 131% $120

Sport & Entertainment

Puerto Galera

$51 6.1%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 71.3% $36

Getting Around

Puerto Galera

$13 1.5%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 595% $75

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $271 in Puerto Galera 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 $19.00 in Puerto Galera versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $352 – making Puerto Galera the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Puerto Galera

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

03:54 3:54 AM

13:54 1:54 PM

14 h behind Puerto Galera

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

36,606

4,912

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Puerto Galera Nosara 16,090 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Puerto Galera
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

Puerto Galera vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $831 in Puerto Galera, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 121% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,246 per month in Puerto Galera and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Galera, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 665% less in Puerto Galera. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $71.8 per month in Puerto Galera and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Galera, where all-in costs run around $831, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Puerto Galera 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 $831 in Puerto Galera to $1,839 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 Puerto Galera. 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.