Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Princesa and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Princesa: $705 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

34

Cost of Living Index in Puerto Princesa
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Puerto Princesa Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Puerto Princesa

🇵🇭 Philippines

$705

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $705 per month in Puerto Princesa vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

Puerto Princesa $705
Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,050 per month in Puerto Princesa vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

Puerto Princesa $1,050
Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,396 per month in Puerto Princesa vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

Puerto Princesa $1,396
Nosara $3,818

Puerto Princesa is about 62% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Puerto Princesa sits 48% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.28 ₱269

$12.35 ₡5,539

-65.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.84 ₱1,061

$61.2 ₡27.4K

-72.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₱289

$7.52 ₡3,373

-38.96%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₱147

$4.41 ₡1,978

-46.94%

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

$0.88 ₱55.2

$1.74 ₡780

-49.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.91

$1.31 ₡587

-60.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 ₱79.5

$3.28 ₡1,471

-61.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₱149

$4.47 ₡2,004

-46.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ₱110

$1.56 ₡701

12.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₱64.4

$3.02 ₡1,355

-66.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₱51.9

$2.51 ₡1,125

-67.33%

Eggs

$1.75 ₱110

$3.57 ₡1,603

-50.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.52 ₱347

$7.43 ₡3,333

-25.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.43 ₱342

$10.52 ₡4,717

-48.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.59 ₱415

$13.97 ₡6,265

-52.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ₱149

$2.35 ₡1,052

0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 ₱53.3

$1.61 ₡720

-47.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.40 ₱151

$4.80 ₡2,152

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$1.61 ₡724

-29.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ₱96.4

$3.80 ₡1,703

-59.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 ₱84.8

$3.69 ₡1,657

-63.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ₱59.4

$1.13 ₡507

-16.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱43.92

$2.66 ₡1,191

-73.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 ₱180

$5.18 ₡2,321

-44.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.28 ₱458

$19.88 ₡8,916

-63.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱66.6

$2.90 ₡1,300

-63.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.8

$3.63 ₡1,626

-62.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.71

$1.12 ₡504

-77.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.06 ₱697

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-84.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱46.36

$2.14 ₡958

-65.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

$1.57 ₡703

-86.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 ₱123

$8.52 ₡3,823

-77.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 ₱63.7

$1.52 ₡682

-33.55%

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

$17.1K ₱1.1M

$21.6K ₡9.7M

-20.90%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-44.68%

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

$62.2 ₱3,915

$96.3 ₡43.2K

-35.41%

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

$10.94 ₱689

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-69.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.60 ₱1,549

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-54.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.60 ₱2,052

$71.6 ₡32.1K

-54.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.75 ₱299

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-86.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 ₱318

$7.89 ₡3,539

-35.99%

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

$133 ₱8,357

$494 ₡221.6K

-73.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,060 ₱507.5K

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-32.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.45 ₱2,106

$53.9 ₡24.2K

-37.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.50 ₱1,228

$55.4 ₡24.8K

-64.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.1 ₱4,478

$77.9 ₡34.9K

-8.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.2 ₱3,541

$79.6 ₡35.7K

-29.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₱17.8K

$788 ₡353.4K

-64.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ₱12.7K

$794 ₡356.2K

-74.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$519 ₱32.7K

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-86.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 ₱19.7K

$1,419 ₡636.5K

-77.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,404 ₱151.4K

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-65.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,008 ₱63.4K

$1,224 ₡549.0K

-17.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 ₱14.1K

$864 ₡387.3K

-74.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.12

8.62

-5.80%

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

Last update for Puerto Princesa: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Puerto Princesa

$201 28.5%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 295% $593

Groceries & Markets

Puerto Princesa

$176 24.9%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 101% $177

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Puerto Princesa

$98 13.9%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 90.1% $88

Eating Out

Puerto Princesa

$93 13.2%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 129% $119

Clothing & Footwear

Puerto Princesa

$81 11.5%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 48% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Puerto Princesa

$43 6.1%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 105% $45

Getting Around

Puerto Princesa

$14 2%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 529% $73

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Puerto Princesa 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.

Salaries run about 287% 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 $17.00 in Puerto Princesa versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $352 – making Puerto Princesa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Puerto Princesa

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

03:29 3:29 AM

13:29 1:29 PM

14 h behind Puerto Princesa

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

307,079

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 Princesa Nosara 16,540 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $705 in Puerto Princesa, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 161% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,057 per month in Puerto Princesa 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 Princesa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 557% less in Puerto Princesa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $133 per month in Puerto Princesa 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 Princesa, where all-in costs run around $705, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Puerto Princesa 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 $705 in Puerto Princesa 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 Princesa. 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.