Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Luis Rio Colorado and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in San Luis Rio Colorado: $1,229 a month against $1,846 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico
Nosara, Costa Rica
San Luis Rio Colorado
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,229
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,846
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,229 per month in San Luis Rio Colorado vs $1,846 in Nosara, rent included.

  • San Luis Rio Colorado $1,229
  • Nosara $1,846

A couple spends around $1,860 per month in San Luis Rio Colorado vs $2,833 in Nosara, rent included.

  • San Luis Rio Colorado $1,860
  • Nosara $2,833

A family of three spends $2,491 per month in San Luis Rio Colorado vs $3,820 in Nosara, rent included.

  • San Luis Rio Colorado $2,491
  • Nosara $3,820

San Luis Rio Colorado is about 33% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

San Luis Rio Colorado sits 10% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Luis Rio Colorado
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95 MX$223
$12.36 ₡5,575
-3.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.23 MX$620
$60.8 ₡27.4K
-45.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.45 MX$176
$7.88 ₡3,557
19.92%
Cappuccino
$4.19 MX$78.2
$4.40 ₡1,986
-4.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 MX$26.45
$1.72 ₡776
-17.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MX$22.94
$1.34 ₡603
-8.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.16 MX$58.9
$3.34 ₡1,505
-5.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.43 MX$120
$4.54 ₡2,048
41.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Luis Rio Colorado
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.06
$1.64 ₡739
4.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.93 MX$54.7
$3.16 ₡1,426
-7.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 MX$32.80
$2.39 ₡1,080
-26.36%
Eggs
$3.10 MX$57.7
$3.47 ₡1,564
-10.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.46 MX$158
$7.13 ₡3,217
18.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.24 MX$135
$10.32 ₡4,655
-29.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.50 MX$214
$13.97 ₡6,302
-17.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$53.6
$2.29 ₡1,031
25.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 MX$29.71
$1.62 ₡731
-1.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$36.57
$4.81 ₡2,169
-59.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 MX$29.13
$1.68 ₡758
-7.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 MX$27.69
$3.91 ₡1,765
-61.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.84
$3.63 ₡1,640
-49.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$27.04
$1.13 ₡509
28.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$19.42
$2.63 ₡1,188
-60.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.39 MX$81.8
$5.02 ₡2,267
-12.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 MX$149
$19.71 ₡8,893
-59.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 MX$41.19
$2.91 ₡1,314
-24.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 MX$75.0
$3.54 ₡1,597
13.56%
🚌 Getting Around
San Luis Rio Colorado
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 MX$12.79
$1.21 ₡545
-42.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.51 MX$606
$73.8 ₡33.3K
-55.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 MX$51.2
$2.15 ₡969
27.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 MX$41.09
$1.63 ₡738
34.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.75 MX$200
$8.77 ₡3,958
22.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 MX$27.97
$1.55 ₡700
-3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K MX$451.7K
$33.9K ₡15.3M
-28.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$440.2K
$38.5K ₡17.4M
-38.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Luis Rio Colorado
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.01 MX$858
$95.2 ₡43.0K
-51.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.95 MX$614
$36.29 ₡16.4K
-9.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.62 MX$552
$52.0 ₡23.5K
-43.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Luis Rio Colorado
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.11 MX$598
$67.6 ₡30.5K
-52.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.37 MX$361
$35.55 ₡16.0K
-45.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.45 MX$120
$7.54 ₡3,404
-14.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Luis Rio Colorado
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$206 MX$3,832
$496 ₡224.0K
-58.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,436 MX$82.7K
$11.8K ₡5.3M
-62.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Luis Rio Colorado
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 MX$979
$55.1 ₡24.9K
-4.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 MX$853
$56.1 ₡25.3K
-18.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,917
$77.8 ₡35.1K
32.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 MX$1,299
$79.1 ₡35.7K
-11.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Luis Rio Colorado
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$572 MX$10.7K
$817 ₡368.9K
-30.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 MX$7,976
$806 ₡363.6K
-46.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$893 MX$16.6K
$3,988 ₡1.8M
-77.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 MX$12.5K
$1,429 ₡644.9K
-53.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$39.3K
$7,068 ₡3.2M
-70.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,092 MX$20.3K
$1,197 ₡540.1K
-8.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Luis Rio Colorado
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$888 ₡400.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.07
8.62
40.02%

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

Last update for San Luis Rio Colorado: October 24, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Luis Rio Colorado
$428
Nosara
$806 88.3% $378
Groceries & Markets
San Luis Rio Colorado
$263
Nosara
$351 33.5% $88
Eating Out
San Luis Rio Colorado
$213
Nosara
$213 0.1% $0.2
Clothing & Footwear
San Luis Rio Colorado
$122
Nosara
$121 1% $1.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Luis Rio Colorado
$109
Nosara
$184 69% $75
Getting Around
San Luis Rio Colorado
$49
Nosara
$89 81.4% $40
Sport & Entertainment
San Luis Rio Colorado
$45
Nosara
$83 83.7% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $572 in San Luis Rio Colorado versus $817 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 $33 in San Luis Rio Colorado versus $61 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $351 – making San Luis Rio Colorado the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 San Luis Rio Colorado
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
13:21 1:21 PM
14:21 2:21 PM
1 h ahead of San Luis Rio Colorado
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
176,685
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Luis Rio Colorado Nosara 3,900 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Luis Rio Colorado
  • 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
San Luis Rio Colorado vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in San Luis Rio Colorado and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,229 in San Luis Rio Colorado, $1,846 in Nosara – San Luis Rio Colorado comes out roughly 33% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in San Luis Rio Colorado compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,843 per month in San Luis Rio Colorado and $2,769 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between San Luis Rio Colorado and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Luis Rio Colorado, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $572 there versus $817 in Nosara.
How do commuting costs compare in San Luis Rio Colorado and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 56% less in San Luis Rio Colorado. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between San Luis Rio Colorado and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $206 per month in San Luis Rio Colorado and $496 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,229 in San Luis Rio Colorado and $1,846 in Nosara. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: San Luis Rio Colorado or Nosara?
Families tend to lean toward San Luis Rio Colorado – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: San Luis Rio Colorado or Nosara?
For expats, San Luis Rio Colorado is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 33% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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