Cost of Living Comparison Between Upala and Nosara Cost of Living Comparison Between Upala and Nosara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,418 per month in Upala vs $1,827 in Nosara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Upala vs $2,820 in Nosara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,192 per month in Upala vs $3,813 in Nosara, rent included.

Upala is about 22% cheaper than Nosara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Upala and Nosara sit above the global median – Upala by 4%, Nosara by 34%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.09 ₡5,375

$12.01 ₡5,339

0.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.9 ₡24.8K

$58.3 ₡25.9K

-4.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.76 ₡5,225

$7.63 ₡3,389

54.13%

Cappuccino

$3.79 ₡1,686

$4.46 ₡1,983

-15.02%

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

$1.80 ₡801

$1.75 ₡777

2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₡813

$1.36 ₡606

34.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 ₡1,487

$3.36 ₡1,494

-0.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 ₡1,986

$4.51 ₡2,003

-0.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₡1,000

$1.60 ₡710

40.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 ₡756

$3.18 ₡1,414

-46.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 ₡1,133

$2.45 ₡1,089

4.08%

Eggs

$2.69 ₡1,196

$3.59 ₡1,598

-25.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.30 ₡1,467

$7.44 ₡3,306

-55.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 ₡2,895

$10.52 ₡4,674

-38.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 ₡3,925

$14.37 ₡6,387

-38.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 ₡773

$2.37 ₡1,055

-26.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 ₡307

$1.58 ₡703

-56.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.93 ₡1,304

$4.93 ₡2,192

-40.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 ₡1,169

$1.64 ₡730

60.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.71 ₡1,647

$3.91 ₡1,737

-5.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 ₡1,177

$3.72 ₡1,655

-28.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₡487

$1.10 ₡487

-0.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 ₡1,172

$2.57 ₡1,141

2.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.86 ₡2,603

$5.04 ₡2,240

16.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.74 ₡3,884

$20.18 ₡8,967

-56.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₡1,202

$2.89 ₡1,283

-6.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ₡1,649

$3.74 ₡1,661

-0.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 ₡545

$1.37 ₡609

-10.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 ₡33.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.41 ₡1,072

$2.19 ₡974

10.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 ₡728

$1.57 ₡697

4.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.76 ₡3,006

$8.98 ₡3,993

-24.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₡642

$1.56 ₡692

-7.05%

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

$21.9K ₡9.7M

$21.8K ₡9.7M

0.30%

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

$35.2K ₡15.7M

$34.5K ₡15.3M

2.19%

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

$56.1 ₡25.0K

$96.9 ₡43.1K

-42.05%

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

$37.05 ₡16.5K

$37.39 ₡16.6K

-0.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.04 ₡9,794

$53.8 ₡23.9K

-59.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.4 ₡33.5K

$73.6 ₡32.7K

2.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.39 ₡16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$8.55 ₡3,799

$8.51 ₡3,781

0.47%

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

$987 ₡438.7K

$493 ₡219.2K

100.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K ₡7.5M

$11.8K ₡5.3M

42.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.20 ₡14.8K

$55.8 ₡24.8K

-40.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.88 ₡9,725

$55.7 ₡24.8K

-60.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ₡58.5K

$78.4 ₡34.8K

67.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.11 ₡14.7K

$78.8 ₡35.0K

-58.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 ₡382.0K

$814 ₡361.8K

5.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 ₡291.8K

$789 ₡350.5K

-16.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,742 ₡774.4K

$3,935 ₡1.7M

-55.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 ₡567.2K

$1,418 ₡630.1K

-9.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,031 ₡3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,208 ₡536.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$894 ₡397.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Upala: September 14, 2026

Last update for Nosara: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $859 in Upala versus $814 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 $56.0 in Upala versus $58.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $356 – making Upala 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

Upala vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,418 in Upala, $1,827 in Nosara – roughly 29% apart. Nosara costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,127 per month in Upala and $2,740 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Upala, 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 $56.0 in Upala and $58.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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 Upala, where all-in costs run around $1,418, than in Nosara at $1,827. In Upala 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 $1,418 in Upala to $1,827 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 Upala. 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.