Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Stokmarknes and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,652 in Stokmarknes, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Stokmarknes
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,652
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,652 per month in Stokmarknes vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Stokmarknes $2,652
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $4,015 per month in Stokmarknes vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Stokmarknes $4,015
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $5,378 per month in Stokmarknes vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Stokmarknes $5,378
  • Nosara $3,814

Stokmarknes costs about 45% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Stokmarknes and Nosara sit above the global median – Stokmarknes by 96%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stokmarknes
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63 NOK 194
$12.34 ₡5,535
67.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103 NOK 968
$61.3 ₡27.5K
67.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.80 NOK 149
$7.76 ₡3,481
103.61%
Cappuccino
$5.38 NOK 50.6
$4.44 ₡1,992
21.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 NOK 37.43
$1.79 ₡803
122.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 NOK 29.93
$1.29 ₡580
146.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.81 NOK 111
$3.24 ₡1,451
264.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.36 NOK 97.5
$4.43 ₡1,985
133.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stokmarknes
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.47 NOK 23.27
$1.55 ₡696
59.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 NOK 33.41
$3.08 ₡1,380
15.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.87 NOK 36.44
$2.53 ₡1,133
52.96%
Eggs
$4.76 NOK 44.83
$3.45 ₡1,546
37.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.04 NOK 123
$7.32 ₡3,284
78.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.20 NOK 143
$10.24 ₡4,594
48.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.03 NOK 292
$14.10 ₡6,326
120.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.27 NOK 30.75
$2.29 ₡1,027
42.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 NOK 24.26
$1.64 ₡737
57.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.51 NOK 33.04
$4.79 ₡2,149
-26.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 NOK 44.90
$1.64 ₡735
190.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 NOK 24.40
$3.85 ₡1,727
-32.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 NOK 27.13
$3.75 ₡1,681
-23.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.02 NOK 28.44
$1.09 ₡488
177.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 NOK 21.90
$2.59 ₡1,160
-10.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.47 NOK 164
$5.12 ₡2,295
241.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.55 NOK 156
$19.92 ₡8,931
-16.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49 NOK 32.83
$2.80 ₡1,255
24.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20 NOK 39.57
$3.52 ₡1,580
19.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Stokmarknes
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.62 NOK 43.50
$1.22 ₡549
278.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.0 NOK 810
$73.9 ₡33.1K
16.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.01 NOK 113
$2.17 ₡973
453.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 NOK 17.47
$1.56 ₡698
19.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$69.1 NOK 650
$8.67 ₡3,886
697.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.33 NOK 21.93
$1.55 ₡697
50.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.7K NOK 458.2K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
40.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.8K NOK 402.7K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
10.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stokmarknes
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 NOK 2,554
$94.8 ₡42.5K
186.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.47 NOK 315
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-7.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 NOK 511
$53.1 ₡23.8K
2.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stokmarknes
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.46 NOK 466
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-32.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.68 NOK 345
$35.63 ₡16.0K
2.95%
Cinema Ticket
$17.21 NOK 162
$7.91 ₡3,548
117.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stokmarknes
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 NOK 2,204
$490 ₡219.9K
-52.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K NOK 121.9K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
8.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stokmarknes
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.7 NOK 938
$54.8 ₡24.6K
81.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 NOK 534
$55.9 ₡25.1K
1.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 NOK 1,187
$80.4 ₡36.0K
56.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 NOK 1,461
$77.9 ₡34.9K
99.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stokmarknes
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,206 NOK 11.4K
$801 ₡359.1K
50.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 NOK 9,563
$790 ₡354.1K
28.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,973 NOK 18.6K
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-50.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,690 NOK 15.9K
$1,409 ₡632.0K
19.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,221 NOK 58.6K
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-11.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,109 NOK 38.7K
$1,236 ₡554.3K
232.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stokmarknes
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.94
8.62
-42.69%

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

Last update for Stokmarknes: October 18, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Stokmarknes
$1K
Nosara
$790 22.3% $226
Groceries & Markets
Stokmarknes
$485
Nosara
$350 27.9% $135
Eating Out
Stokmarknes
$385
Nosara
$213 44.8% $173
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stokmarknes
$359
Nosara
$184 48.7% $175
Clothing & Footwear
Stokmarknes
$197
Nosara
$121 38.6% $76
Getting Around
Stokmarknes
$126
Nosara
$89 29.5% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Stokmarknes
$84
Nosara
$90 6.8% $5.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,206 in Stokmarknes versus $801 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 $103 in Stokmarknes versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $485 vs $350 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Stokmarknes
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
09:33 9:33 AM
01:33 1:33 AM
8 h behind Stokmarknes
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,300
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Stokmarknes Nosara 9,400 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Stokmarknes
  • 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
Stokmarknes vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Stokmarknes and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,652 in Stokmarknes, $1,835 in Nosara – roughly 45% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Stokmarknes compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,978 per month in Stokmarknes and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Stokmarknes 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 Stokmarknes and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 16% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Stokmarknes and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $234 per month in Stokmarknes 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 $1,835, than in Stokmarknes at $2,652. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stokmarknes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Stokmarknes and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,835 in Nosara to $2,652 in Stokmarknes. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Stokmarknes 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 Stokmarknes and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stokmarknes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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