Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quezon City and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Quezon City: $855 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

42

Cost of Living Index in Quezon City
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Quezon City Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Quezon City

🇵🇭 Philippines

$855

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $855 per month in Quezon City vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

Quezon City $855
Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Quezon City vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

Quezon City $1,385
Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $1,916 per month in Quezon City vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

Quezon City $1,916
Nosara $3,712

Quezon City is about 53% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Quezon City sits 36% below the global median, while Nosara is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.45 ₱279

$12.22 ₡5,509

-63.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ₱1,178

$60.2 ₡27.1K

-68.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.86 ₱179

$7.54 ₡3,399

-62.07%

Cappuccino

$2.77 ₱174

$4.31 ₡1,941

-35.73%

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

$0.69 ₱43.17

$1.72 ₡773

-59.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₱18.35

$1.35 ₡608

-78.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 ₱92.5

$3.24 ₡1,459

-54.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₱171

$4.48 ₡2,018

-39.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ₱107

$1.57 ₡707

8.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.1

$3.17 ₡1,429

-63.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 ₱53.0

$2.42 ₡1,091

-64.88%

Eggs

$1.76 ₱110

$3.57 ₡1,609

-50.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 ₱428

$7.43 ₡3,349

-8.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₱269

$10.42 ₡4,697

-58.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.29 ₱457

$13.66 ₡6,156

-46.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 ₱241

$2.32 ₡1,044

65.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 ₱88.9

$1.61 ₡728

-11.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.57 ₱224

$4.74 ₡2,138

-24.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₱71.3

$1.66 ₡747

-31.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 ₱150

$3.72 ₡1,679

-35.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.45 ₱217

$3.57 ₡1,611

-3.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 ₱86.3

$1.10 ₡497

25.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₱61.0

$2.55 ₡1,149

-61.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱178

$4.95 ₡2,232

-42.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.62 ₱478

$20.01 ₡9,020

-61.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₱81.4

$2.79 ₡1,256

-53.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₱110

$3.53 ₡1,589

-50.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₱24.91

$1.19 ₡537

-66.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.79 ₱1,179

$72.1 ₡32.5K

-73.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.86

$2.24 ₡1,011

-66.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$1.55 ₡701

-86.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 ₱155

$8.86 ₡3,993

-72.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₱74.4

$1.57 ₡708

-24.20%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$21.8K ₡9.8M

-3.54%

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

$18.9K ₱1.2M

$34.6K ₡15.6M

-45.42%

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

$165 ₱10.3K

$93.5 ₡42.1K

76.05%

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

$14.28 ₱896

$35.11 ₡15.8K

-59.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.21 ₱1,518

$51.5 ₡23.2K

-52.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.71 ₱2,365

$71.4 ₡32.2K

-47.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.41 ₱214

$35.44 ₡16.0K

-90.38%

Cinema Ticket

$7.22 ₱453

$7.84 ₡3,535

-7.91%

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

$73.1 ₱4,583

$490 ₡220.7K

-85.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,472 ₱155.1K

$11.9K ₡5.4M

-79.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.88 ₱2,250

$53.5 ₡24.1K

-32.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.30 ₱1,398

$55.8 ₡25.1K

-60.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 ₱4,989

$79.3 ₡35.7K

0.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 ₱4,729

$78.9 ₡35.6K

-4.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₱19.7K

$786 ₡354.3K

-59.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 ₱11.9K

$780 ₡351.6K

-75.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$746 ₱46.8K

$3,860 ₡1.7M

-80.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$520 ₱32.6K

$1,407 ₡634.4K

-63.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,326 ₱145.9K

$6,972 ₡3.1M

-66.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,421 ₱89.1K

$1,201 ₡541.3K

18.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$440 ₱27.6K

$876 ₡395.0K

-49.73%

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 Quezon City: October 6, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Quezon City

$207 23.9%

Nosara

$350 19.3% 68.8% $142

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Quezon City

$203 23.5%

Nosara

$180 9.9% 11.3% $23

Accommodation & Living

Quezon City

$190 22%

Nosara

$780 43% 310% $589

Clothing & Footwear

Quezon City

$96 11.1%

Nosara

$120 6.6% 25.5% $24

Eating Out

Quezon City

$94 10.9%

Nosara

$209 11.6% 122% $115

Sport & Entertainment

Quezon City

$52 6%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 66.9% $35

Getting Around

Quezon City

$22 2.6%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 291% $65

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $314 in Quezon City versus $786 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 99% 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 $19.00 in Quezon City versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $350 – making Quezon City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Quezon City

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

11:32 11:32 AM

21:32 9:32 PM

14 h behind Quezon City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,936,116

4,912

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.42 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 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 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Quezon City Nosara 15,990 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Quezon City
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

Quezon City vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $855 in Quezon City, $1,837 in Nosara – roughly 115% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,282 per month in Quezon City and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 284% less in Quezon City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $73.1 per month in Quezon City and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quezon City, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Quezon City 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 $855 in Quezon City to $1,837 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 Quezon City. 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.