Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Barbara and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Barbara and Nosara

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Barbara is 8.1% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 9.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Barbara is 8.9% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Barbara
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.03 ₡5,520
$10.9 ₡5,457
1.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7 ₡29.4K
$60.5 ₡30.3K
-2.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.07 ₡5,043
$6.9 ₡3,453
45.94%
Cappuccino
$3.94 ₡1,971
$3.89 ₡1,949
1.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡984
$1.54 ₡773
27.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₡788
$1.17 ₡587
34.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 ₡1,526
$3.06 ₡1,530
-0.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.8 ₡2,404
$4.75 ₡2,379
1.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Barbara
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 ₡991
$1.43 ₡715
38.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.84 ₡1,423
$2.89 ₡1,447
-1.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 ₡1,064
$2.23 ₡1,117
-4.93%
Eggs
$2.91 ₡1,454
$3.01 ₡1,508
-3.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.79 ₡4,400
$6.48 ₡3,242
35.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.16 ₡4,585
$9.36 ₡4,687
-2.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,968
$13.41 ₡6,715
3.80%
Apples (1kg)
$4.53 ₡2,266
$2.1 ₡1,053
115.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 ₡655
$1.43 ₡716
-8.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,212
$4.19 ₡2,096
-42.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.59 ₡1,798
$1.47 ₡736
144.22%
Potato (1kg)
$3.02 ₡1,511
$3.51 ₡1,759
-13.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$3.23 ₡1,616
-9.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ₡359
$0.96 ₡482
-25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 ₡1,415
$2.31 ₡1,158
22.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.33 ₡2,667
$4.49 ₡2,248
18.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.09 ₡6,052
$18.93 ₡9,475
-36.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 ₡1,231
$2.44 ₡1,223
0.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ₡1,428
$2.8 ₡1,399
1.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Barbara
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 ₡504
$1.04 ₡518
-2.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$66.5 ₡33.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 ₡922
$1.85 ₡925
-0.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 ₡473
$1.77 ₡884
-46.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 ₡4,050
$7.85 ₡3,931
3.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ₡695
$1.36 ₡679
2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K ₡18.6M
$32.3K ₡16.2M
14.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ₡16.5M
$32.7K ₡16.3M
0.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Barbara
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.8 ₡33.5K
$95 ₡47.6K
-29.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.29 ₡13.2K
$26.15 ₡13.1K
0.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60 ₡30K
$48.48 ₡24.3K
23.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Barbara
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.5 ₡28.3K
$55.8 ₡27.9K
1.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.94 ₡12K
$23.73 ₡11.9K
0.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.15 ₡4,580
$10 ₡5,008
-8.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Barbara
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$572 ₡286.1K
$448 ₡224.4K
27.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$10.5K ₡5.2M
22.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Barbara
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.5 ₡31.3K
$49.72 ₡24.9K
25.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 ₡25.3K
$50.5 ₡25.3K
-0.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₡63.1K
$70.6 ₡35.3K
78.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₡54.3K
$71.1 ₡35.6K
52.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Barbara
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$752 ₡376.5K
$751 ₡376K
0.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$585 ₡293K
$757 ₡378.9K
-22.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,537 ₡769.3K
$1,505 ₡753.2K
2.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$980 ₡490.7K
$1,303 ₡652.3K
-24.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,666 ₡834.1K
$6,322 ₡3.2M
-73.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,661 ₡831.4K
$1,079 ₡540.1K
53.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Barbara
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$805 ₡402.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
10.17
-11.50%

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

Last update for Santa Barbara: October 28, 2025

Last update for Nosara: October 27, 2025

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