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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,745 per month in San Pedro vs $1,852 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,794 per month in San Pedro vs $2,876 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,843 per month in San Pedro vs $3,900 in Nosara, rent included.

San Pedro is about 6% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Pedro and Nosara sit above the global median – San Pedro by 27%, Nosara by 35%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.48 ₡5,584

$12.10 ₡5,415

3.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 ₡26.4K

$58.8 ₡26.3K

0.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 ₡5,101

$7.91 ₡3,539

44.12%

Cappuccino

$4.39 ₡1,966

$4.45 ₡1,993

-1.35%

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

$2.57 ₡1,151

$1.76 ₡788

46.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₡885

$1.31 ₡588

51.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 ₡1,487

$3.28 ₡1,470

1.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 ₡2,016

$4.56 ₡2,040

-1.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 ₡1,067

$1.59 ₡710

49.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₡1,393

$3.07 ₡1,372

1.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 ₡1,151

$2.57 ₡1,149

Eggs

$3.64 ₡1,627

$3.59 ₡1,608

1.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 ₡4,917

$7.29 ₡3,263

50.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 ₡4,813

$10.77 ₡4,819

-0.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 ₡6,269

$14.15 ₡6,331

-0.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ₡2,357

$2.29 ₡1,024

130.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₡737

$1.64 ₡733

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 ₡2,139

$4.90 ₡2,193

-2.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 ₡1,790

$1.70 ₡761

135.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.93 ₡1,760

$3.89 ₡1,742

1.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.63 ₡1,623

$3.74 ₡1,675

-2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡506

$1.09 ₡488

3.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 ₡1,410

$2.58 ₡1,156

22.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 ₡2,747

$5.09 ₡2,279

20.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.38 ₡9,120

$20.39 ₡9,123

-0.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,259

$2.79 ₡1,251

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₡1,593

$3.59 ₡1,605

-0.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 ₡686

$1.45 ₡648

5.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 ₡34.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 ₡1,096

$2.18 ₡976

12.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 ₡741

$1.60 ₡715

3.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₡4,010

$9.07 ₡4,059

-1.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 ₡662

$1.54 ₡687

-3.90%

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

$21.8K ₡9.8M

$22.4K ₡10.0M

-2.43%

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

$34.8K ₡15.6M

$35.7K ₡16.0M

-2.65%

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

$97.4 ₡43.6K

$95.8 ₡42.9K

1.63%

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

$36.75 ₡16.4K

$36.42 ₡16.3K

0.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 ₡28.4K

$52.9 ₡23.7K

20.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.1 ₡37.2K

$74.3 ₡33.2K

11.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.79 ₡16.0K

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 ₡3,625

$8.16 ₡3,652

-0.74%

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

$981 ₡438.8K

$504 ₡225.6K

94.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K ₡7.9M

$11.7K ₡5.2M

50.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.1 ₡32.3K

$55.5 ₡24.9K

29.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.6 ₡25.8K

$57.4 ₡25.7K

0.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ₡58.9K

$79.1 ₡35.4K

66.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 ₡60.8K

$81.0 ₡36.2K

67.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 ₡366.3K

$809 ₡361.9K

1.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 ₡271.4K

$787 ₡352.2K

-22.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,980 ₡886.0K

$3,953 ₡1.8M

-49.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,411 ₡631.4K

$1,403 ₡627.8K

0.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,131 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,245 ₡556.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$896 ₡400.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for San Pedro: August 31, 2026

Last update for Nosara: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $818 in San Pedro versus $809 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 $59.0 in San Pedro versus $59.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $407 in San Pedro vs $355 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 Pedro vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,745 in San Pedro, $1,852 in Nosara – roughly 6% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,618 per month in San Pedro and $2,777 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Pedro, 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 $59.0 in San Pedro and $59.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Pedro, where all-in costs run around $1,745, than in Nosara at $1,852. In San Pedro 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 $1,745 in San Pedro to $1,852 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 Pedro. 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.