Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Springsure and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,839 a month against $2,526 in Springsure, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Springsure
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,526
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,526 per month in Springsure vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Springsure $2,526
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $3,530 per month in Springsure vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Springsure $3,530
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $4,534 per month in Springsure vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Springsure $4,534
  • Nosara $3,818

Springsure costs about 37% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Springsure and Nosara sit above the global median – Springsure by 87%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Springsure
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.94 A$27.13
$12.35 ₡5,556
53.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.8 A$130
$61.2 ₡27.5K
48.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.29 A$16.17
$7.52 ₡3,383
50.13%
Cappuccino
$4.49 A$6.44
$4.41 ₡1,984
1.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 A$3.87
$1.74 ₡782
55.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 A$3.18
$1.31 ₡589
69.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 A$9.82
$3.28 ₡1,475
109.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06 A$10.11
$4.47 ₡2,010
57.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Springsure
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 A$2.43
$1.56 ₡703
8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.93 A$4.20
$3.02 ₡1,359
-2.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 A$3.40
$2.51 ₡1,129
-5.58%
Eggs
$5.15 A$7.37
$3.57 ₡1,608
44.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.37 A$14.86
$7.43 ₡3,344
39.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.18 A$14.59
$10.52 ₡4,732
-3.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.90 A$18.47
$13.97 ₡6,284
-7.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 A$5.04
$2.35 ₡1,055
49.79%
Banana (1kg)
$3.15 A$4.52
$1.61 ₡722
95.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.15 A$4.52
$4.80 ₡2,159
-34.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.98 A$5.70
$1.61 ₡726
147.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.89 A$4.13
$3.80 ₡1,708
-23.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 A$3.47
$3.69 ₡1,662
-34.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 A$3.38
$1.13 ₡508
108.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 A$1.87
$2.66 ₡1,195
-50.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$37.49 A$53.7
$5.18 ₡2,328
623.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.46 A$22.15
$19.88 ₡8,944
-22.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.36 A$7.67
$2.90 ₡1,304
84.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29 A$7.57
$3.63 ₡1,631
45.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Springsure
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 A$3.81
$1.12 ₡506
137.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.0 A$106
$72.6 ₡32.7K
1.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.62 A$5.18
$2.14 ₡961
69.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 A$2.17
$1.57 ₡706
-3.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.27 A$60.6
$8.52 ₡3,835
396.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 A$1.72
$1.52 ₡684
-21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K A$38.4K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
24.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K A$41.0K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-17.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springsure
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 A$310
$96.3 ₡43.3K
124.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.05 A$43.04
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-16.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6 A$82.6
$53.6 ₡24.1K
7.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Springsure
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 A$81.5
$71.6 ₡32.2K
-20.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.99 A$21.47
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-57.06%
Cinema Ticket
$15.66 A$22.44
$7.89 ₡3,550
98.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Springsure
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,423 A$3,472
$494 ₡222.3K
390.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K A$25.8K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
51.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Springsure
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0 A$112
$53.9 ₡24.3K
44.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.62 A$66.8
$55.4 ₡24.9K
-15.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 A$169
$77.9 ₡35.1K
51.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 A$151
$79.6 ₡35.8K
32.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Springsure
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,379 A$1,976
$788 ₡354.5K
75.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 A$1,720
$794 ₡357.3K
51.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,837 A$2,632
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-53.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,551 A$2,222
$1,419 ₡638.4K
9.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,399 A$7,734
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-21.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,419 A$7,762
$1,224 ₡550.7K
342.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Springsure
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡388.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
8.62
-32.25%

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

Last update for Springsure: October 10, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Springsure
$1.2K
Nosara
$794 33.8% $406
Groceries & Markets
Springsure
$373
Nosara
$352 5.5% $21
Eating Out
Springsure
$307
Nosara
$212 31.1% $96
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springsure
$304
Nosara
$186 38.9% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Springsure
$156
Nosara
$120 23.3% $36
Getting Around
Springsure
$96
Nosara
$87 9% $8.7
Sport & Entertainment
Springsure
$88
Nosara
$87 0.9% $0.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,379 in Springsure 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 $91.0 in Springsure versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $352 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Springsure
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
08:14 8:14 AM
16:14 4:14 PM
16 h behind Springsure
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,115
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.698 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Springsure Nosara 14,130 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Springsure
  • 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
Springsure vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Springsure and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,526 in Springsure, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 37% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Springsure compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,788 per month in Springsure 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 Springsure 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 Springsure and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 2% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Springsure and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $2,423 per month in Springsure 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 $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,839, than in Springsure at $2,526. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Springsure it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Springsure and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,839 in Nosara to $2,526 in Springsure. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Springsure 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 Springsure and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Springsure makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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