For one person, living is cheaper in Qom: $436 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $16,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Qom and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $436 per month in Qom vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.
Qom $436
Nosara $1,839
A couple spends around $843 per month in Qom vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.
Qom $843
Nosara $2,828
A family of three spends $1,250 per month in Qom vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.
Qom $1,250
Nosara $3,818
🙂
Qom is about 76% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Qom sits 68% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Qom
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94$2.94
$12.35₡5,539
-76.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.19$17.19
$61.2₡27.4K
-71.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.04$4.04
$7.52₡3,373
-46.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.52$0.52
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.03$1.03
$4.41₡1,978
-76.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42$0.42
$1.74₡780
-75.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66$1.66
$1.31₡587
26.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.28₡1,471
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.47₡2,004
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qom
Nosara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.53$0.53
$1.56₡701
-66.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56$0.56
$3.02₡1,355
-81.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70$1.70
$2.51₡1,125
-32.27%
Eggs
$1.06$1.06
$3.57₡1,603
-70.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.77$2.77
$7.43₡3,333
-62.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24$3.24
$10.52₡4,717
-69.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.37$7.37
$13.97₡6,265
-47.24%
Apples(1kg)
$0.84$0.84
$2.35₡1,052
-64.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39$1.39
$1.61₡720
-13.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.95$0.95
$4.80₡2,152
-80.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.43$0.43
$1.61₡724
-73.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46$0.46
$3.80₡1,703
-87.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47$0.47
$3.69₡1,657
-87.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26$0.26
$1.13₡507
-76.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24$0.24
$2.66₡1,191
-90.98%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.84$0.84
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.44$0.44
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.23$1.23
$5.18₡2,321
-76.25%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$19.88₡8,916
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.90₡1,300
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63₡1,626
-
🚌 Getting Around
Qom
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15$0.15
$1.12₡504
-86.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.33$14.33
$72.6₡32.6K
-80.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.26$0.26
$2.14₡958
-87.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27$0.27
$1.57₡703
-82.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.99$0.99
$8.52₡3,823
-88.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.10$0.10
$1.52₡682
-93.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.1K$49.1K
$21.6K₡9.7M
127.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.3K$44.3K
$34.5K₡15.5M
28.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qom
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$13.13$13.13
$96.3₡43.2K
-86.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.28$1.28
$35.89₡16.1K
-96.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.72$3.72
$53.6₡24.0K
-93.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qom
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$8.64$8.64
$71.6₡32.1K
-87.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.81$9.81
$34.91₡15.7K
-71.90%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99$0.99
$7.89₡3,539
-87.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qom
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107$107
$494₡221.6K
-78.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,622$2,622
$11.9K₡5.3M
-77.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qom
Nosara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.98$14.98
$53.9₡24.2K
-72.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.07$13.07
$55.4₡24.8K
-76.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101$101
$77.9₡34.9K
30.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.9$50.9
$79.6₡35.7K
-36.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qom
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239$239
$788₡353.4K
-69.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160$160
$794₡356.2K
-79.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576$576
$3,939₡1.8M
-85.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$561$561
$1,419₡636.5K
-60.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$898$898
$6,912₡3.1M
-87.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$604$604
$1,224₡549.0K
-50.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qom
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$214$214
$864₡387.3K
-75.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.33
8.62
135.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Qom: October 10, 2026
Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Qom
$160 36.7%
Nosara
$794 43.2% ↑ 395%$634
🛒Groceries & Markets
Qom
$93 21.4%
Nosara
$352 19.2% ↑ 277%$259
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Qom
$81 18.6%
Nosara
$120 6.5% ↑ 48%$39
🍽Eating Out
Qom
$56 12.9%
Nosara
$212 11.5% ↑ 277%$156
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qom
$18 4.2%
Nosara
$186 10.1% ↑ 925%$168
🚌Getting Around
Qom
$17 3.8%
Nosara
$87 4.7% ↑ 426%$71
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Qom
$11 2.4%
Nosara
$87 4.8% ↑ 723%$77
🏠Accommodation & Living
Qom
$561 44.9%
Nosara
$1.4K 37.2% ↑ 153%$858
🛒Groceries & Markets
Qom
$229 18.3%
Nosara
$790 20.7% ↑ 245%$561
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Qom
$180 14.4%
Nosara
$267 7% ↑ 48%$87
🍽Eating Out
Qom
$196 15.7%
Nosara
$734 19.2% ↑ 274%$538
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qom
$19 1.6%
Nosara
$222 5.8% ↑ 1042%$202
🚌Getting Around
Qom
$33 2.7%
Nosara
$176 4.6% ↑ 428%$143
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Qom
$31 2.5%
Nosara
$210 5.5% ↑ 575%$179
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Qom 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 304% 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 Qom versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $93.0 vs $352 – making Qom the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Qom vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Qom and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $436 in Qom, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 321% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Qom compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $655 per month in Qom and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Qom and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Qom, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Qom and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 407% less in Qom. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Qom and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $107 per month in Qom and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Qom, where all-in costs run around $436, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Qom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Qom and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $436 in Qom to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Qom or Nosara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Qom and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Qom. 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.