Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Redland City and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,300 in Redland City, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Redland City
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,300
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,300 per month in Redland City vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Redland City $2,300
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $3,289 per month in Redland City vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Redland City $3,289
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $4,278 per month in Redland City vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Redland City $4,278
  • Nosara $3,818

Redland City costs about 25% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Redland City and Nosara sit above the global median – Redland City by 70%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redland City
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.46 A$22.25
$12.35 ₡5,539
25.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.6 A$90.1
$61.2 ₡27.4K
2.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.48 A$13.64
$7.52 ₡3,373
26.06%
Cappuccino
$3.79 A$5.45
$4.41 ₡1,978
-14.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 A$3.95
$1.74 ₡780
58.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 A$2.97
$1.31 ₡587
57.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.58 A$10.91
$3.28 ₡1,471
131.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.11 A$8.80
$4.47 ₡2,004
36.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redland City
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 A$2.16
$1.56 ₡701
-3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.69 A$3.87
$3.02 ₡1,355
-10.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.34 A$3.36
$2.51 ₡1,125
-6.77%
Eggs
$4.84 A$6.97
$3.57 ₡1,603
35.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.23 A$11.84
$7.43 ₡3,333
10.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.15 A$13.16
$10.52 ₡4,717
-13.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 A$21.05
$13.97 ₡6,265
4.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 A$4.92
$2.35 ₡1,052
45.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 A$4.03
$1.61 ₡720
73.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 A$3.09
$4.80 ₡2,152
-55.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.52 A$5.07
$1.61 ₡724
118.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 A$3.70
$3.80 ₡1,703
-32.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 A$2.58
$3.69 ₡1,657
-51.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 A$3.02
$1.13 ₡507
85.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 A$2.16
$2.66 ₡1,191
-43.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$33.93 A$48.83
$5.18 ₡2,321
555.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 A$15.88
$19.88 ₡8,916
-44.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.81 A$6.92
$2.90 ₡1,300
65.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23 A$6.08
$3.63 ₡1,626
16.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Redland City
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 A$0.48
$1.12 ₡504
-69.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.5 A$122
$72.6 ₡32.6K
16.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 A$3.14
$2.14 ₡958
1.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 A$2.35
$1.57 ₡703
3.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.53 A$51.1
$8.52 ₡3,823
317.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 A$1.87
$1.52 ₡682
-14.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K A$38.1K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
22.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K A$47.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-3.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redland City
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 A$128
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-7.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.63 A$44.07
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-14.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.4 A$76.8
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-0.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redland City
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 A$84.8
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-17.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.11 A$27.49
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-45.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.93 A$9.97
$7.89 ₡3,539
-12.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redland City
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$512 A$737
$494 ₡221.6K
3.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,189 A$6,028
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-64.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redland City
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0 A$108
$53.9 ₡24.2K
39.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 A$79.4
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-0.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 A$148
$77.9 ₡34.9K
32.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.9 A$139
$79.6 ₡35.7K
21.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redland City
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,361 A$1,959
$788 ₡353.4K
72.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,205 A$1,734
$794 ₡356.2K
51.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,138 A$3,077
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-45.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,778 A$2,558
$1,419 ₡636.5K
25.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,207 A$8,932
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-10.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,209 A$7,496
$1,224 ₡549.0K
325.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redland City
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.69
8.62
-33.99%

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

Last update for Redland City: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Redland City
$1.2K
Nosara
$794 34.1% $411
Groceries & Markets
Redland City
$337
Nosara
$352 4.4% $15
Eating Out
Redland City
$267
Nosara
$212 20.7% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redland City
$173
Nosara
$186 7.5% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Redland City
$149
Nosara
$120 19.2% $28
Getting Around
Redland City
$96
Nosara
$87 9.5% $9.1
Sport & Entertainment
Redland City
$73
Nosara
$87 20% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,361 in Redland City 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Redland City versus $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $337 in Redland City vs $352 in Nosara – so Redland City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Redland City
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
00:44 12:44 AM
08:44 8:44 AM
16 h behind Redland City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
159,222
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Redland City Nosara 13,570 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Redland 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
Redland City vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Redland City and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,300 in Redland City, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 25% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Redland City compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,450 per month in Redland City 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 Redland City and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, 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 Redland City and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 16% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Redland City and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $512 per month in Redland City 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 $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,839, than in Redland City at $2,300. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Redland City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Redland City and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,839 in Nosara to $2,300 in Redland City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Redland City 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 Redland City and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Redland City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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