Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,584 per month in San Juan vs $1,722 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,393 per month in San Juan vs $2,632 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,202 per month in San Juan vs $3,541 in Nosara, rent included.

San Juan is about 8% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Juan and Nosara sit above the global median – San Juan by 19%, Nosara by 29%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.84 ₡4,861

$10.85 ₡4,865

-0.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 ₡27.3K

$60.9 ₡27.3K

-0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.71 ₡4,353

$7.12 ₡3,192

36.38%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₡1,754

$3.86 ₡1,731

1.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₡895

$1.56 ₡701

28.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₡707

$1.16 ₡518

36.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 ₡1,357

$3.03 ₡1,360

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 ₡2,120

$4.55 ₡2,041

3.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ₡928

$1.41 ₡631

46.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 ₡1,247

$2.89 ₡1,298

-3.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡958

$2.15 ₡964

-0.47%

Eggs

$2.88 ₡1,289

$2.93 ₡1,315

-1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 ₡4,391

$6.77 ₡3,036

44.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.16 ₡4,109

$9.00 ₡4,037

1.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.71 ₡6,149

$13.94 ₡6,252

-1.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 ₡1,974

$2.14 ₡960

105.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₡681

$1.40 ₡628

8.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡1,964

$4.39 ₡1,966

-0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 ₡1,587

$1.47 ₡658

140.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 ₡1,524

$3.54 ₡1,589

-3.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 ₡1,395

$3.15 ₡1,414

-1.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡465

$0.97 ₡436

7.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,261

$2.37 ₡1,063

18.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.16 ₡2,313

$4.55 ₡2,040

13.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.01 ₡9,870

$21.05 ₡9,439

4.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,077

$2.50 ₡1,120

-4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,270

$2.79 ₡1,250

1.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 ₡434

$0.95 ₡424

2.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.7 ₡30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡811

$1.82 ₡814

-0.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡795

$1.85 ₡831

-4.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 ₡3,569

$7.70 ₡3,453

3.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡656

$1.29 ₡577

13.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.5K ₡16.8M

$32.7K ₡14.7M

14.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.6K ₡14.6M

$32.3K ₡14.5M

0.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.0 ₡41.7K

$92.2 ₡41.4K

0.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.11 ₡11.7K

$25.96 ₡11.6K

0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.3 ₡27.1K

$48.58 ₡21.8K

24.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ₡25.5K

$56.4 ₡25.3K

0.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.21 ₡10.9K

$23.56 ₡10.6K

2.76%

Cinema Ticket

$9.97 ₡4,471

$10.16 ₡4,554

-1.87%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$559 ₡250.6K

$447 ₡200.5K

24.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡5.6M

$10.5K ₡4.7M

18.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ₡28.2K

$49.85 ₡22.4K

26.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 ₡23.0K

$50.8 ₡22.8K

1.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡56.3K

$72.6 ₡32.5K

73.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡48.9K

$71.6 ₡32.1K

52.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₡339.3K

$763 ₡342.3K

-0.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 ₡268.2K

$759 ₡340.4K

-21.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 ₡689.3K

$1,507 ₡675.8K

2.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$977 ₡438.0K

$1,300 ₡582.8K

-24.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,126 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,208 ₡541.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$889 ₡398.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for San Juan: July 27, 2026

Last update for Nosara: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $757 in San Juan versus $763 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 $61.0 in San Juan versus $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $367 in San Juan vs $324 in Nosara – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

San Juan vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,584 in San Juan, $1,722 in Nosara – roughly 9% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,376 per month in San Juan and $2,583 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in San Juan and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan, where all-in costs run around $1,584, than in Nosara at $1,722. In San Juan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,584 in San Juan to $1,722 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with San Juan. 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.