Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seaside, OR and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,553 in Seaside, OR, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seaside, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,553
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seaside, OR 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 Seaside, OR and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,553 per month in Seaside, OR vs $1,837 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Seaside, OR $2,553
  • Nosara $1,837

A couple spends around $3,689 per month in Seaside, OR vs $2,775 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Seaside, OR $3,689
  • Nosara $2,775

A family of three spends $4,825 per month in Seaside, OR vs $3,712 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Seaside, OR $4,825
  • Nosara $3,712

Seaside, OR costs about 39% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Seaside, OR and Nosara sit above the global median – Seaside, OR by 91%, Nosara by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seaside, OR
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.38 $20.38
$12.22 ₡5,509
66.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.2 $83.2
$60.2 ₡27.1K
38.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.04 $12.04
$7.54 ₡3,399
59.68%
Cappuccino
$4.72 $4.72
$4.31 ₡1,941
9.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.72 ₡773
47.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.35 ₡608
51.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 $4.87
$3.24 ₡1,459
50.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 $7.15
$4.48 ₡2,018
59.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seaside, OR
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.57 ₡707
-35.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 $2.88
$3.17 ₡1,429
-9.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.42 ₡1,091
-9.09%
Eggs
$4.87 $4.87
$3.57 ₡1,609
36.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.12 $11.12
$7.43 ₡3,349
49.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.57 $13.57
$10.42 ₡4,697
30.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.41 $18.41
$13.66 ₡6,156
34.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$2.32 ₡1,044
104.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.61 ₡728
11.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$4.74 ₡2,138
-20.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$1.66 ₡747
142.17%
Potato (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.72 ₡1,679
-18.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.57 ₡1,611
-44.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.10 ₡497
70.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 $0.94
$2.55 ₡1,149
-63.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.42 $13.42
$4.95 ₡2,232
171.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.09 $15.09
$20.01 ₡9,020
-24.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 $1.61
$2.79 ₡1,256
-42.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.53 ₡1,589
-15.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Seaside, OR
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.19 ₡537
7.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.82 $25.82
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-64.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.51 $3.51
$2.24 ₡1,011
56.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.55 ₡701
42.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.7 $50.7
$8.86 ₡3,993
471.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.57 ₡708
-21.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K $34.2K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
56.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K $23.6K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-32.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seaside, OR
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 $214
$93.5 ₡42.1K
129.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3 $60.3
$35.11 ₡15.8K
71.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.7 $79.7
$51.5 ₡23.2K
54.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seaside, OR
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.77 $12.77
$7.84 ₡3,535
62.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seaside, OR
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,096 $1,096
$490 ₡220.7K
123.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K $16.3K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
37.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seaside, OR
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.89 $35.89
$53.5 ₡24.1K
-32.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.93 $45.93
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-17.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.16 $47.16
$79.3 ₡35.7K
-40.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 $79.4
$78.9 ₡35.6K
0.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seaside, OR
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,971 $1,971
$786 ₡354.3K
150.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,287 $1,287
$780 ₡351.6K
65.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,461 $2,461
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-36.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 $2,075
$1,407 ₡634.4K
47.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,194 $2,194
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-68.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,059 $1,059
$1,201 ₡541.3K
-11.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seaside, OR
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,825 $3,825
$876 ₡395.0K
336.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
8.62
-23.55%

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

Last update for Seaside, OR: October 5, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seaside, OR
$1.3K
Nosara
$780 39.4% $508
Groceries & Markets
Seaside, OR
$370
Nosara
$350 5.4% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seaside, OR
$354
Nosara
$180 49.2% $174
Eating Out
Seaside, OR
$313
Nosara
$209 33.1% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Seaside, OR
$94
Nosara
$120 28.4% $27
Getting Around
Seaside, OR
$46
Nosara
$87 90.7% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Seaside, OR
$26 *
Nosara
$87 241% $62

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,971 in Seaside, OR versus $786 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 336% higher in Seaside, OR, 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 $83.0 in Seaside, OR versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $350 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seaside, OR
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
22:43 10:43 PM
23:43 11:43 PM
1 h ahead of Seaside, OR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
33,025
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seaside, OR Nosara 5,400 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Seaside, OR
  • 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
Seaside, OR vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Seaside, OR and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,553 in Seaside, OR, $1,837 in Nosara – roughly 39% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Seaside, OR compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,829 per month in Seaside, OR and $2,756 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Seaside, OR and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Seaside, OR and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 179% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Seaside, OR and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $1,096 per month in Seaside, OR and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Seaside, OR at $2,553. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seaside, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Seaside, OR and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Nosara to $2,553 in Seaside, OR. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Seaside, OR 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 Seaside, OR and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seaside, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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