Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sète and Nosara

For one person, living costs are similar in Sète and in Nosara: $1,778 and $1,839 a month, rent and utilities included.

Sète
🇫🇷 France
$1,778
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,778 per month in Sète vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Sète $1,778
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $2,704 per month in Sète vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Sète $2,704
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $3,631 per month in Sète vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Sète $3,631
  • Nosara $3,818

Sète is about 3% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Sète and Nosara sit above the global median – Sète by 32%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sète
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.19
$12.35 ₡5,547
37.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8 €50.6
$61.2 ₡27.5K
-7.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.51 €12.04
$7.52 ₡3,377
79.65%
Cappuccino
$3.44 €3.07
$4.41 ₡1,981
-22.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 €2.11
$1.74 ₡781
36.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 €1.42
$1.31 ₡588
21.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.68 €5.07
$3.28 ₡1,473
73.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 €4.01
$4.47 ₡2,007
0.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sète
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 €1.19
$1.56 ₡702
-14.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 €1.51
$3.02 ₡1,357
-44.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 €2.13
$2.51 ₡1,127
-4.78%
Eggs
$3.75 €3.35
$3.57 ₡1,605
5.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.65 €16.63
$7.43 ₡3,338
151.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.09 €9.89
$10.52 ₡4,724
5.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.33 €16.34
$13.97 ₡6,274
31.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 €2.35
$2.35 ₡1,054
12.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$1.61 ₡721
40.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.81 €2.51
$4.80 ₡2,155
-41.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 €2.18
$1.61 ₡725
51.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.42 €2.16
$3.80 ₡1,706
-36.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 €2.07
$3.69 ₡1,659
-37.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.13 ₡507
21.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 €0.54
$2.66 ₡1,193
-77.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.75 €12.26
$5.18 ₡2,324
165.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 €6.61
$19.88 ₡8,929
-62.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.69 €3.29
$2.90 ₡1,302
27.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.53
$3.63 ₡1,628
-22.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Sète
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.88 €1.67
$1.12 ₡505
67.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.8 €48.89
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-24.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 €2.72
$2.14 ₡959
42.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 €1.52
$1.57 ₡704
8.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.66 €27.33
$8.52 ₡3,828
259.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 €1.88
$1.52 ₡683
38.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €31.0K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
60.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K €30.8K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-0.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sète
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 €200
$96.3 ₡43.2K
132.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.52 €12.95
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-59.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.39 €27.99
$53.6 ₡24.1K
-41.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sète
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.67 €28.24
$71.6 ₡32.2K
-55.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.82 €12.32
$7.89 ₡3,544
75.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sète
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$599 €534
$494 ₡221.9K
21.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,165 €6,389
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-39.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sète
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.8 €76.5
$53.9 ₡24.2K
59.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.95 €38.29
$55.4 ₡24.9K
-22.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.8 €82.8
$77.9 ₡35.0K
19.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 €117
$79.6 ₡35.8K
65.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sète
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$748 €667
$788 ₡353.9K
-5.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$610 €544
$794 ₡356.7K
-23.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,367 €1,218
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-65.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 €992
$1,419 ₡637.4K
-21.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,162 €3,711
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-39.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,211 €2,863
$1,224 ₡549.8K
162.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sète
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
8.62
-55.80%

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

Last update for Sète: 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
Sète
$610
Nosara
$794 30.3% $184
Groceries & Markets
Sète
$335
Nosara
$352 5.2% $17
Eating Out
Sète
$271
Nosara
$212 21.9% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sète
$270
Nosara
$186 31.2% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Sète
$159
Nosara
$120 24.5% $39
Getting Around
Sète
$74
Nosara
$87 17.9% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Sète
$59
Nosara
$87 47.3% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $748 in Sète 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 $57.0 in Sète versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $352 – making Sète the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Sète
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
06:49 6:49 AM
22:49 10:49 PM
8 h behind Sète
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
44,712
4,912
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 449 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sète Nosara 9,190 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sète
  • 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
Sète vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sète and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,778 in Sète, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 3% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Sète compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,667 per month in Sète 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 Sète and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sète, 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 Sète and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 32% less in Sète. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sète and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $599 per month in Sète and $494 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 $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Sète, where all-in costs run around $1,778, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Sète it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Sète and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,778 in Sète to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sète 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 Sète and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Sète. 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.

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