Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Bernardo do Campo and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Bernardo do Campo: $864 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sao Bernardo do Campo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$864
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sao Bernardo do Campo 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 Sao Bernardo do Campo and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $864 per month in Sao Bernardo do Campo vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Sao Bernardo do Campo $864
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,353 per month in Sao Bernardo do Campo vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Sao Bernardo do Campo $1,353
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,841 per month in Sao Bernardo do Campo vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Sao Bernardo do Campo $1,841
  • Nosara $3,818

Sao Bernardo do Campo is about 53% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Sao Bernardo do Campo sits 36% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.15 R$36.26
$12.35 ₡5,539
-42.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.48 R$149
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-51.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.18 R$46.52
$7.52 ₡3,373
22.07%
Cappuccino
$1.83 R$9.27
$4.41 ₡1,978
-58.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 R$6.54
$1.74 ₡780
-25.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 R$3.68
$1.31 ₡587
-44.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 R$12.31
$3.28 ₡1,471
-25.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 R$19.81
$4.47 ₡2,004
-12.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 R$5.18
$1.56 ₡701
-34.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.92 R$9.74
$3.02 ₡1,355
-36.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 R$6.98
$2.51 ₡1,125
-45.02%
Eggs
$2.01 R$10.21
$3.57 ₡1,603
-43.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.85 R$55.0
$7.43 ₡3,333
46.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.60 R$23.30
$10.52 ₡4,717
-56.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.53 R$53.4
$13.97 ₡6,265
-24.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 R$12.04
$2.35 ₡1,052
0.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 R$8.30
$1.61 ₡720
1.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 R$6.99
$4.80 ₡2,152
-71.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 R$6.86
$1.61 ₡724
-16.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 R$6.47
$3.80 ₡1,703
-66.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 R$4.99
$3.69 ₡1,657
-73.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 R$4.67
$1.13 ₡507
-18.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 R$4.44
$2.66 ₡1,191
-66.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 R$11.29
$5.18 ₡2,321
-56.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.69 R$33.90
$19.88 ₡8,916
-66.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 R$6.62
$2.90 ₡1,300
-54.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 R$13.05
$3.63 ₡1,626
-29.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 R$5.70
$1.12 ₡504
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 R$5.96
$2.14 ₡958
-44.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 R$3.12
$1.57 ₡703
-61.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 R$15.67
$8.52 ₡3,823
-63.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 R$6.02
$1.52 ₡682
-21.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K R$122.6K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
11.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K R$163.6K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-6.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.5 R$342
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-29.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.78 R$74.9
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-58.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.70 R$105
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-61.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.62 R$125
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-65.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.67 R$171
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-3.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.01 R$35.56
$7.89 ₡3,539
-11.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$339 R$1,717
$494 ₡221.6K
-31.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,468 R$32.8K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-45.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.86 R$197
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-27.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.51 R$246
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-12.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 R$463
$77.9 ₡34.9K
17.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3 R$392
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-2.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$338 R$1,715
$788 ₡353.4K
-57.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 R$1,292
$794 ₡356.2K
-67.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 R$5,074
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-74.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$440 R$2,229
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-69.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,610 R$8,163
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-76.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,098 R$5,565
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-10.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$397 R$2,014
$864 ₡387.3K
-54.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.81
8.62
25.41%

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

Last update for Sao Bernardo do Campo: 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
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$255
Nosara
$794 212% $539
Groceries & Markets
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$209
Nosara
$352 68.4% $143
Eating Out
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$135
Nosara
$212 57.2% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$115
Nosara
$120 4.3% $5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$103
Nosara
$186 80.4% $83
Sport & Entertainment
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$39
Nosara
$87 126% $49
Getting Around
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$8.8 *
Nosara
$87 896% $78

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $338 in Sao Bernardo do Campo 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.

Salaries run about 117% higher in Nosara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Sao Bernardo do Campo versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $352 – making Sao Bernardo do Campo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Sao Bernardo do Campo
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
22:30 10:30 PM
19:30 7:30 PM
3 h behind Sao Bernardo do Campo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
810,729
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sao Bernardo do Campo Nosara 5,660 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sao Bernardo do Campo
  • 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
Sao Bernardo do Campo vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sao Bernardo do Campo and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $864 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 113% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Sao Bernardo do Campo compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,296 per month in Sao Bernardo do Campo and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sao Bernardo do Campo and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Bernardo do Campo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Sao Bernardo do Campo and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 68% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Bernardo do Campo, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Sao Bernardo do Campo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Sao Bernardo do Campo and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $864 in Sao Bernardo do Campo to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sao Bernardo do Campo or Nosara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Sao Bernardo do Campo and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Bernardo do Campo. 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.

Sao Bernardo do Campo vs other spots: cost of living compared

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