Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulu Tiram and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Ulu Tiram: $928 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ulu Tiram
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$928
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $928 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Ulu Tiram $928
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $1,372 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Ulu Tiram $1,372
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Ulu Tiram vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Ulu Tiram $1,816
  • Nosara $3,814

Ulu Tiram is about 49% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ulu Tiram sits 32% below the global median, while Nosara is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ulu Tiram
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.78 MYR 15.42
$12.34 ₡5,535
-69.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.67 MYR 80.3
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-67.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.82 MYR 19.67
$7.76 ₡3,481
-37.89%
Cappuccino
$2.97 MYR 12.11
$4.44 ₡1,992
-33.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MYR 3.35
$1.79 ₡803
-54.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.84
$1.29 ₡580
-65.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.30 MYR 17.56
$3.24 ₡1,451
32.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09 MYR 24.86
$4.43 ₡1,985
37.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ulu Tiram
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 MYR 7.14
$1.55 ₡696
12.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 MYR 4.39
$3.08 ₡1,380
-64.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 MYR 5.83
$2.53 ₡1,133
-43.48%
Eggs
$1.81 MYR 7.37
$3.45 ₡1,546
-47.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.75 MYR 39.78
$7.32 ₡3,284
33.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.04 MYR 16.50
$10.24 ₡4,594
-60.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.51 MYR 38.81
$14.10 ₡6,326
-32.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.27 MYR 13.32
$2.29 ₡1,027
42.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 MYR 6.79
$1.64 ₡737
1.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 MYR 11.27
$4.79 ₡2,149
-42.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 MYR 6.54
$1.64 ₡735
-2.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 MYR 6.05
$3.85 ₡1,727
-61.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 MYR 7.03
$3.75 ₡1,681
-54.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 MYR 5.42
$1.09 ₡488
22.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 MYR 2.10
$2.59 ₡1,160
-80.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 MYR 17.47
$5.12 ₡2,295
-16.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.85 MYR 68.7
$19.92 ₡8,931
-15.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.93 MYR 11.96
$2.80 ₡1,255
4.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 MYR 12.86
$3.52 ₡1,580
-10.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Ulu Tiram
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 MYR 2.90
$1.22 ₡549
-41.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.37 MYR 50.5
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-83.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 MYR 4.15
$2.17 ₡973
-53.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 MYR 1.56
$1.56 ₡698
-75.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.92 MYR 36.38
$8.67 ₡3,886
2.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 MYR 3.27
$1.55 ₡697
-48.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.5K MYR 173.5K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
23.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K MYR 139.0K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-12.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulu Tiram
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.8 MYR 211
$94.8 ₡42.5K
-45.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.29 MYR 33.83
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-77.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.81 MYR 118
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-45.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ulu Tiram
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.50 MYR 161
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-46.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.24 MYR 29.52
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-79.68%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94 MYR 20.15
$7.91 ₡3,548
-37.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ulu Tiram
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 MYR 666
$490 ₡219.9K
-66.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,469 MYR 18.2K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-62.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ulu Tiram
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 MYR 223
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-0.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.26 MYR 70.4
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-69.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.4 MYR 316
$80.4 ₡36.0K
-3.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MYR 355
$77.9 ₡34.9K
11.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ulu Tiram
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$409 MYR 1,669
$801 ₡359.1K
-48.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$307 MYR 1,253
$790 ₡354.1K
-61.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 MYR 2,762
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-83.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$479 MYR 1,955
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-66.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,005 MYR 8,177
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-71.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,100 MYR 4,489
$1,236 ₡554.3K
-10.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ulu Tiram
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$843 MYR 3,439
$887 ₡397.6K
-4.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
8.62
-52.90%

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

Last update for Ulu Tiram: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ulu Tiram
$307
Nosara
$790 157% $482
Groceries & Markets
Ulu Tiram
$239
Nosara
$350 46.5% $111
Eating Out
Ulu Tiram
$119
Nosara
$213 78.5% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Ulu Tiram
$106
Nosara
$121 13.7% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulu Tiram
$89
Nosara
$184 107% $95
Sport & Entertainment
Ulu Tiram
$49
Nosara
$90 81.5% $40
Getting Around
Ulu Tiram
$18
Nosara
$89 390% $71

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Ulu Tiram versus $801 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 5% 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 $20.00 in Ulu Tiram versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $350 – making Ulu Tiram the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇾 Ulu Tiram
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
03:52 3:52 AM
13:52 1:52 PM
14 h behind Ulu Tiram
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
75,350
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Ulu Tiram Nosara 18,350 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ulu Tiram
  • 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
Ulu Tiram vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ulu Tiram and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $928 in Ulu Tiram, $1,835 in Nosara – roughly 98% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Ulu Tiram compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,392 per month in Ulu Tiram and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ulu Tiram and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ulu Tiram, 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 Ulu Tiram and in Nosara?
Public transport costs about 497% less in Ulu Tiram. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ulu Tiram and Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $163 per month in Ulu Tiram and $490 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 $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ulu Tiram, where all-in costs run around $928, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Ulu Tiram it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ulu Tiram and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $928 in Ulu Tiram to $1,835 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ulu Tiram 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 Ulu Tiram and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Ulu Tiram. 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.

Ulu Tiram vs other spots: cost of living compared

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