Cost of Living Comparison Between Tibas and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Tibas and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,519 per month in Tibas vs $1,712 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,235 per month in Tibas vs $2,637 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,951 per month in Tibas vs $3,562 in Nosara, rent included.

Tibas is about 11% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tibas and Nosara sit above the global median – Tibas by 13%, Nosara by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.20 ₡4,660

$11.04 ₡5,046

-7.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.68 ₡13.6K

$60.5 ₡27.6K

-50.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.73 ₡3,990

$7.09 ₡3,240

23.13%

Cappuccino

$1.96 ₡893

$3.89 ₡1,777

-49.61%

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

$1.22 ₡557

$1.57 ₡719

-22.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₡549

$1.17 ₡533

2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 ₡891

$2.94 ₡1,345

-33.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,325

$4.71 ₡2,150

-38.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ₡460

$1.47 ₡671

-31.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 ₡906

$2.81 ₡1,286

-29.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,008

$2.25 ₡1,026

-1.78%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,342

$2.94 ₡1,345

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.83 ₡4,490

$6.78 ₡3,099

44.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₡2,340

$9.03 ₡4,126

-43.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 ₡6,161

$13.62 ₡6,223

-1.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₡2,085

$2.05 ₡935

122.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡660

$1.46 ₡668

-1.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.15 ₡1,897

$4.18 ₡1,908

-0.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 ₡1,192

$1.51 ₡691

72.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,580

$3.44 ₡1,573

0.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,410

$3.19 ₡1,457

-3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 ₡220

$0.96 ₡437

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,329

$2.42 ₡1,104

20.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.20 ₡2,376

$4.61 ₡2,107

12.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.97 ₡10.0K

$21.01 ₡9,601

4.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,097

$2.41 ₡1,100

-0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,346

$2.85 ₡1,301

3.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₡474

$0.96 ₡438

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡29.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡859

$1.80 ₡822

4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡812

$1.85 ₡845

-3.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₡3,701

$7.77 ₡3,550

4.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡644

$1.28 ₡585

10.16%

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

$37.8K ₡17.3M

$32.4K ₡14.8M

16.63%

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

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.2K ₡14.7M

0.75%

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

$95.3 ₡43.5K

$95.5 ₡43.6K

-0.18%

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

$26.00 ₡11.9K

$26.09 ₡11.9K

-0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.2 ₡27.1K

$47.42 ₡21.7K

24.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.5 ₡26.3K

$57.8 ₡26.4K

-0.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.23 ₡11.1K

$23.56 ₡10.8K

2.84%

Cinema Ticket

$10.07 ₡4,600

$10.18 ₡4,651

-1.08%

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

$558 ₡255.0K

$442 ₡202.1K

26.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡5.8M

$10.5K ₡4.8M

21.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡28.2K

$50.6 ₡23.1K

21.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 ₡23.1K

$51.4 ₡23.5K

-1.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡58.5K

$72.2 ₡33.0K

77.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.7K

$70.4 ₡32.1K

51.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$751 ₡343.2K

$770 ₡352.0K

-2.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 ₡271.4K

$733 ₡334.8K

-18.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,512 ₡690.9K

$1,500 ₡685.6K

0.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$947 ₡432.5K

$1,290 ₡589.4K

-26.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,047 ₡3.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,234 ₡563.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$980 ₡447.9K

$897 ₡409.9K

9.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Tibas: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nosara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $751 in Tibas versus $770 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 9% higher in Tibas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Tibas versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $323 – making Tibas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Tibas vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,519 in Tibas, $1,712 in Nosara – roughly 13% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,278 per month in Tibas and $2,568 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tibas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Tibas and $60.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tibas, where all-in costs run around $1,519, than in Nosara at $1,712. In Tibas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,519 in Tibas to $1,712 in Nosara. 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 Tibas. 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.