Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toyama and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Toyama: $1,156 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toyama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,156
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,156 per month in Toyama vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Toyama $1,156
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,838 per month in Toyama vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Toyama $1,838
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $2,519 per month in Toyama vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Toyama $2,519
  • Nosara $3,818

Toyama is about 37% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Toyama sits 14% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toyama
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93 ¥621
$12.35 ₡5,539
-68.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.37 ¥6,536
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-32.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.18 ¥819
$7.52 ₡3,373
-31.12%
Cappuccino
$3.51 ¥555
$4.41 ₡1,978
-20.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ¥164
$1.74 ₡780
-40.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ¥117
$1.31 ₡587
-43.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ¥410
$3.28 ₡1,471
-21.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 ¥504
$4.47 ₡2,004
-28.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toyama
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 ¥169
$1.56 ₡701
-31.41%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 ¥122
$3.02 ₡1,355
-74.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.66 ¥579
$2.51 ₡1,125
45.82%
Eggs
$1.98 ¥313
$3.57 ₡1,603
-44.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.52 ¥1,662
$7.43 ₡3,333
41.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.98 ¥945
$10.52 ₡4,717
-43.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.45 ¥2,283
$13.97 ₡6,265
3.44%
Apples (1kg)
$5.75 ¥909
$2.35 ₡1,052
144.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 ¥426
$1.61 ₡720
67.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 ¥467
$4.80 ₡2,152
-38.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.20 ¥663
$1.61 ₡724
160.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 ¥398
$3.80 ₡1,703
-33.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.53 ¥400
$3.69 ₡1,657
-31.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 ¥195
$1.13 ₡507
8.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ¥102
$2.66 ₡1,191
-75.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.80 ¥600
$5.18 ₡2,321
-26.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.25 ¥988
$19.88 ₡8,916
-68.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ¥287
$2.90 ₡1,300
-37.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 ¥315
$3.63 ₡1,626
-44.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Toyama
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 ¥240
$1.12 ₡504
35.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.7 ¥9,270
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-19.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.19 ¥503
$2.14 ₡958
49.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.71 ¥428
$1.57 ₡703
72.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.33 ¥3,211
$8.52 ₡3,823
138.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥176
$1.52 ₡682
-26.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ¥3.4M
$21.6K ₡9.7M
0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥2.9M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-47.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toyama
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 ¥21.0K
$96.3 ₡43.2K
38.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.98 ¥3,788
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-33.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.22 ¥5,091
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-39.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toyama
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 ¥8,351
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-26.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.50 ¥1,817
$7.89 ₡3,539
45.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toyama
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$634 ¥100.2K
$494 ₡221.6K
28.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ¥2.3M
$11.9K ₡5.3M
22.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toyama
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6 ¥9,735
$53.9 ₡24.2K
14.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.28 ¥5,889
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-32.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.7 ¥9,583
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-22.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 ¥15.8K
$79.6 ₡35.7K
25.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toyama
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$233 ¥36.8K
$788 ₡353.4K
-70.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$303 ¥47.8K
$794 ₡356.2K
-61.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 ¥174.6K
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-71.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$648 ¥102.4K
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-54.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,962 ¥625.9K
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-42.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,608 ¥254.1K
$1,224 ₡549.0K
31.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toyama
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.64
8.62
-69.37%

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

Last update for Toyama: 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
Toyama
$303
Nosara
$794 162% $491
Groceries & Markets
Toyama
$274
Nosara
$352 28.4% $78
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toyama
$189
Nosara
$186 1.8% $3.4
Clothing & Footwear
Toyama
$117
Nosara
$120 2.8% $3.2
Eating Out
Toyama
$116
Nosara
$212 83.2% $96
Getting Around
Toyama
$81
Nosara
$87 6.9% $5.6
Sport & Entertainment
Toyama
$76
Nosara
$87 15.2% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $233 in Toyama 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 $41.00 in Toyama versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $352 – making Toyama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Toyama
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
17:59 5:59 PM
02:59 2:59 AM
15 h behind Toyama
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
421,259
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 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
  • Toyama Nosara 13,160 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Toyama
  • 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
Toyama vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Toyama and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,156 in Toyama, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 59% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Toyama compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,735 per month in Toyama 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 Toyama and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Toyama, 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 Toyama and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Toyama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Toyama and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $634 per month in Toyama 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 Toyama, where all-in costs run around $1,156, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Toyama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Toyama and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,156 in Toyama to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Toyama 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 Toyama and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Toyama. 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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