Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Nosara
For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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United States Living Index133Cost of Living Index in the United StatesLearn more -
Nosara Living Index89Cost of Living Index in NosaraLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: The United States is 34% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 51.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United States is 15.6% more expensive than Nosara without rent, and 39.5% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$12.22 ₡5,509
65.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$60.2 ₡27.1K
34.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$7.54 ₡3,399
60.74%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$4.31 ₡1,941
24.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.72 ₡773
61.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.35 ₡608
54.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.24 ₡1,459
80.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$4.48 ₡2,018
76.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.57 ₡707
-33.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$3.17 ₡1,429
12.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$2.42 ₡1,091
93.80%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$3.57 ₡1,609
24.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$7.43 ₡3,349
73.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$10.42 ₡4,697
17.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.00 $17.00
$13.66 ₡6,156
24.45%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.32 ₡1,044
128.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.61 ₡728
3.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$4.74 ₡2,138
-5.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$1.66 ₡747
204.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$3.72 ₡1,679
-23.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$3.57 ₡1,611
-15.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.10 ₡497
107.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.55 ₡1,149
-10.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33 $10.33
$4.95 ₡2,232
108.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$20.01 ₡9,020
-26.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.79 ₡1,256
-26.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.53 ₡1,589
3.68%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.19 ₡537
95.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-9.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.24 ₡1,011
60.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.55 ₡701
22.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.81 $29.81
$8.86 ₡3,993
236.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.57 ₡708
-34.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$21.8K ₡9.8M
60.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
-24.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$93.5 ₡42.1K
131.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$35.11 ₡15.8K
77.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6 $74.6
$51.5 ₡23.2K
44.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.70 $44.70
$71.4 ₡32.2K
-37.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55 $22.55
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-36.37%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$7.84 ₡3,535
93.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,440 $1,440
$490 ₡220.7K
194.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$11.9K ₡5.4M
112.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$53.5 ₡24.1K
0.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44 $42.44
$55.8 ₡25.1K
-23.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$79.3 ₡35.7K
17.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$78.9 ₡35.6K
45.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$786 ₡354.3K
106.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$780 ₡351.6K
73.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,681 $2,681
$3,860 ₡1.7M
-30.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,170 $2,170
$1,407 ₡634.4K
54.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,294 $3,294
$6,972 ₡3.1M
-52.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,674 $2,674
$1,201 ₡541.3K
122.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$876 ₡395.0K
384.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
8.62
-24.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026
Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States $1.4K 49.4%
Nosara $780 43% 42.5% $577
Groceries & Markets
United States $411 15%
Nosara $350 19.3% 14.9% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $353 12.9%
Nosara $180 9.9% 49% $173
Eating Out
United States $327 11.9%
Nosara $209 11.6% 35.9% $118
Clothing & Footwear
United States $137 5%
Nosara $120 6.6% 12.2% $17
Getting Around
United States $87 3.2%
Nosara $87 4.8% 0.7% $0.6
Sport & Entertainment
United States $75 2.7%
Nosara $87 4.8% 16% $12
Accommodation & Living
United States $2.2K 41.3%
Nosara $1.4K 37.2% 35.2% $763
Groceries & Markets
United States $942 17.9%
Nosara $784 20.7% 16.8% $158
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $415 7.9%
Nosara $215 5.7% 48.2% $200
Eating Out
United States $1.1K 20.3%
Nosara $724 19.1% 32.1% $342
Clothing & Footwear
United States $304 5.8%
Nosara $267 7.1% 12.2% $37
Getting Around
United States $180 3.4%
Nosara $176 4.7% 2% $3.6
Sport & Entertainment
United States $173 3.3%
Nosara $210 5.5% 21.4% $37
Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇨🇷 Nosara
Weather
Population
340,110,988
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United States Nosara 2,850 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
- United States
- 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
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