Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Raanana and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Raanana: $1,272 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Nosara outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Raanana
🇮🇱 Israel
$1,272
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,272 per month in Raanana vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Raanana $1,272
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $3,023 per month in Raanana vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Raanana $3,023
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $4,773 per month in Raanana vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Raanana $4,773
  • Nosara $3,818

Raanana is about 31% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Raanana sits 6% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Raanana
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.42 ₪69.7
$12.35 ₡5,539
81.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.7 ₪301
$61.2 ₡27.4K
58.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.10 ₪62.5
$7.52 ₡3,373
167.29%
Cappuccino
$3.93 ₪12.22
$4.41 ₡1,978
-10.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₪6.90
$1.74 ₡780
27.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₪7.03
$1.31 ₡587
72.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.77 ₪14.86
$3.28 ₡1,471
45.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87 ₪18.28
$4.47 ₡2,004
31.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Raanana
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 ₪7.09
$1.56 ₡701
46.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 ₪7.50
$3.02 ₡1,355
-20.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 ₪7.08
$2.51 ₡1,125
-9.16%
Eggs
$4.03 ₪12.55
$3.57 ₡1,603
12.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.30 ₪69.4
$7.43 ₡3,333
200.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.32 ₪41.45
$10.52 ₡4,717
26.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.78 ₪89.5
$13.97 ₡6,265
106.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.31 ₪13.42
$2.35 ₡1,052
83.40%
Banana (1kg)
$3.95 ₪12.28
$1.61 ₡720
145.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.43 ₪7.57
$4.80 ₡2,152
-49.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.97 ₪9.25
$1.61 ₡724
84.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 ₪5.30
$3.80 ₡1,703
-55.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ₪4.26
$3.69 ₡1,657
-62.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.40 ₪10.58
$1.13 ₡507
200.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₪3.07
$2.66 ₡1,191
-62.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.10 ₪43.88
$5.18 ₡2,321
172.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.85 ₪33.76
$19.88 ₡8,916
-45.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 ₪8.83
$2.90 ₡1,300
-2.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 ₪7.64
$3.63 ₡1,626
-32.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Raanana
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 ₪7.92
$1.12 ₡504
127.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 ₪7.95
$2.14 ₡958
19.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 ₪3.97
$1.57 ₡703
-18.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.28 ₪128
$8.52 ₡3,823
384.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.54 ₪7.90
$1.52 ₡682
67.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$57.2K ₪178.0K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
164.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.0K ₪180.4K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
67.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Raanana
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$262 ₪815
$96.3 ₡43.2K
172.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.44 ₪35.58
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-68.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.34 ₪138
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-17.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Raanana
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.85 ₪39.97
$7.89 ₡3,539
62.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Raanana
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,144 ₪3,558
$494 ₡221.6K
131.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.6K ₪76.6K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
107.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Raanana
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.98 ₪118
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-29.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.29 ₪128
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-25.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.7 ₪307
$77.9 ₡34.9K
26.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 ₪367
$79.6 ₡35.7K
48.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Raanana
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$788 ₡353.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$794 ₡356.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,190 ₪6,815
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-44.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,857 ₪5,776
$1,419 ₡636.5K
30.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.6K ₪42.3K
$6,912 ₡3.1M
96.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Raanana
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,912 ₪12.2K
$864 ₡387.3K
352.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.62
-42.00%

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

Last update for Raanana: October 10, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Raanana
$436
Nosara
$352 19.2% $84
Eating Out
Raanana
$340
Nosara
$212 37.7% $128
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Raanana
$318
Nosara
$186 41.6% $132
Clothing & Footwear
Raanana
$133
Nosara
$120 9.8% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Raanana
$26 *
Nosara
$87 240% $62
Getting Around
Raanana
$19 *
Nosara
$87 356% $68
Accommodation & Living
Raanana
- *
Nosara
$794

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 353% higher in Raanana, 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 $97.0 in Raanana versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $436 vs $352 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇱 Raanana
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
05:33 5:33 AM
20:33 8:33 PM
9 h behind Raanana
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
91,534
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to ILS – Israeli New Shekel Converter

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.11 ILS (1 ILS = 0.321 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.286 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Raanana Nosara 12,160 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Raanana
  • 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
Raanana vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Raanana and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,272 in Raanana, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 45% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Raanana compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,908 per month in Raanana and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $97.0 in Raanana 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Raanana, where all-in costs run around $1,272, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Raanana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Raanana and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,272 in Raanana to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Raanana 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 Raanana and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Raanana. 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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