Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vigan and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Vigan: $718 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

36

Cost of Living Index in Vigan
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Vigan Living Index
89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
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Nosara Living Index

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Vigan

🇵🇭 Philippines

$718

/mo nomad

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $718 per month in Vigan vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

Vigan $718
Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,125 per month in Vigan vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

Vigan $1,125
Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,533 per month in Vigan vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

Vigan $1,533
Nosara $3,818

Vigan is about 61% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Vigan sits 47% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 ₱245

$12.35 ₡5,539

-68.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.49 ₱1,038

$61.2 ₡27.4K

-73.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$1.77 ₱112

$7.52 ₡3,373

-76.46%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱116

$4.41 ₡1,978

-58.28%

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

$0.55 ₱34.93

$1.74 ₡780

-68.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.81

$1.31 ₡587

-74.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₱62.0

$3.28 ₡1,471

-70.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₱97.8

$4.47 ₡2,004

-65.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ₱105

$1.56 ₡701

7.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ₱71.0

$3.02 ₡1,355

-62.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱60.0

$2.51 ₡1,125

-62.15%

Eggs

$2.01 ₱126

$3.57 ₡1,603

-43.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.13 ₱323

$7.43 ₡3,333

-30.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 ₱216

$10.52 ₡4,717

-67.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.91 ₱498

$13.97 ₡6,265

-43.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 ₱145

$2.35 ₡1,052

-2.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.9

$1.61 ₡720

-4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₱148

$4.80 ₡2,152

-51.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.8

$1.61 ₡724

-36.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 ₱109

$3.80 ₡1,703

-54.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 ₱108

$3.69 ₡1,657

-53.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₱38.63

$1.13 ₡507

-46.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.07

$2.66 ₡1,191

-80.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ₱184

$5.18 ₡2,321

-43.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.74 ₱550

$19.88 ₡8,916

-56.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$2.90 ₡1,300

-66.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₱129

$3.63 ₡1,626

-43.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱15.21

$1.12 ₡504

-78.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 ₱680

$72.6 ₡32.6K

-85.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱51.5

$2.14 ₡958

-61.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.46

$1.57 ₡703

-85.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 ₱121

$8.52 ₡3,823

-77.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.7

$1.52 ₡682

-16.45%

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

$21.5K ₱1.4M

$21.6K ₡9.7M

-0.48%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$34.5K ₡15.5M

-43.15%

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

$139 ₱8,723

$96.3 ₡43.2K

43.90%

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

$17.81 ₱1,121

$35.89 ₡16.1K

-50.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.55 ₱1,483

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-56.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.22 ₱2,091

$71.6 ₡32.1K

-53.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.06 ₱319

$34.91 ₡15.7K

-85.51%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱321

$7.89 ₡3,539

-35.36%

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

$131 ₱8,268

$494 ₡221.6K

-73.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K ₱668.5K

$11.9K ₡5.3M

-10.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.39 ₱1,787

$53.9 ₡24.2K

-47.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.84 ₱1,249

$55.4 ₡24.8K

-64.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 ₱4,555

$77.9 ₡34.9K

-7.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,526

$79.6 ₡35.7K

-29.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$228 ₱14.4K

$788 ₡353.4K

-71.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 ₱9,812

$794 ₡356.2K

-80.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$525 ₱33.0K

$3,939 ₡1.8M

-86.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 ₱25.5K

$1,419 ₡636.5K

-71.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,466 ₱155.2K

$6,912 ₡3.1M

-64.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,003 ₱63.1K

$1,224 ₡549.0K

-18.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 ₡387.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

8.62

-21.69%

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

Last update for Vigan: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Vigan

$180 25.1%

Nosara

$186 10.1% 3.2% $5.8

Groceries & Markets

Vigan

$175 24.4%

Nosara

$352 19.2% 101% $177

Accommodation & Living

Vigan

$156 21.7%

Nosara

$794 43.2% 410% $638

Clothing & Footwear

Vigan

$79 11.1%

Nosara

$120 6.5% 51.1% $41

Eating Out

Vigan

$70 9.8%

Nosara

$212 11.5% 202% $142

Sport & Entertainment

Vigan

$43 6.1%

Nosara

$87 4.8% 101% $44

Getting Around

Vigan

$14 1.9%

Nosara

$87 4.7% 535% $73

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $228 in Vigan 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 $16.00 in Vigan versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $352 – making Vigan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Vigan

🇨🇷 Nosara

🕒 Local time

11:17 11:17 AM

21:17 9:17 PM

14 h behind Vigan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

53,879

4,912

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Vigan Nosara 15,820 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Vigan
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

Vigan vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $718 in Vigan, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 156% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,077 per month in Vigan and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Vigan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 573% less in Vigan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $131 per month in Vigan and $494 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Vigan, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Vigan 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 $718 in Vigan to $1,839 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 Vigan. 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.