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

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz is 30.4% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 4.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 10.8% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 7.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.72 ₡5,316

$10.79 ₡5,350

-0.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 ₡30.0K

$60.1 ₡29.8K

0.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 ₡4,923

$7.08 ₡3,510

40.25%

Cappuccino

$3.85 ₡1,910

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

$1.98 ₡981

$1.58 ₡783

25.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₡792

$1.22 ₡604

31.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.00 ₡1,487

$3.02 ₡1,499

-0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 ₡2,263

$4.73 ₡2,347

-3.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₡973

$1.41 ₡699

39.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 ₡1,443

$2.85 ₡1,413

2.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡1,061

$2.14 ₡1,063

Eggs

$2.91 ₡1,441

$2.91 ₡1,443

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 ₡4,928

$6.83 ₡3,384

45.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.98 ₡4,451

$9.27 ₡4,596

-3.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.40 ₡6,642

$13.83 ₡6,858

-3.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.62 ₡2,291

$2.05 ₡1,018

125.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 ₡497

$1.47 ₡729

-31.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡2,168

$4.16 ₡2,064

5.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 ₡1,723

$1.52 ₡753

128.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₡1,743

$3.51 ₡1,738

0.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 ₡1,596

$3.08 ₡1,528

4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡475

$0.95 ₡471

1.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,463

$2.36 ₡1,172

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 ₡2,605

$4.46 ₡2,210

17.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.01 ₡8,929

$17.82 ₡8,834

1.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,192

$2.45 ₡1,215

-2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,442

$2.89 ₡1,432

0.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡508

$0.97 ₡483

6.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.6 ₡33.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₡921

$1.81 ₡896

2.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡884

$1.80 ₡894

-1.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ₡4,010

$7.71 ₡3,823

4.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡691

$1.29 ₡639

7.75%

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

$37.3K ₡18.5M

$32.6K ₡16.2M

14.44%

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

$32.2K ₡16.0M

$32.5K ₡16.1M

-0.74%

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

$94.4 ₡46.8K

$95.3 ₡47.2K

-0.86%

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

$25.54 ₡12.7K

$25.57 ₡12.7K

-0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.2 ₡26.9K

$47.54 ₡23.6K

13.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.8 ₡28.2K

$57.0 ₡28.3K

-0.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.84 ₡11.8K

$23.56 ₡11.7K

1.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ₡3,045

$9.65 ₡4,786

-36.37%

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

$558 ₡276.9K

$444 ₡220.2K

25.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

$10.5K ₡5.2M

22.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 ₡31.3K

$48.96 ₡24.3K

28.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 ₡25.2K

$50.8 ₡25.2K

0.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.1K

$70.9 ₡35.2K

76.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.1K

$70.8 ₡35.1K

51.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₡380.4K

$756 ₡374.6K

1.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₡299.3K

$736 ₡364.7K

-17.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,541 ₡764.1K

$1,521 ₡754.3K

1.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$970 ₡480.9K

$1,305 ₡646.8K

-25.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,453 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,099 ₡545.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$817 ₡405.1K

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 Santa Cruz: January 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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