Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quilmes and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Quilmes: $965 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Quilmes
🇦🇷 Argentina
$965
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $965 per month in Quilmes vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Quilmes $965
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,611 per month in Quilmes vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Quilmes $1,611
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $2,257 per month in Quilmes vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Quilmes $2,257
  • Nosara $3,818

Quilmes is about 47% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Quilmes sits 28% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quilmes
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.63 ARS 8,548
$12.35 ₡5,539
-54.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.37 ARS 52.2K
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-43.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ARS 13.5K
$7.52 ₡3,373
18.75%
Cappuccino
$2.95 ARS 4,476
$4.41 ₡1,978
-33.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 ARS 2,565
$1.74 ₡780
-2.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ARS 2,608
$1.31 ₡587
31.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.10 ARS 6,222
$3.28 ₡1,471
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ARS 3,329
$4.47 ₡2,004
-51.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quilmes
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 ARS 1,488
$1.56 ₡701
-37.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ARS 2,373
$3.02 ₡1,355
-48.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 ARS 2,478
$2.51 ₡1,125
-35.06%
Eggs
$2.25 ARS 3,408
$3.57 ₡1,603
-36.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.26 ARS 20.1K
$7.43 ₡3,333
78.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.86 ARS 8,899
$10.52 ₡4,717
-44.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.18 ARS 15.4K
$13.97 ₡6,265
-27.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ARS 2,928
$2.35 ₡1,052
-17.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 ARS 2,398
$1.61 ₡720
-1.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 ARS 1,531
$4.80 ₡2,152
-78.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.08 ARS 4,673
$1.61 ₡724
91.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 ARS 1,499
$3.80 ₡1,703
-73.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 ARS 986
$3.69 ₡1,657
-82.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 ARS 1,105
$1.13 ₡507
-35.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ARS 1,041
$2.66 ₡1,191
-74.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.15 ARS 7,815
$5.18 ₡2,321
-0.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.16 ARS 6,319
$19.88 ₡8,916
-79.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 ARS 1,877
$2.90 ₡1,300
-57.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 ARS 2,833
$3.63 ₡1,626
-48.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Quilmes
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 ARS 1,494
$1.12 ₡504
-12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 ARS 4,196
$2.14 ₡958
29.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 ARS 1,473
$1.57 ₡703
-38.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.52 ₡3,823
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ARS 1,654
$1.52 ₡682
-28.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.1K ARS 76.1M
$21.6K ₡9.7M
131.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K ARS 59.4M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
13.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quilmes
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.9 ARS 90.9K
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-37.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.26 ARS 21.6K
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-60.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.15 ARS 33.6K
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-58.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quilmes
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.18 ARS 41.2K
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-62.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.98 ARS 15.1K
$7.89 ₡3,539
26.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quilmes
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$315 ARS 477.4K
$494 ₡221.6K
-36.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quilmes
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.6 ARS 148.1K
$53.9 ₡24.2K
80.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.71 ARS 52.7K
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-37.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.0 ARS 95.7K
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-19.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9 ARS 106.0K
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-12.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quilmes
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$519 ARS 787.3K
$788 ₡353.4K
-34.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 ARS 504.4K
$794 ₡356.2K
-58.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$999 ARS 1.5M
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-74.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$812 ARS 1.2M
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-42.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,324 ARS 3.5M
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-66.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,818 ARS 2.8M
$1,224 ₡549.0K
48.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quilmes
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,114 ARS 1.7M
$864 ₡387.3K
28.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
100
8.62
1060.09%

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

Last update for Quilmes: 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
Quilmes
$332
Nosara
$794 139% $462
Groceries & Markets
Quilmes
$213
Nosara
$352 65.5% $139
Eating Out
Quilmes
$146
Nosara
$212 45.3% $66
Clothing & Footwear
Quilmes
$119
Nosara
$120 0.6% $0.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quilmes
$96
Nosara
$186 92.8% $89
Sport & Entertainment
Quilmes
$47
Nosara
$87 85.3% $40
Getting Around
Quilmes
$12 *
Nosara
$87 654% $76

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $519 in Quilmes 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 29% higher in Quilmes, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Quilmes versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $352 – making Quilmes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Quilmes
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
15:02 3:02 PM
12:02 12:02 PM
3 h behind Quilmes
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
230,810
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quilmes Nosara 5,750 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quilmes
  • 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
Quilmes vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Quilmes and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $965 in Quilmes, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 90% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Quilmes compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,448 per month in Quilmes 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 Quilmes and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quilmes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Quilmes and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 66% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quilmes, where all-in costs run around $965, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Quilmes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Quilmes and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $965 in Quilmes to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Quilmes 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 Quilmes and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Quilmes. 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.

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