Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wote and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Wote: $600 a month against $1,835 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $14,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Wote
🇰🇪 Kenya
$600
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $600 per month in Wote vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Wote $600
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $1,065 per month in Wote vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Wote $1,065
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $1,529 per month in Wote vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Wote $1,529
  • Nosara $3,814

Wote is about 67% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Wote sits 56% below the global median, while Nosara is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wote
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 KES 398
$12.34 ₡5,535
-75.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.54 KES 4,479
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-43.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.21 KES 805
$7.76 ₡3,481
-19.97%
Cappuccino
$1.56 KES 203
$4.44 ₡1,992
-64.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 KES 48.48
$1.79 ₡803
-79.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 KES 31.28
$1.29 ₡580
-81.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 KES 278
$3.24 ₡1,451
-33.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 KES 295
$4.43 ₡1,985
-48.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wote
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 KES 97.7
$1.55 ₡696
-51.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 KES 67.7
$3.08 ₡1,380
-83.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 KES 188
$2.53 ₡1,133
-42.69%
Eggs
$1.35 KES 175
$3.45 ₡1,546
-60.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.68 KES 607
$7.32 ₡3,284
-36.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.01 KES 779
$10.24 ₡4,594
-41.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.68 KES 736
$14.10 ₡6,326
-59.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.35 KES 434
$2.29 ₡1,027
46.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 KES 136
$1.64 ₡737
-35.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 KES 267
$4.79 ₡2,149
-56.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 KES 77.5
$1.64 ₡735
-63.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 KES 72.6
$3.85 ₡1,727
-85.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 KES 141
$3.75 ₡1,681
-70.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 KES 88.2
$1.09 ₡488
-37.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 KES 68.2
$2.59 ₡1,160
-79.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49 KES 452
$5.12 ₡2,295
-31.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.54 KES 1,496
$19.92 ₡8,931
-42.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 KES 284
$2.80 ₡1,255
-21.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 KES 359
$3.52 ₡1,580
-21.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Wote
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.22 ₡549
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 KES 205
$2.17 ₡973
-27.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 KES 196
$1.56 ₡698
-3.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.85 KES 369
$8.67 ₡3,886
-67.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 KES 210
$1.55 ₡697
4.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K KES 2.8M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-38.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K KES 2.6M
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-48.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wote
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.8 KES 7,233
$94.8 ₡42.5K
-41.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10 KES 1,957
$36.15 ₡16.2K
-58.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.30 KES 4,577
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-33.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wote
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.90 KES 1,025
$7.91 ₡3,548
-0.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wote
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$157 KES 20.3K
$490 ₡219.9K
-68.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K KES 1.6M
$11.9K ₡5.3M
5.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wote
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.77 KES 1,526
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-78.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.74 KES 1,004
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-86.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$19.54 KES 2,534
$80.4 ₡36.0K
-75.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.03 KES 2,986
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-70.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wote
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$386 KES 50.1K
$801 ₡359.1K
-51.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 KES 24.5K
$790 ₡354.1K
-76.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$775 KES 100.4K
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-80.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 KES 76.2K
$1,409 ₡632.0K
-58.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,236 ₡554.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wote
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.71
8.62
70.65%

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

Last update for Wote: October 17, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wote
$189
Nosara
$790 317% $600
Groceries & Markets
Wote
$172
Nosara
$350 104% $178
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wote
$106
Nosara
$184 73.3% $78
Eating Out
Wote
$80
Nosara
$213 167% $133
Clothing & Footwear
Wote
$28
Nosara
$121 333% $93
Sport & Entertainment
Wote
$16 *
Nosara
$90 467% $74
Getting Around
Wote
$9.2 *
Nosara
$89 870% $80

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Wote 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Wote versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $350 – making Wote the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇪 Wote
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
22:50 10:50 PM
13:50 1:50 PM
9 h behind Wote
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,725
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to KES – Kenyan Shilling Converter

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.71 USD). 1 EUR = 146 KES (1,000 KES = 6.86 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
  • Wote Nosara 13,680 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Wote
  • 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
Wote vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Wote and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $600 in Wote, $1,835 in Nosara – roughly 206% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Wote compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $900 per month in Wote 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 Wote and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Wote, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Wote and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 103% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Wote, where all-in costs run around $600, than in Nosara at $1,835. In Wote it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Wote and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $600 in Wote to $1,835 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Wote 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 Wote and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Wote. 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.

Wote vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?