Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Terrace and Nosara

For one person, living costs are similar in Terrace and in Nosara: $1,887 and $1,839 a month, rent and utilities included.

Terrace
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,887
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,887 per month in Terrace vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Terrace $1,887
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $2,853 per month in Terrace vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Terrace $2,853
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $3,819 per month in Terrace vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Terrace $3,819
  • Nosara $3,818

Terrace costs about 3% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Terrace and Nosara sit above the global median – Terrace by 40%, Nosara by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terrace
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.53 CA$24.78
$12.35 ₡5,539
41.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 CA$113
$61.2 ₡27.4K
30.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 CA$13.95
$7.52 ₡3,373
31.25%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.55
$4.41 ₡1,978
-10.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 CA$2.95
$1.74 ₡780
20.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.29
$1.31 ₡587
23.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.19 CA$7.34
$3.28 ₡1,471
58.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 CA$8.69
$4.47 ₡2,004
37.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terrace
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.25 CA$3.19
$1.56 ₡701
44.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 CA$3.72
$3.02 ₡1,355
-12.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.10 CA$7.21
$2.51 ₡1,125
103.19%
Eggs
$3.60 CA$5.10
$3.57 ₡1,603
0.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.81 CA$12.45
$7.43 ₡3,333
18.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.36 CA$21.71
$10.52 ₡4,717
46.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.51 CA$19.10
$13.97 ₡6,265
-3.29%
Apples (1kg)
$4.06 CA$5.73
$2.35 ₡1,052
72.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$1.61 ₡720
-24.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 CA$4.23
$4.80 ₡2,152
-37.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.67 CA$5.20
$1.61 ₡724
127.95%
Potato (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$3.80 ₡1,703
-17.37%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 CA$4.43
$3.69 ₡1,657
-15.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 CA$3.36
$1.13 ₡507
109.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 CA$1.43
$2.66 ₡1,191
-62.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.27 CA$15.94
$5.18 ₡2,321
117.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.44 CA$18.99
$19.88 ₡8,916
-32.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 CA$2.96
$2.90 ₡1,300
-27.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 CA$2.52
$3.63 ₡1,626
-50.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Terrace
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 CA$1.95
$1.12 ₡504
23.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.40 CA$44.40
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-56.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 CA$4.66
$2.14 ₡958
54.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$1.57 ₡703
-4.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.03 CA$28.31
$8.52 ₡3,823
135.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.72
$1.52 ₡682
-19.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K CA$39.3K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
28.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K CA$26.5K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-45.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terrace
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 CA$132
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-3.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.92 CA$55.0
$35.89 ₡16.1K
8.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 CA$82.5
$53.6 ₡24.0K
8.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terrace
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.14 CA$56.7
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-43.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.45 CA$23.26
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-52.88%
Cinema Ticket
$8.91 CA$12.60
$7.89 ₡3,539
12.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terrace
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$733 CA$1,037
$494 ₡221.6K
48.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K CA$18.9K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
13.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terrace
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.65 CA$51.8
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-32.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.29 CA$42.82
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-45.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 CA$113
$77.9 ₡34.9K
2.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 CA$147
$79.6 ₡35.7K
30.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terrace
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 CA$1,402
$788 ₡353.4K
25.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$845 CA$1,194
$794 ₡356.2K
6.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,556 CA$2,200
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-60.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,325 CA$1,874
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-6.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,127 CA$5,835
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-40.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,426 CA$4,843
$1,224 ₡549.0K
179.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terrace
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,096 CA$4,376
$864 ₡387.3K
258.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.05
8.62
-41.42%

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

Last update for Terrace: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Terrace
$845
Nosara
$794 6% $51
Groceries & Markets
Terrace
$364
Nosara
$352 3.1% $11
Eating Out
Terrace
$270
Nosara
$212 21.5% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terrace
$191
Nosara
$186 2.5% $4.7
Clothing & Footwear
Terrace
$113
Nosara
$120 6.5% $7.4
Sport & Entertainment
Terrace
$58
Nosara
$87 50.7% $29
Getting Around
Terrace
$48
Nosara
$87 82.6% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Terrace 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.

Salaries run about 258% higher in Terrace, 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 $80.0 in Terrace versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $352 – making Nosara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Terrace
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
07:56 7:56 AM
08:56 8:56 AM
1 h ahead of Terrace
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,443
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Terrace Nosara 6,220 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Terrace
  • 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
Terrace vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Terrace and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,887 in Terrace, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 3% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Terrace compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,831 per month in Terrace 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 Terrace 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 Terrace and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 131% less in Nosara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Terrace and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $733 per month in Terrace 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 Terrace at $1,887. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Terrace it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Terrace and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,839 in Nosara to $1,887 in Terrace. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Terrace 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 Terrace and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Terrace makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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