Cost of Living Comparison Between Turrialba and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Turrialba and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,591 per month in Turrialba vs $1,703 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,434 per month in Turrialba vs $2,623 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,277 per month in Turrialba vs $3,543 in Nosara, rent included.

Turrialba is about 7% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Turrialba and Nosara sit above the global median – Turrialba by 19%, Nosara by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.09 ₡4,949

$10.85 ₡4,840

2.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 ₡27.0K

$60.4 ₡27.0K

0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 ₡4,526

$7.14 ₡3,183

42.02%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ₡1,679

$3.79 ₡1,692

-0.79%

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

$1.99 ₡887

$1.57 ₡698

26.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡707

$1.22 ₡544

30.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 ₡1,365

$3.04 ₡1,358

0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 ₡2,113

$4.78 ₡2,132

-0.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡918

$1.48 ₡661

39.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.80 ₡1,248

$2.89 ₡1,288

-3.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₡969

$2.21 ₡984

-1.81%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,308

$3.00 ₡1,339

-2.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 ₡4,491

$6.73 ₡3,004

49.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.27 ₡4,137

$8.99 ₡4,012

3.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 ₡6,081

$13.52 ₡6,031

0.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₡2,014

$2.11 ₡943

113.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡648

$1.42 ₡633

2.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 ₡1,938

$4.28 ₡1,909

1.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 ₡1,553

$1.52 ₡677

128.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 ₡1,536

$3.37 ₡1,502

2.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 ₡1,423

$3.08 ₡1,372

3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡459

$1.01 ₡451

1.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,260

$2.38 ₡1,061

18.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 ₡2,335

$4.64 ₡2,068

12.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.65 ₡9,659

$21.02 ₡9,378

3.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₡1,096

$2.45 ₡1,092

0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₡1,267

$2.89 ₡1,291

-1.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡428

$0.98 ₡435

-2.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ₡30.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡827

$1.78 ₡795

3.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 ₡818

$1.80 ₡802

1.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.97 ₡3,554

$7.70 ₡3,436

3.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₡648

$1.31 ₡584

10.69%

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

$37.2K ₡16.6M

$32.6K ₡14.5M

14.19%

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

$32.1K ₡14.3M

$32.4K ₡14.5M

-1.11%

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

$93.3 ₡41.6K

$94.4 ₡42.1K

-1.17%

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

$26.42 ₡11.8K

$25.89 ₡11.5K

2.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 ₡26.5K

$47.27 ₡21.1K

25.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 ₡25.1K

$57.3 ₡25.6K

-1.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.75 ₡10.6K

$23.50 ₡10.5K

1.06%

Cinema Ticket

$10.18 ₡4,543

$9.68 ₡4,320

5.17%

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

$570 ₡254.4K

$446 ₡199.0K

27.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡5.7M

$10.8K ₡4.8M

17.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 ₡27.9K

$49.75 ₡22.2K

25.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₡23.0K

$52.0 ₡23.2K

-0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡56.6K

$70.9 ₡31.6K

78.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡48.1K

$70.2 ₡31.3K

53.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$750 ₡334.6K

$772 ₡344.6K

-2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₡263.2K

$735 ₡328.0K

-19.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,523 ₡679.3K

$1,506 ₡671.7K

1.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$954 ₡425.8K

$1,325 ₡591.0K

-27.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,053 ₡3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,215 ₡542.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$878 ₡391.5K

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 Turrialba: July 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $750 in Turrialba versus $772 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 $61.0 in Turrialba versus $60.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $323 – making Nosara 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

Turrialba vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,591 in Turrialba, $1,703 in Nosara – roughly 7% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,387 per month in Turrialba and $2,554 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Turrialba, 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 $61.0 in Turrialba and $60.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Nosara – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Turrialba, where all-in costs run around $1,591, than in Nosara at $1,703. In Turrialba 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 $1,591 in Turrialba to $1,703 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 Turrialba. 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.