Cost of Living Comparison Between Puntarenas and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Puntarenas and Nosara

🙂 Solo nomad: Puntarenas is 35.5% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 24% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Puntarenas is 17.4% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 25.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puntarenas
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.26 ₡3,413
$11.02 ₡5,182
-34.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.9 ₡28.2K
$60.3 ₡28.3K
-0.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 ₡4,346
$6.90 ₡3,247
33.91%
Cappuccino
$3.82 ₡1,797
$3.89 ₡1,831
-1.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₡972
$1.56 ₡733
32.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ₡780
$1.18 ₡555
40.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 ₡1,394
$3.01 ₡1,417
-1.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 ₡2,171
$4.74 ₡2,229
-2.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puntarenas
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ₡925
$1.46 ₡685
34.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 ₡1,322
$2.78 ₡1,307
1.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ₡954
$2.13 ₡1,001
-4.69%
Eggs
$2.27 ₡1,068
$2.98 ₡1,402
-23.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.32 ₡1,563
$6.59 ₡3,099
-49.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.80 ₡3,670
$9.19 ₡4,323
-15.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.75 ₡4,114
$13.73 ₡6,455
-36.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.56 ₡1,676
$2.03 ₡955
75.37%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 ₡465
$1.41 ₡663
-29.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 ₡551
$4.36 ₡2,050
-73.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.33 ₡627
$1.51 ₡709
-11.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ₡749
$3.53 ₡1,659
-54.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 ₡760
$3.19 ₡1,501
-49.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.82 ₡385
$0.97 ₡454
-15.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₡897
$2.40 ₡1,128
-20.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.56 ₡2,143
$4.52 ₡2,126
0.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.66 ₡3,604
$19.94 ₡9,376
-61.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₡765
$2.40 ₡1,127
-32.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 ₡1,124
$2.83 ₡1,330
-15.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Puntarenas
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡449
$0.96 ₡453
-1.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$66.2 ₡31.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₡881
$1.81 ₡853
3.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 ₡846
$1.86 ₡876
-3.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.95 ₡3,738
$7.82 ₡3,676
1.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₡615
$1.30 ₡612
0.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K ₡18.1M
$31.7K ₡14.9M
21.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K ₡7.9M
$33.2K ₡15.6M
-49.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puntarenas
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.5 ₡23.7K
$94.2 ₡44.3K
-46.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.56 ₡9,199
$25.83 ₡12.1K
-24.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 ₡11.3K
$47.52 ₡22.3K
-49.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puntarenas
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 ₡27.1K
$56.0 ₡26.3K
3.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.83 ₡11.2K
$23.82 ₡11.2K
0.04%
Cinema Ticket
$10.05 ₡4,724
$9.91 ₡4,661
1.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puntarenas
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$579 ₡272.3K
$452 ₡212.6K
28.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K ₡6.1M
$10.8K ₡5.1M
19.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puntarenas
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.83 ₡11.2K
$49.00 ₡23.0K
-51.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.94 ₡7,495
$50.8 ₡23.9K
-68.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡60.1K
$71.7 ₡33.7K
78.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.91 ₡22.1K
$73.0 ₡34.3K
-35.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puntarenas
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$766 ₡360.4K
$776 ₡365.0K
-1.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 ₡276.4K
$742 ₡348.9K
-20.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 ₡699.9K
$1,538 ₡723.2K
-3.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$975 ₡458.6K
$1,335 ₡627.8K
-26.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$966 ₡454.2K
$6,726 ₡3.2M
-85.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$636 ₡298.9K
$1,155 ₡543.3K
-44.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puntarenas
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$934 ₡439.0K
$835 ₡392.6K
11.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
10.17
-41.00%

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

Last update for Puntarenas: March 2, 2026

Last update for Nosara: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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