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Santa Teresa cost of living

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Nomad score 6.0/10

9.6486, -85.1750 America/Costa_Rica #922

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Researched Updated Nov 12, 2026 Last changed Nov 14, 2026 About costs

Cost breakdown

Digital nomad: short-term stay (1-3 months). Furnished Airbnb or coliving near center, coworking, eating out ~3x/day, travel health insurance.

Expat: long-term resident (1+ years). Renting apartment in center, mix of cooking and dining out, local health insurance, settled lifestyle.

Family: middle-class 4-person family. 2-3 bedroom in suburbs, groceries for 4, international school, car/transport, family health plan.

Local: budget-conscious local resident. Renting outside center, cooking at home, public transport, local phone plan.

Tourist: short-stay visitor (1-14 days). Hotel/Airbnb nightly, all meals at restaurants, taxis, sightseeing.

CategoryCost
Housing 1 2 3 4 5 $1,700 $900 $2,400 $700 $170
Utilities 28 2 3 $150 $170 $250 $85 —
Internet & Mobile 13 12 15 $40 $54 $65 $54 $3
Groceries 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 2 $110 $500 $1,200 $350 $8
Transportation 9 10 11 2 $130 $180 $350 $16 $25
Dining Out 33 4 2 $950 $320 $650 $90 $55
Leisure Activities 4 2 $300 $150 $320 $45 $60
Health Insurance 29 $63 $178 $350 — $2
Visa & Legal Fees 30 31 $8 $55 $120 — —
Total $3,451 $2,507 $5,705 $1,340 $323

Itemized prices

Local prices converted to the selected currency.

Housing

Apartment (1 bedroom) 2 3 $900.00 $700 – $1,500 per month
Coworking Space 6 5 $150.00 per month
Airbnb (1 month) 1 4 3 $2,000.00 $1,350 – $2,900 per month
Coliving Space 5 $1,000.00 per month

Food & Dining

Coffee 33 $3.66 per cup
Beer 33 $2.96 per pint
Meal (Inexpensive) 33 4 $9.64 per meal
Fast Food Combo 27 $11.06 per meal
Apples 19 $3.45 per kg
Bread 18 $2.88 per loaf
Milk 17 $2.68 per liter
Rice 16 $1.97 per kg
Chicken Fillets 20 $4.73 per kg
Beef 21 $12.14 per kg
Wine (Mid-range) 22 $14.22 per bottle
Meal (Mid-range, 2 people) 33 2 4 $42.00 per meal
Water (1.5L bottle) 23 $2.24 per bottle

Transportation

Taxi Start 10 $2.12 per trip
Taxi per km 10 $2.12 per km
Monthly Transport Pass 9 $15.84 per month
Gasoline 11 $1.78 per liter
Ride-hailing (5km) 10 $10.62 per trip
Scooter Rental 2 4 $300.00 per month

Services

Mobile Plan 12 $11.06 per month
Internet (60 Mbps+) 13 3 $42.97 per month
Gym Membership 7 $99.00 per month
Tennis Court (Weekend) $32.71 per hour
SIM Card (Tourist, prepaid) 14 15 $26.75 one-time

Entertainment

Cinema Ticket $11.99 per ticket

Clothing

Jeans 24 $21.90 per pair
Summer Dress 25 $11.06 per dress
Running Shoes $141.75 per pair

Personal Care

Haircut 32 $14.38 per visit
Laundry 8 $6.08 per kg

Healthcare

Doctor Visit (GP) 2 $45.00 per visit
Pharmacy (basic meds) 26 $2.65 per purchase

About these costs

Method
Researched
Last updated
Nov 12, 2026
Last changed
Nov 14, 2026
Exchange rate
1 USD = 452.13 CRC on Nov 7, 2026

Checked against the sources below and compared with similar cities. Numbers in the list point to these sources.

Compared with Nosara, Tamarindo, Playa Samara, Lisbon

  1. Airbnb Santa Teresa 28-night search (December 2026): 405 homes, monthly-discounted totals 1,347-3,043 USD for one-bedrooms, rooms 593-822, villas to 6,922Listings
  2. Onda Teresa cost of living, Oct 2026 (1BR 700-850 lean / 900-1,500 mid / 1,800+; solo totals 1,300-1,800 / 2,000-3,000 / 3,200-5,000; groceries 300-400 / 400-550; eating out 150-250 budget and 500-700 every meal; transport 50-100 / 150-250; utilities plus internet 75-120 / 130-180; scooter or ATV 200-400 a month; doctor in Cobano 30-60; dinner for two ~44; night AC adds 80-150)Secondary
  3. Onda Teresa monthly rentals, Jun 2026 (basic room or studio 400-700; comfortable furnished 900-1,600; villa with pool 2,000-4,000+; utilities +30-40%; AC electricity 150-300; dedicated internet 40-80; green season -15-25%)Secondary
  4. Costa Rica Spirit Santa Teresa guide 2026 (furnished monthly 1,000-2,200 near the beach, 600-1,000 inland; mid-range hotels 130-280 a night, budget 40-90; casados under 10; Koji 35-55 a person; ATV or motorcycle 35-45 a day; surf lessons 60-90; boards 20 a day; yoga drop-ins 15-20; Tortuga tours 135-155)Secondary
  5. Coworksurf Santa Teresa (a month itemised for one working person EUR 1,580: work-ready room EUR 900, coworking EUR 135, groceries EUR 240, eating out EUR 185; median measured line 100 Mbps)Secondary
  6. Onda Teresa coworking guide, Oct 2026 (Sundays Cowork monthly memberships 150-250 USD, day passes 15-25, 200 Mbps; Surf and Jungle quotes on request; ex-Selina coworking closed)Secondary
  7. Onda Teresa gyms guide, Sep 2026 (ACTIVO gym-only 99 USD a month, 15 a day, 60 a week; Real Training 99; Lifeguards gym 70; month range 70-260)Secondary
  8. Onda Teresa laundry guide, Jun 2026 (drop-off wash-dry-fold 2,000-3,500 colones a kilo; no self-service laundromat; tap water not recommended for drinking)Secondary
  9. Costa Rica Coast Santa Teresa transport, Sep 2026 (ARESEP register: Cobano-Mal Pais-Santa Teresa route 633 at 380 colones, Cobano-Paquera 1,300, San Jose through-route 7,320; shuttles 60-79 USD; Cobano airport taxi 40)Secondary
  10. ARESEP taxi tariff from 27 Oct 2026 (rural taxi 960 colones flag drop and per km; sedan 870)Official
  11. QueHayCR fuel prices, updated 11 Nov 2026 from RECOPE and ARESEP (Plus 91 regular 807 colones a litre, Super 805, diesel 807; 20 lb cooking-gas cylinder 6,176)Secondary
  12. kolbi Paquetes Full (Full 30 at 5,000 colones for 10 GB and 30 days, taxes in)Official
  13. kolbi home internet plans (100 Mbps fibre at 18,300 colones plus 1,130 modem, taxes in)Official
  14. kolbi SIM Turista at 12,095 colones (chip plus 30-day plan: 100 minutes, 30 SMS, 5 GB social apps, taxes in)Official
  15. Costa Rica Coast SIM guide (Airalo 30-day unlimited eSIM US$89 on the Liberty network, Liberty plan 5,900 colones per 30 days)Secondary
  16. Walmart Costa Rica rice: Luisiana 1.8 kg at 1,600 colones (889 per kilo), nationwide online priceShop
  17. Walmart Costa Rica milk: Dos Pinos whole 1 L at 1,210 colonesShop
  18. Walmart Costa Rica bread: potato loaf 270 g at 1,300 colonesShop
  19. Walmart Costa Rica apples: gala 1.5 kg bag at 2,340 colones (1,560 per kilo)Shop
  20. Walmart Costa Rica chicken: whole boneless breast Don Cristobal at 2,140 colones per kiloShop
  21. Walmart Costa Rica beef: grilling strips 1 kg at 5,490 colonesShop
  22. Walmart Costa Rica wine: Mucho Mas tinto 750 ml at 6,430 colonesShop
  23. Walmart Costa Rica water: Cristal 1.75 L at 1,180 colonesShop
  24. Walmart Costa Rica jeans: Just slim fit at 9,900 colonesShop
  25. Walmart Costa Rica dresses: Boulevard summer dress at 5,000 colones (8,900 list)Shop
  26. Walmart Costa Rica pharmacy: Acetaminofen MK 500 mg, 20 tablets at 1,200 colonesShop
  27. KFC Costa Rica menu (Combo 2 piezas at 5,000 colones; national chain price, Santa Teresa has no chain, nearest branches Nicoya and Santa Cruz)Shop
  28. CNFL 2026 residential electricity tariff: 1,744.80 colones fixed plus 58.16/kWh (31-200), 89.24 (201-300), 92.27 aboveOfficial
  29. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Essential US$62.72 per 4 weeks (ages 10-39); Complete US$177.50 per monthOfficial
  30. Visit Costa Rica digital-nomad estancia (US$100 filing fee, US$3,000 a month income, US$4,000 with dependents)Official
  31. UK FCDO Costa Rica entry (180-day visa-free stay, US$29 departure tax, US$100 a month overstay fine)Official
  32. AgendaPro Puntarenas haircuts (province basic cuts: Monteverde 4,000, Puntarenas city 6,500, Quepos corte y barba 7,000 colones; no Cobano or Santa Teresa salon priced online)Listings
  33. CityCost Santa Teresa crowd index, Nov 2026 (cappuccino 1,657 colones, draught beer 1,339, budget meal 4,358, three-course dinner for two 18,700)Index
  34. ECB reference rate EUR/USD 1.1127 (11 November 2026), used for the coworksurf euro figuresOfficial

Change history

    • Method Generated Researched
    • Airbnb (1 month) 1744.59 2000
    • Apartment (1 bedroom) 763.26 900
    • Apples 5.45 3.45
    • Beef 19.63 12.14
    • Beer 2.62 2.96
    37 more changes
    • Bread 3.27 2.88
    • Chicken Fillets 10.9 4.73
    • Coffee 3.27 3.66
    • Coliving Space 1308.44 1000
    • Coworking Space 327.11 150
    • Dining Out local 87.23, nomad 872.29, expat 218.07, family 174.46, tourist 54.52 local 90, nomad 950, expat 320, family 650, tourist 55
    • Doctor Visit (GP) 76.33 45
    • Fast Food Combo 11.99 11.06
    • Gasoline 1.64 1.78
    • Groceries local 327.11, nomad 109.04, expat 436.15, family 763.26, tourist 0 local 350, nomad 110, expat 500, family 1200, tourist 8
    • Gym Membership 87.23 99
    • Haircut 21.81 14.38
    • Health Insurance local 21.81, nomad 87.23, expat 109.04, family 218.07, tourist 0 local 0, nomad 62.72, expat 177.5, family 350, tourist 2.1
    • Housing local 545.18, nomad 1962.66, expat 981.33, family 1744.59, tourist 119.94 local 700, nomad 1700, expat 900, family 2400, tourist 170
    • Internet & Mobile local 54.52, nomad 218.07, expat 109.04, family 130.84, tourist 0 local 54.03, nomad 40, family 65.09, tourist 2.97
    • Internet (60 Mbps+) 76.33 42.97
    • Jeans 98.13 21.9
    • Laundry 10.9 6.08
    • Leisure Activities local 21.81, nomad 174.46, expat 87.23, family 109.04, tourist 10.9 local 45, nomad 300, expat 150, family 320, tourist 60
    • Meal (Inexpensive) 10.9 9.64
    • Meal (Mid-range, 2 people) 76.33 42
    • Milk 2.62 2.68
    • Mobile Plan 32.71 11.06
    • Monthly Transport Pass 76.33 15.84
    • Pharmacy (basic meds) 17.45 2.65
    • Rice 3.27 1.97
    • Ride-hailing (5km) 10.9 10.62
    • SIM Card (Tourist, prepaid) 17.45 26.75
    • Scooter Rental 54.52 300
    • Summer Dress 54.52 11.06
    • Taxi Start 5.45 2.12
    • Taxi per km 2.18 2.12
    • Transportation local 65.42, nomad 130.84, expat 152.65, family 218.07, tourist 17.45 local 15.84, nomad 130, expat 180, family 350, tourist 25
    • Utilities local 65.42, nomad 0, expat 109.04, family 152.65, tourist 0 local 85, nomad 150, expat 170, family 250, tourist 0
    • Visa & Legal Fees local 0, expat 43.61, family 65.42 local 0, nomad 8, expat 55, family 120
    • Water (1.5L bottle) 1.74 2.24
    • Wine (Mid-range) 23.99 14.22

    fix pass after the batch check — Chicken Fillets, Coffee, Beer and Meal (Inexpensive) re-quoted at the pages' current figures, Gasoline moved to the ARESEP petrol revision in force since 9 November on a page that prints the price, the three-course dinner figure re-quoted, and every monthly category total now shows its sum per lifestyle in the findings (walmart.co.cr, citycost.org, quehaycr.com)

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