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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,581 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,712 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,423 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,637 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,265 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,562 in Nosara, rent included.

Santa Cruz is about 8% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Santa Cruz and Nosara sit above the global median – Santa Cruz by 18%, Nosara by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₡4,959

$11.04 ₡5,046

-1.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.4 ₡27.6K

$60.5 ₡27.6K

-0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 ₡4,658

$7.09 ₡3,240

43.86%

Cappuccino

$3.82 ₡1,745

$3.89 ₡1,777

-1.80%

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

$1.99 ₡907

$1.57 ₡719

26.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₡718

$1.17 ₡533

34.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ₡1,344

$2.94 ₡1,345

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ₡2,197

$4.71 ₡2,150

2.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡904

$1.47 ₡671

34.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,261

$2.81 ₡1,286

-1.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ₡995

$2.25 ₡1,026

-3.11%

Eggs

$2.88 ₡1,314

$2.94 ₡1,345

-2.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 ₡4,603

$6.78 ₡3,099

48.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.00 ₡4,113

$9.03 ₡4,126

-0.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.42 ₡6,131

$13.62 ₡6,223

-1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 ₡2,097

$2.05 ₡935

123.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 ₡439

$1.46 ₡668

-34.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 ₡1,903

$4.18 ₡1,908

-0.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,581

$1.51 ₡691

129.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 ₡1,569

$3.44 ₡1,573

-0.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 ₡1,468

$3.19 ₡1,457

0.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡433

$0.96 ₡437

-1.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,326

$2.42 ₡1,104

19.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.13 ₡2,343

$4.61 ₡2,107

11.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.09 ₡10.1K

$21.01 ₡9,601

5.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₡1,106

$2.41 ₡1,100

0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,282

$2.85 ₡1,301

-1.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡435

$0.96 ₡438

-1.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡29.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡825

$1.80 ₡822

0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 ₡826

$1.85 ₡845

-2.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 ₡3,686

$7.77 ₡3,550

3.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡643

$1.28 ₡585

10.16%

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

$37.8K ₡17.3M

$32.4K ₡14.8M

16.63%

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

$32.4K ₡14.8M

$32.2K ₡14.7M

0.42%

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

$92.3 ₡42.2K

$95.5 ₡43.6K

-3.32%

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

$25.88 ₡11.8K

$26.09 ₡11.9K

-0.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 ₡24.1K

$47.42 ₡21.7K

11.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₡25.7K

$57.8 ₡26.4K

-2.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.47 ₡10.7K

$23.56 ₡10.8K

-0.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₡2,668

$10.18 ₡4,651

-42.63%

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

$567 ₡258.9K

$442 ₡202.1K

28.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₡5.9M

$10.5K ₡4.8M

22.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ₡28.1K

$50.6 ₡23.1K

21.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 ₡23.7K

$51.4 ₡23.5K

0.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡57.2K

$72.2 ₡33.0K

73.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.2K

$70.4 ₡32.1K

52.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₡344.9K

$770 ₡352.0K

-2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$589 ₡268.9K

$733 ₡334.8K

-19.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ₡690.2K

$1,500 ₡685.6K

0.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$947 ₡432.6K

$1,290 ₡589.4K

-26.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,047 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,234 ₡563.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 ₡409.9K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nosara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Santa Cruz 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 $60.0 in Santa Cruz versus $60.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $363 in Santa Cruz 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

Santa Cruz vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,581 in Santa Cruz, $1,712 in Nosara – roughly 8% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,372 per month in Santa Cruz and $2,568 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Cruz, 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 $60.0 in Santa Cruz and $60.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% 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 Santa Cruz, where all-in costs run around $1,581, than in Nosara at $1,712. In Santa Cruz 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 $1,581 in Santa Cruz to $1,712 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 Santa Cruz. 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.