Cost of Living Comparison Between Tamarindo and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Tamarindo and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,836 per month in Tamarindo vs $1,662 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,553 per month in Tamarindo vs $2,597 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,270 per month in Tamarindo vs $3,532 in Nosara, rent included.

Tamarindo costs about 10% more than Nosara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tamarindo and Nosara sit above the global median – Tamarindo by 36%, Nosara by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.90 ₡4,978

$11.04 ₡5,042

-1.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 ₡27.7K

0.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.60 ₡4,386

$6.84 ₡3,123

40.35%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,783

$3.79 ₡1,729

2.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₡909

$1.57 ₡718

26.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₡749

$1.17 ₡533

40.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 ₡1,377

$2.91 ₡1,328

3.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 ₡2,170

$4.63 ₡2,113

2.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ₡934

$1.40 ₡640

45.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 ₡1,269

$2.85 ₡1,304

-2.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₡990

$2.13 ₡975

1.88%

Eggs

$3.02 ₡1,378

$3.02 ₡1,379

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.00 ₡4,569

$6.70 ₡3,062

49.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.26 ₡4,228

$8.86 ₡4,050

4.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ₡6,194

$13.51 ₡6,172

0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,003

$2.14 ₡977

104.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡689

$1.42 ₡648

6.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 ₡1,436

$4.36 ₡1,991

-27.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,622

$1.50 ₡686

136.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ₡1,059

$3.55 ₡1,620

-34.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₡1,355

$3.21 ₡1,467

-7.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₡468

$1.01 ₡462

0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,322

$2.32 ₡1,062

24.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ₡2,249

$4.47 ₡2,041

10.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.13 ₡5,999

$20.37 ₡9,308

-35.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₡1,154

$2.50 ₡1,140

1.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₡1,298

$2.88 ₡1,318

-1.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.87 ₡854

$1.02 ₡465

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.7 ₡25.5K

$67.8 ₡31.0K

-17.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡824

$1.82 ₡831

-1.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡807

$1.79 ₡817

-1.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.85 ₡2,672

$8.09 ₡3,696

-27.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡642

$1.34 ₡613

4.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K ₡16.5M

$32.1K ₡14.7M

12.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K ₡14.7M

$32.1K ₡14.7M

0.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$92.6 ₡42.3K

$95.2 ₡43.5K

-2.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.15 ₡10.1K

$26.17 ₡12.0K

-15.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 ₡23.8K

$48.04 ₡21.9K

8.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.4 ₡44.5K

$57.7 ₡26.3K

68.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.46 ₡10.7K

$23.79 ₡10.9K

-1.39%

Cinema Ticket

$6.98 ₡3,188

$9.67 ₡4,417

-27.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$534 ₡244.1K

$450 ₡205.6K

18.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,702 ₡4.0M

$10.7K ₡4.9M

-18.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 ₡28.6K

$49.98 ₡22.8K

25.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.60 ₡10.8K

$52.3 ₡23.9K

-54.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 ₡50.6K

$70.7 ₡32.3K

56.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.4K

$72.5 ₡33.1K

49.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,802 ₡823.2K

$758 ₡346.2K

137.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$803 ₡367.0K

$751 ₡343.0K

7.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,005 ₡1.4M

$1,517 ₡692.8K

98.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₡407.7K

$1,326 ₡605.6K

-32.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,454 ₡2.5M

$6,907 ₡3.2M

-21.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,266 ₡1.5M

$1,213 ₡554.1K

169.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$944 ₡431.1K

$881 ₡402.4K

7.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

-11.50%

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

Last update for Tamarindo: April 13, 2026

Last update for Nosara: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,802 in Tamarindo versus $758 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 7% higher in Tamarindo, 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 $61 in Tamarindo versus $61 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $344 in Tamarindo vs $320 in Nosara – so Nosara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Tamarindo vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,836 in Tamarindo, $1,662 in Nosara – roughly 10% apart. Tamarindo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,754 per month in Tamarindo and $2,492 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $534 per month in Tamarindo and $450 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,662, than in Tamarindo at $1,836. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tamarindo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Tamarindo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,662 in Nosara to $1,836 in Tamarindo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tamarindo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.