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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,530 per month in San Ramon vs $1,712 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,321 per month in San Ramon vs $2,637 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,112 per month in San Ramon vs $3,562 in Nosara, rent included.

San Ramon is about 11% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Ramon and Nosara sit above the global median – San Ramon by 14%, Nosara by 28%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Ramon
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.12 ₡2,785
$11.04 ₡5,023
-44.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.9 ₡23.6K
$60.5 ₡27.5K
-14.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.76 ₡4,441
$7.09 ₡3,226
37.66%
Cappuccino
$3.82 ₡1,738
$3.89 ₡1,769
-1.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₡942
$1.57 ₡715
31.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ₡755
$1.17 ₡530
41.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,379
$2.94 ₡1,338
3.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79 ₡2,178
$4.71 ₡2,141
1.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Ramon
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 ₡628
$1.47 ₡668
-6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 ₡1,263
$2.81 ₡1,280
-1.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 ₡976
$2.25 ₡1,021
-4.44%
Eggs
$4.71 ₡2,142
$2.94 ₡1,339
60.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.97 ₡4,534
$6.78 ₡3,085
47.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.91 ₡4,053
$9.03 ₡4,108
-1.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.59 ₡6,181
$13.62 ₡6,195
-0.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.39 ₡1,996
$2.05 ₡930
114.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 ₡627
$1.46 ₡665
-5.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡1,992
$4.18 ₡1,899
4.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.21 ₡1,459
$1.51 ₡688
112.58%
Potato (1kg)
$3.32 ₡1,512
$3.44 ₡1,566
-3.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 ₡1,348
$3.19 ₡1,451
-7.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡516
$0.96 ₡435
17.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 ₡1,321
$2.42 ₡1,099
20.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08 ₡2,312
$4.61 ₡2,097
10.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.79 ₡7,639
$21.01 ₡9,558
-20.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 ₡1,045
$2.41 ₡1,094
-4.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 ₡1,187
$2.85 ₡1,295
-8.42%
🚌 Getting Around
San Ramon
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ₡470
$0.96 ₡436
7.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.5 ₡29.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ₡811
$1.80 ₡818
-1.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 ₡817
$1.85 ₡841
-2.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 ₡3,562
$7.77 ₡3,533
0.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.64 ₡746
$1.28 ₡582
28.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K ₡17.3M
$32.4K ₡14.7M
17.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K ₡15.1M
$32.2K ₡14.7M
2.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Ramon
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 ₡60.0K
$95.5 ₡43.4K
38.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.02 ₡18.2K
$26.09 ₡11.9K
53.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 ₡23.0K
$47.42 ₡21.6K
6.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Ramon
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.12 ₡16.0K
$57.8 ₡26.3K
-39.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.88 ₡10.9K
$23.56 ₡10.7K
1.36%
Cinema Ticket
$10.03 ₡4,563
$10.18 ₡4,629
-1.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Ramon
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$522 ₡237.5K
$442 ₡201.2K
18.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡5.8M
$10.5K ₡4.8M
21.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Ramon
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 ₡28.8K
$50.6 ₡23.0K
25.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡23.2K
$51.4 ₡23.4K
-0.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡56.2K
$72.2 ₡32.8K
71.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 ₡49.1K
$70.4 ₡32.0K
53.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Ramon
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$759 ₡345.1K
$770 ₡350.4K
-1.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$587 ₡267.1K
$733 ₡333.3K
-19.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,517 ₡689.9K
$1,500 ₡682.4K
1.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$973 ₡442.4K
$1,290 ₡586.7K
-24.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,172 ₡532.9K
$7,047 ₡3.2M
-83.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,143 ₡519.8K
$1,234 ₡561.4K
-7.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Ramon
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$897 ₡408.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-

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

Last update for San Ramon: May 30, 2026

Last update for Nosara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $759 in San Ramon versus $770 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 $52.0 in San Ramon versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $354 in San Ramon vs $323 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 Ramon vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in San Ramon and Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,530 in San Ramon, $1,712 in Nosara – roughly 12% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in San Ramon compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,296 per month in San Ramon and $2,568 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between San Ramon and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Ramon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in San Ramon and $60.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Ramon, where all-in costs run around $1,530, than in Nosara at $1,712. In San Ramon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between San Ramon and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,530 in San Ramon to $1,712 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is San Ramon 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 San Ramon and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with San Ramon. 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.

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