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.
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
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04MAD 29.65
$12.35₡5,539
-75.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.72MAD 202
$61.2₡27.4K
-66.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.55MAD 44.41
$7.52₡3,373
-39.49%
Cappuccino
$1.54MAD 15.00
$4.41₡1,978
-65.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54MAD 5.23
$1.74₡780
-68.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MAD 3.28
$1.31₡587
-74.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52MAD 14.82
$3.28₡1,471
-53.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MAD 14.80
$4.47₡2,004
-66.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82MAD 7.95
$1.56₡701
-47.44%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47MAD 4.55
$3.02₡1,355
-84.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53MAD 14.96
$2.51₡1,125
-39.04%
Eggs
$1.73MAD 16.84
$3.57₡1,603
-51.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87MAD 67.0
$7.43₡3,333
-7.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.85MAD 66.8
$10.52₡4,717
-34.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.98MAD 87.6
$13.97₡6,265
-35.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15MAD 11.20
$2.35₡1,052
-51.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.16MAD 11.34
$1.61₡720
-27.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82MAD 7.96
$4.80₡2,152
-82.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.52
$1.61₡724
-58.39%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61MAD 5.91
$3.80₡1,703
-83.95%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.84
$3.69₡1,657
-78.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40MAD 3.92
$1.13₡507
-64.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MAD 5.51
$2.66₡1,191
-78.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.72MAD 36.26
$5.18₡2,321
-28.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.35MAD 71.6
$19.88₡8,916
-63.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86MAD 18.09
$2.90₡1,300
-35.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78MAD 17.33
$3.63₡1,626
-50.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Safi
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44MAD 4.30
$1.12₡504
-60.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.48MAD 102
$72.6₡32.6K
-85.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71MAD 6.93
$2.14₡958
-66.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.55MAD 5.32
$1.57₡703
-64.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.02MAD 58.7
$8.52₡3,823
-29.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MAD 14.17
$1.52₡682
-4.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KMAD 305.7K
$21.6K₡9.7M
45.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KMAD 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)
$35.89MAD 350
$96.3₡43.2K
-62.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.31MAD 100
$35.89₡16.1K
-71.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.94MAD 331
$53.6₡24.0K
-36.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.83MAD 184
$71.6₡32.1K
-73.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.27MAD 51.3
$34.91₡15.7K
-84.90%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54MAD 34.55
$7.89₡3,539
-55.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.5MAD 950
$494₡221.6K
-80.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,667MAD 35.8K
$11.9K₡5.3M
-69.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.69MAD 387
$53.9₡24.2K
-26.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43MAD 326
$55.4₡24.8K
-39.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5MAD 911
$77.9₡34.9K
19.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.63MAD 357
$79.6₡35.7K
-53.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Safi
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279MAD 2,718
$788₡353.4K
-64.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135MAD 1,319
$794₡356.2K
-82.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$466MAD 4,548
$3,939₡1.8M
-88.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246MAD 2,395
$1,419₡636.5K
-82.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$892MAD 8,693
$6,912₡3.1M
-87.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$560MAD 5,458
$1,224₡549.0K
-54.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Safi
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$443MAD 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.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Safi
$166 28.4%
Nosara
$352 19.2% ↑ 112%$186
🏠Accommodation & Living
Safi
$135 23.1%
Nosara
$794 43.2% ↑ 487%$659
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Safi
$91 15.6%
Nosara
$120 6.5% ↑ 31.3%$29
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
$80 13.7%
Nosara
$186 10.1% ↑ 132%$106
🍽Eating Out
Safi
$71 12.1%
Nosara
$212 11.5% ↑ 200%$141
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Safi
$26 4.4%
Nosara
$87 4.8% ↑ 237%$61
🚌Getting Around
Safi
$16 2.7%
Nosara
$87 4.7% ↑ 456%$71
🛒Groceries & Markets
Safi
$379 30.4%
Nosara
$790 20.7% ↑ 108%$410
🏠Accommodation & Living
Safi
$246 19.7%
Nosara
$1.4K 37.2% ↑ 478%$1.2K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Safi
$203 16.3%
Nosara
$267 7% ↑ 31.3%$64
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
$90 7.2%
Nosara
$222 5.8% ↑ 145%$131
🍽Eating Out
Safi
$242 19.3%
Nosara
$734 19.2% ↑ 204%$493
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Safi
$57 4.6%
Nosara
$210 5.5% ↑ 267%$153
🚌Getting Around
Safi
$32 2.6%
Nosara
$176 4.6% ↑ 447%$144
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.
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.