Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Frumos and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Targu Frumos: $998 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Targu Frumos
🇷🇴 Romania
$998
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $998 per month in Targu Frumos vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Targu Frumos $998
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,521 per month in Targu Frumos vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Targu Frumos $1,521
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $2,043 per month in Targu Frumos vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Targu Frumos $2,043
  • Nosara $3,818

Targu Frumos is about 46% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Targu Frumos sits 26% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targu Frumos
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.68 RON 50.5
$12.35 ₡5,539
-13.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.45 RON 201
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-30.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.21 RON 34.12
$7.52 ₡3,373
-4.12%
Cappuccino
$2.42 RON 11.46
$4.41 ₡1,978
-45.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 RON 9.86
$1.74 ₡780
19.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 RON 8.87
$1.31 ₡587
42.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 RON 9.68
$3.28 ₡1,471
-37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 RON 15.06
$4.47 ₡2,004
-28.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targu Frumos
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 RON 5.56
$1.56 ₡701
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.70 RON 3.32
$3.02 ₡1,355
-76.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 RON 8.48
$2.51 ₡1,125
-28.69%
Eggs
$3.41 RON 16.11
$3.57 ₡1,603
-4.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.51 RON 35.53
$7.43 ₡3,333
1.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.94 RON 28.09
$10.52 ₡4,717
-43.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 RON 40.65
$13.97 ₡6,265
-38.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 RON 6.07
$2.35 ₡1,052
-45.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 RON 7.52
$1.61 ₡720
-1.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 RON 7.11
$4.80 ₡2,152
-68.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 RON 8.35
$1.61 ₡724
9.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 RON 4.49
$3.80 ₡1,703
-75.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 RON 4.75
$3.69 ₡1,657
-72.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 RON 3.78
$1.13 ₡507
-29.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 RON 3.47
$2.66 ₡1,191
-72.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.60 RON 26.49
$5.18 ₡2,321
8.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.29 RON 25.05
$19.88 ₡8,916
-73.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 RON 4.73
$2.90 ₡1,300
-65.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 RON 5.61
$3.63 ₡1,626
-67.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Targu Frumos
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 RON 3.67
$1.12 ₡504
-31.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.57 RON 102
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-70.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 RON 3.10
$2.14 ₡958
-69.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 RON 3.02
$1.57 ₡703
-59.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.09 RON 33.52
$8.52 ₡3,823
-16.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 RON 8.55
$1.52 ₡682
19.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K RON 135.2K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
32.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K RON 116.5K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-28.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Frumos
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 RON 693
$96.3 ₡43.2K
52.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.75 RON 36.67
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-78.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.69 RON 36.37
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-85.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targu Frumos
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.18 RON 181
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-46.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.15 RON 95.3
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-42.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 RON 29.48
$7.89 ₡3,539
-21.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targu Frumos
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 RON 2,852
$494 ₡221.6K
21.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,996 RON 23.6K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-57.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targu Frumos
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.3 RON 451
$53.9 ₡24.2K
76.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.26 RON 153
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-41.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.0 RON 289
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-21.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 RON 399
$79.6 ₡35.7K
5.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targu Frumos
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$379 RON 1,795
$788 ₡353.4K
-51.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$283 RON 1,337
$794 ₡356.2K
-64.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$602 RON 2,848
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-84.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$438 RON 2,073
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-69.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,837 RON 8,691
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-73.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,368 RON 6,472
$1,224 ₡549.0K
11.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targu Frumos
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
8.62
-16.47%

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

Last update for Targu Frumos: 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
Targu Frumos
$283
Nosara
$794 181% $512
Groceries & Markets
Targu Frumos
$183
Nosara
$352 92.3% $169
Eating Out
Targu Frumos
$169
Nosara
$212 25.7% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Frumos
$162
Nosara
$186 14.7% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Targu Frumos
$123
Nosara
$120 2.2% $2.7
Sport & Entertainment
Targu Frumos
$51
Nosara
$87 72.5% $37
Getting Around
Targu Frumos
$29
Nosara
$87 206% $59

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $379 in Targu Frumos 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 $42.00 in Targu Frumos versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $352 – making Targu Frumos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Targu Frumos
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
11:40 11:40 AM
02:40 2:40 AM
9 h behind Targu Frumos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,875
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Targu Frumos Nosara 10,840 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Targu Frumos
  • 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
Targu Frumos vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Targu Frumos and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $998 in Targu Frumos, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 84% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Targu Frumos compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,497 per month in Targu Frumos 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 Targu Frumos and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Targu Frumos, 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 Targu Frumos and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 237% less in Targu Frumos. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Targu Frumos and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $603 per month in Targu Frumos 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 $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Targu Frumos, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Targu Frumos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Targu Frumos and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $998 in Targu Frumos to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Targu Frumos 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 Targu Frumos and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Targu Frumos. 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.

Targu Frumos vs other spots: cost of living compared

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