Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, Laguna and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Cruz, Laguna: $626 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

31

Cost of Living Index in Santa Cruz, Laguna
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Santa Cruz, Laguna Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Santa Cruz, Laguna

🇵🇭 Philippines

$626

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santa Cruz, Laguna and in Nosara

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Santa Cruz, Laguna and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $626 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

Santa Cruz, Laguna $626
Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $931 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

Santa Cruz, Laguna $931
Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,236 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

Santa Cruz, Laguna $1,236
Nosara $3,818

Santa Cruz, Laguna is about 66% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Santa Cruz, Laguna sits 54% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.57 ₱99.0

$12.35 ₡5,539

-87.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.09 ₱509

$61.2 ₡27.4K

-86.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.76 ₱174

$7.52 ₡3,373

-63.30%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₱112

$4.41 ₡1,978

-59.64%

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

$0.38 ₱23.98

$1.74 ₡780

-78.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$1.31 ₡587

-82.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₱62.2

$3.28 ₡1,471

-69.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱62.1

$4.47 ₡2,004

-77.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱103

$1.56 ₡701

4.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱72.9

$3.02 ₡1,355

-61.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱63.3

$2.51 ₡1,125

-60.16%

Eggs

$1.55 ₱97.5

$3.57 ₡1,603

-56.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.65 ₱293

$7.43 ₡3,333

-37.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 ₱220

$10.52 ₡4,717

-66.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₱445

$13.97 ₡6,265

-49.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 ₱92.1

$2.35 ₡1,052

-37.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.46 ₱28.85

$1.61 ₡720

-71.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 ₱91.0

$4.80 ₡2,152

-70.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₱64.2

$1.61 ₡724

-36.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱111

$3.80 ₡1,703

-53.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 ₱109

$3.69 ₡1,657

-52.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.99

$1.13 ₡507

-40.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.46

$2.66 ₡1,191

-80.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₱182

$5.18 ₡2,321

-44.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.60 ₱541

$19.88 ₡8,916

-56.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₱61.0

$2.90 ₡1,300

-66.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱131

$3.63 ₡1,626

-42.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₱13.40

$1.12 ₡504

-81.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.41 ₱718

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-84.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.2

$2.14 ₡958

-62.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$1.57 ₡703

-85.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 ₱121

$8.52 ₡3,823

-77.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.7

$1.52 ₡682

-17.76%

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

$21.2K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₡9.7M

-1.90%

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

$19.2K ₱1.2M

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-44.23%

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

$85.1 ₱5,359

$96.3 ₡43.2K

-11.60%

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

$17.58 ₱1,107

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-51.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.61 ₱1,487

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-55.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.48 ₱1,982

$71.6 ₡32.1K

-56.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.14 ₱261

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-88.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱323

$7.89 ₡3,539

-34.98%

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

$134 ₱8,442

$494 ₡221.6K

-72.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₱675.9K

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-9.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.89 ₱1,819

$53.9 ₡24.2K

-46.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.72 ₱1,242

$55.4 ₡24.8K

-64.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.5 ₱4,565

$77.9 ₡34.9K

-6.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.8 ₱3,515

$79.6 ₡35.7K

-29.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 ₱15.2K

$788 ₡353.4K

-69.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₱9,895

$794 ₡356.2K

-80.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₱29.9K

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-87.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ₱19.0K

$1,419 ₡636.5K

-78.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,296 ₱144.5K

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-66.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$886 ₱55.8K

$1,224 ₡549.0K

-27.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

8.62

-21.69%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz, Laguna: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$157 25.1%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 405% $637

Groceries & Markets

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$156 24.9%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 126% $197

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$126 20.2%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 47.1% $59

Clothing & Footwear

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$80 12.7%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 50.8% $40

Eating Out

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$52 8.2%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 311% $160

Sport & Entertainment

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$42 6.7%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 109% $46

Getting Around

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$14 2.3%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 513% $73

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $788 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 $8.00 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $156 vs $352 – making Santa Cruz, Laguna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Santa Cruz, Laguna

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

07:50 7:50 AM

17:50 5:50 PM

14 h behind Santa Cruz, Laguna

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

123,574

4,912

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Santa Cruz, Laguna Nosara 15,990 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Santa Cruz, Laguna
Nosara

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, Laguna vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $626 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 194% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $940 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna and $2,758 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, Laguna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 537% less in Santa Cruz, Laguna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $134 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, Laguna, where all-in costs run around $626, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 $626 in Santa Cruz, Laguna to $1,839 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, Laguna. 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.