Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $1,941 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés despite lower rent and utilities.

Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
🇫🇷 France
$1,941
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés 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 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,941 per month in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Saint-Maur-des-Fossés $1,941
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $3,026 per month in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Saint-Maur-des-Fossés $3,026
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $4,112 per month in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Saint-Maur-des-Fossés $4,112
  • Nosara $3,814

Saint-Maur-des-Fossés costs about 6% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and Nosara sit above the global median – Saint-Maur-des-Fossés by 43%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.14 €16.14
$12.34 ₡5,535
47.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 €68.6
$61.3 ₡27.5K
25.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.19 €11.73
$7.76 ₡3,481
69.97%
Cappuccino
$4.98 €4.43
$4.44 ₡1,992
12.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 €4.12
$1.79 ₡803
158.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 €2.41
$1.29 ₡580
110.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.91 €7.04
$3.24 ₡1,451
144.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.67 €5.93
$4.43 ₡1,985
50.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 €1.35
$1.55 ₡696
-1.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 €2.19
$3.08 ₡1,380
-20.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.75 €2.45
$2.53 ₡1,133
8.70%
Eggs
$4.37 €3.89
$3.45 ₡1,546
26.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.13 €19.69
$7.32 ₡3,284
202.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.54 €12.05
$10.24 ₡4,594
32.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.15 €19.70
$14.10 ₡6,326
57.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 €2.90
$2.29 ₡1,027
42.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 €1.96
$1.64 ₡737
34.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 €2.65
$4.79 ₡2,149
-37.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 €3.80
$1.64 ₡735
160.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.62
$3.85 ₡1,727
-52.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 €2.17
$3.75 ₡1,681
-34.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 €1.60
$1.09 ₡488
65.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.83
$2.59 ₡1,160
-63.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.56 €12.95
$5.12 ₡2,295
184.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.79 €7.82
$19.92 ₡8,931
-55.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 €2.32
$2.80 ₡1,255
-6.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 €3.12
$3.52 ₡1,580
-0.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.92 €1.70
$1.22 ₡549
57.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.98 €41.79
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-36.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.17 €8.15
$2.17 ₡973
322.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 €1.27
$1.56 ₡698
-8.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.83 €40.76
$8.67 ₡3,886
428.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.55 ₡697
47.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €31.1K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
1.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K €31.8K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-7.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 €215
$94.8 ₡42.5K
154.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.68 €13.95
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-56.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.40 €26.15
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-44.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.11 €31.23
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-52.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.43 €12.84
$7.91 ₡3,548
82.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,773 €1,577
$490 ₡219.9K
261.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K €8,958
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-15.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108 €96.0
$54.8 ₡24.6K
96.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 €46.26
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-6.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 €105
$80.4 ₡36.0K
46.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 €142
$77.9 ₡34.9K
105.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 €667
$801 ₡359.1K
-6.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$597 €531
$790 ₡354.1K
-24.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,358 €1,208
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-66.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,130 €1,005
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-19.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,883 €3,454
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-45.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,009 €2,676
$1,236 ₡554.3K
143.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
8.62
-60.56%

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

Last update for Saint-Maur-des-Fossés: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
$597
Nosara
$790 32.2% $192
Groceries & Markets
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
$398
Nosara
$350 12.2% $49
Eating Out
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
$327
Nosara
$213 34.9% $114
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
$287
Nosara
$184 35.8% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
$197
Nosara
$121 38.6% $76
Getting Around
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
$71
Nosara
$89 25.1% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
$64
Nosara
$90 40.1% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $750 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés versus $801 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 $77.0 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $350 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
12:40 12:40 PM
04:40 4:40 AM
8 h behind Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
75,441
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Nosara 9,040 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
  • 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
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,941 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, $1,835 in Nosara – roughly 6% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,911 per month in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Saint-Maur-des-Fossés 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 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $1,773 per month in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and $490 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 $1,835, than in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés at $1,941. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,835 in Nosara to $1,941 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Saint-Maur-des-Fossés 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 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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