Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Safi and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Safi: $585 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $15,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Safi
🇲🇦 Morocco
$585
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $585 per month in Safi vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Safi $585
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $917 per month in Safi vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Safi $917
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,250 per month in Safi vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Safi $1,250
  • Nosara $3,818

Safi is about 68% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Safi sits 57% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 MAD 29.65
$12.35 ₡5,539
-75.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.72 MAD 202
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-66.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.55 MAD 44.41
$7.52 ₡3,373
-39.49%
Cappuccino
$1.54 MAD 15.00
$4.41 ₡1,978
-65.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 MAD 5.23
$1.74 ₡780
-68.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MAD 3.28
$1.31 ₡587
-74.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 MAD 14.82
$3.28 ₡1,471
-53.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MAD 14.80
$4.47 ₡2,004
-66.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.95
$1.56 ₡701
-47.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 MAD 4.55
$3.02 ₡1,355
-84.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 MAD 14.96
$2.51 ₡1,125
-39.04%
Eggs
$1.73 MAD 16.84
$3.57 ₡1,603
-51.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.87 MAD 67.0
$7.43 ₡3,333
-7.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.85 MAD 66.8
$10.52 ₡4,717
-34.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 MAD 87.6
$13.97 ₡6,265
-35.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 MAD 11.20
$2.35 ₡1,052
-51.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 MAD 11.34
$1.61 ₡720
-27.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 MAD 7.96
$4.80 ₡2,152
-82.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.67 MAD 6.52
$1.61 ₡724
-58.39%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 MAD 5.91
$3.80 ₡1,703
-83.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.84
$3.69 ₡1,657
-78.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 MAD 3.92
$1.13 ₡507
-64.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MAD 5.51
$2.66 ₡1,191
-78.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.72 MAD 36.26
$5.18 ₡2,321
-28.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.35 MAD 71.6
$19.88 ₡8,916
-63.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 MAD 18.09
$2.90 ₡1,300
-35.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 MAD 17.33
$3.63 ₡1,626
-50.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Safi
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 MAD 4.30
$1.12 ₡504
-60.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.48 MAD 102
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-85.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 MAD 6.93
$2.14 ₡958
-66.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 MAD 5.32
$1.57 ₡703
-64.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 MAD 58.7
$8.52 ₡3,823
-29.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MAD 14.17
$1.52 ₡682
-4.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K MAD 305.7K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
45.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K MAD 298.3K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-11.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.89 MAD 350
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-62.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.31 MAD 100
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-71.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.94 MAD 331
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-36.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.83 MAD 184
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-73.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.27 MAD 51.3
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-84.90%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54 MAD 34.55
$7.89 ₡3,539
-55.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$97.5 MAD 950
$494 ₡221.6K
-80.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,667 MAD 35.8K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-69.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.69 MAD 387
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-26.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43 MAD 326
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-39.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.5 MAD 911
$77.9 ₡34.9K
19.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.63 MAD 357
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-53.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Safi
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$279 MAD 2,718
$788 ₡353.4K
-64.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 MAD 1,319
$794 ₡356.2K
-82.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 MAD 4,548
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-88.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$246 MAD 2,395
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-82.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$892 MAD 8,693
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-87.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$560 MAD 5,458
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-54.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$443 MAD 4,318
$864 ₡387.3K
-48.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.55
8.62
-47.22%

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

Last update for Safi: October 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Safi
$166
Nosara
$352 112% $186
Accommodation & Living
Safi
$135
Nosara
$794 487% $659
Clothing & Footwear
Safi
$91
Nosara
$120 31.3% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
$80
Nosara
$186 132% $106
Eating Out
Safi
$71
Nosara
$212 200% $141
Sport & Entertainment
Safi
$26
Nosara
$87 237% $61
Getting Around
Safi
$16
Nosara
$87 456% $71

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Safi 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 95% 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 $21.00 in Safi versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $352 – making Safi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇦 Safi
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
07:25 7:25 AM
00:25 12:25 AM
7 h behind Safi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
323,888
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 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
  • Safi Nosara 8,150 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Safi
  • 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
Safi vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Safi and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $585 in Safi, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 214% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Safi compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $878 per month in Safi 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 Safi and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Safi, 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 Safi and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 593% less in Safi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Safi and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $97.5 per month in Safi 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 $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Safi, where all-in costs run around $585, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Safi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Safi and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $585 in Safi to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Safi 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 Safi and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Safi. 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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