Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tesanj and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Tesanj: $880 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tesanj
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$880
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $880 per month in Tesanj vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Tesanj $880
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,288 per month in Tesanj vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Tesanj $1,288
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,696 per month in Tesanj vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Tesanj $1,696
  • Nosara $3,818

Tesanj is about 52% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Tesanj sits 35% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tesanj
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 BAM 5.87
$12.35 ₡5,539
-72.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.14 BAM 28.07
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-73.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.82 BAM 4.91
$7.52 ₡3,373
-62.50%
Cappuccino
$0.84 BAM 1.46
$4.41 ₡1,978
-80.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 BAM 2.42
$1.74 ₡780
-20.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 BAM 1.44
$1.31 ₡587
-36.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.97 BAM 3.42
$3.28 ₡1,471
-39.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 BAM 2.95
$4.47 ₡2,004
-61.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 BAM 1.44
$1.56 ₡701
-46.79%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 BAM 1.44
$3.02 ₡1,355
-72.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.47 BAM 4.30
$2.51 ₡1,125
-1.59%
Eggs
$3.07 BAM 5.34
$3.57 ₡1,603
-14.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 BAM 17.44
$7.43 ₡3,333
34.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.09 BAM 12.33
$10.52 ₡4,717
-32.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.12 BAM 24.56
$13.97 ₡6,265
1.07%
Apples (1kg)
$0.99 BAM 1.72
$2.35 ₡1,052
-57.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 BAM 2.79
$1.61 ₡720
-0.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 BAM 2.12
$4.80 ₡2,152
-74.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 BAM 3.06
$1.61 ₡724
9.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 BAM 1.82
$3.80 ₡1,703
-72.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 BAM 1.89
$3.69 ₡1,657
-70.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 BAM 2.00
$1.13 ₡507
1.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 BAM 1.69
$2.66 ₡1,191
-63.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 BAM 6.59
$5.18 ₡2,321
-26.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.67 BAM 15.07
$19.88 ₡8,916
-56.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 BAM 1.94
$2.90 ₡1,300
-61.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 BAM 2.31
$3.63 ₡1,626
-63.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Tesanj
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 BAM 2.57
$1.12 ₡504
32.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 BAM 2.02
$2.14 ₡958
-45.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 BAM 1.03
$1.57 ₡703
-62.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.46 BAM 18.18
$8.52 ₡3,823
22.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 BAM 2.75
$1.52 ₡682
3.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K BAM 52.6K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
39.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K BAM 38.3K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-36.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.1 BAM 162
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-3.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.33 BAM 31.87
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-48.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.91 BAM 50.3
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-46.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.13 BAM 57.6
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-53.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.53 BAM 49.62
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-18.28%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79 BAM 4.86
$7.89 ₡3,539
-64.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tesanj
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$135 BAM 235
$494 ₡221.6K
-72.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,835 BAM 6,668
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-67.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2 BAM 101
$53.9 ₡24.2K
7.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.70 BAM 56.9
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-40.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 BAM 166
$77.9 ₡34.9K
22.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 BAM 222
$79.6 ₡35.7K
60.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tesanj
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$318 BAM 554
$788 ₡353.4K
-59.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$260 BAM 452
$794 ₡356.2K
-67.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$470 BAM 817
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-88.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 BAM 638
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-74.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,412 BAM 4,195
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-65.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,780 BAM 3,096
$1,224 ₡549.0K
45.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tesanj
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$685 BAM 1,191
$864 ₡387.3K
-20.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.3
8.62
-50.12%

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

Last update for Tesanj: 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
Tesanj
$260
Nosara
$794 206% $534
Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
$222
Nosara
$352 58.7% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
$142
Nosara
$120 15.1% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
$140
Nosara
$186 32.4% $45
Eating Out
Tesanj
$68
Nosara
$212 213% $144
Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
$39
Nosara
$87 126% $49
Getting Around
Tesanj
$10 *
Nosara
$87 769% $77

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $318 in Tesanj 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 26% higher in Nosara, 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 $16.00 in Tesanj versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $352 – making Tesanj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇦 Tesanj
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
05:23 5:23 AM
21:23 9:23 PM
8 h behind Tesanj
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,500
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to BAM – Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark Converter

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 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
  • Tesanj Nosara 10,290 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tesanj
  • 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
Tesanj vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tesanj and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $880 in Tesanj, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 109% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Tesanj compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,320 per month in Tesanj 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 Tesanj and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tesanj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Tesanj and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 59% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tesanj, where all-in costs run around $880, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Tesanj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Tesanj and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $880 in Tesanj to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Tesanj 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 Tesanj and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Tesanj. 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.

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