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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,577 per month in San Rafael vs $1,668 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,395 per month in San Rafael vs $2,595 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,214 per month in San Rafael vs $3,522 in Nosara, rent included.

San Rafael is about 5% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Rafael and Nosara sit above the global median – San Rafael by 18%, Nosara by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.10 ₡5,047

$11.08 ₡5,037

0.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 ₡26.9K

$58.6 ₡26.7K

0.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.00 ₡4,547

$6.92 ₡3,146

44.51%

Cappuccino

$3.73 ₡1,695

$3.91 ₡1,776

-4.60%

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

$1.99 ₡904

$1.62 ₡736

22.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₡745

$1.22 ₡554

34.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 ₡1,317

$2.97 ₡1,350

-2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ₡2,067

$4.53 ₡2,060

0.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₡888

$1.46 ₡663

33.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 ₡1,293

$2.76 ₡1,253

2.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₡1,010

$2.13 ₡970

4.23%

Eggs

$2.92 ₡1,326

$2.87 ₡1,307

1.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₡4,513

$6.82 ₡3,100

45.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.18 ₡4,175

$8.97 ₡4,080

2.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.77 ₡6,263

$13.53 ₡6,152

1.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 ₡2,087

$2.13 ₡968

115.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡655

$1.40 ₡639

2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 ₡1,909

$4.37 ₡1,988

-3.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,615

$1.53 ₡696

132.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₡1,540

$3.39 ₡1,542

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₡1,417

$3.20 ₡1,455

-2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡442

$1.00 ₡457

-3.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 ₡1,298

$2.31 ₡1,051

23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 ₡2,377

$4.66 ₡2,118

12.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.81 ₡9,919

$20.81 ₡9,462

4.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₡1,146

$2.41 ₡1,095

4.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,271

$2.83 ₡1,287

-1.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ₡465

$0.96 ₡435

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 ₡30.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡840

$1.85 ₡841

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡848

$1.84 ₡839

1.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.76 ₡3,528

$7.87 ₡3,578

-1.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₡662

$1.29 ₡585

12.40%

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

$37.2K ₡16.9M

$32.7K ₡14.9M

13.90%

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

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.7K ₡14.9M

-0.50%

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

$92.7 ₡42.1K

$95.3 ₡43.3K

-2.73%

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

$26.11 ₡11.9K

$25.39 ₡11.5K

2.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.5 ₡27.5K

$48.17 ₡21.9K

25.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₡26.1K

$56.3 ₡25.6K

1.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.16 ₡11.0K

$23.52 ₡10.7K

2.72%

Cinema Ticket

$9.86 ₡4,483

$10.19 ₡4,633

-3.24%

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

$575 ₡261.6K

$458 ₡208.1K

25.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₡5.9M

$10.5K ₡4.8M

22.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡28.0K

$50.6 ₡23.0K

21.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 ₡23.8K

$51.6 ₡23.5K

1.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡57.8K

$71.9 ₡32.7K

76.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡49.8K

$72.4 ₡32.9K

51.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$779 ₡354.2K

$769 ₡349.7K

1.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 ₡272.0K

$741 ₡337.0K

-19.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 ₡693.7K

$1,548 ₡704.1K

-1.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$972 ₡442.0K

$1,341 ₡609.8K

-27.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,153 ₡3.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡546.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$869 ₡395.4K

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 Rafael: April 25, 2026

Last update for Nosara: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $779 in San Rafael versus $769 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 Rafael versus $59.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $368 in San Rafael vs $320 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 Rafael vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,577 in San Rafael, $1,668 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 $2,365 per month in San Rafael and $2,502 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Rafael, 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 Rafael 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $1,577, than in Nosara at $1,668. In San Rafael 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 $1,577 in San Rafael to $1,668 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 Rafael. 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.