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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz is 11.8% cheaper than Nosara without rent, and 5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 6% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 10.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.98 ₡5,170

$11.02 ₡5,187

-0.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 ₡28.5K

$60.3 ₡28.4K

0.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.73 ₡4,582

$6.90 ₡3,250

41.01%

Cappuccino

$3.82 ₡1,797

$3.89 ₡1,833

-1.80%

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

$2.00 ₡940

$1.56 ₡734

28.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₡773

$1.18 ₡555

38.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ₡1,382

$3.01 ₡1,418

-2.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.64 ₡2,184

$4.74 ₡2,231

-2.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ₡958

$1.46 ₡686

39.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.79 ₡1,314

$2.78 ₡1,308

0.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₡1,052

$2.13 ₡1,002

4.69%

Eggs

$3.00 ₡1,410

$2.98 ₡1,403

0.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 ₡4,570

$6.59 ₡3,102

47.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 ₡4,259

$9.19 ₡4,326

-1.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 ₡6,362

$13.73 ₡6,461

-1.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₡2,135

$2.03 ₡956

123.65%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 ₡444

$1.41 ₡663

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 ₡1,970

$4.36 ₡2,052

-3.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 ₡1,692

$1.51 ₡710

137.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 ₡1,601

$3.53 ₡1,660

-3.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 ₡1,475

$3.19 ₡1,502

-1.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡474

$0.97 ₡454

4.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,387

$2.40 ₡1,129

22.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.16 ₡2,427

$4.52 ₡2,128

14.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.33 ₡9,568

$19.94 ₡9,384

1.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₡1,142

$2.40 ₡1,128

1.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,313

$2.83 ₡1,331

-1.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡485

$0.96 ₡454

7.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.2 ₡31.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₡838

$1.81 ₡854

-1.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 ₡844

$1.86 ₡877

-3.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.08 ₡3,805

$7.82 ₡3,680

3.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡662

$1.30 ₡613

8.46%

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

$37.1K ₡17.5M

$31.7K ₡14.9M

16.93%

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

$32.5K ₡15.3M

$33.2K ₡15.6M

-2.10%

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

$94.3 ₡44.4K

$94.2 ₡44.3K

0.13%

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

$25.42 ₡12.0K

$25.83 ₡12.2K

-1.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 ₡25.6K

$47.52 ₡22.4K

14.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 ₡26.3K

$56.0 ₡26.4K

-0.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.89 ₡11.2K

$23.82 ₡11.2K

0.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.01 ₡2,830

$9.91 ₡4,665

-39.35%

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

$574 ₡270.3K

$452 ₡212.8K

26.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.0M

$10.8K ₡5.1M

18.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡29.1K

$49.00 ₡23.1K

26.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡24.5K

$50.8 ₡23.9K

2.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡58.5K

$71.7 ₡33.8K

73.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡50.2K

$73.0 ₡34.3K

46.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$775 ₡364.9K

$776 ₡365.3K

-0.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ₡285.1K

$742 ₡349.2K

-18.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,510 ₡710.8K

$1,538 ₡723.8K

-1.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 ₡455.9K

$1,335 ₡628.4K

-27.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,726 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 ₡543.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$835 ₡393.0K

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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Nosara: March 2, 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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