For one person, living is cheaper in Costa Rica: $1,779 a month against $2,076 in Martinique, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Costa Rica and in Martinique
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Costa Rica and in Martinique actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,779 per month in Costa Rica vs $2,076 in Martinique, rent included.
Costa Rica $1,779
Martinique $2,076
A couple spends around $2,745 per month in Costa Rica vs $3,347 in Martinique, rent included.
Costa Rica $2,745
Martinique $3,347
A family of three spends $3,711 per month in Costa Rica vs $4,618 in Martinique, rent included.
Costa Rica $3,711
Martinique $4,618
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Costa Rica ($1,004–$2,127) than in Martinique ($2,090–$2,090), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Costa Rica is roughly 14% lower than in Martinique on average.
📊
Both Costa Rica and Martinique are pricier than the global median – Costa Rica by 32%, Martinique by 54%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Martinique
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.77₡5,278
$22.72€20.21
-48.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.1₡24.7K
$100€89.1
-44.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.88₡4,880
$14.91€13.26
-27.03%
Cappuccino
$4.50₡2,018
$4.80€4.27
-6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37₡1,063
$3.64€3.24
-34.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91₡858
$3.64€3.24
-47.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25₡1,457
$7.16€6.37
-54.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40₡1,974
$5.09€4.53
-13.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Martinique
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45₡1,098
$1.75€1.55
40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.57₡1,599
$1.94€1.73
84.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.75₡1,235
$3.57€3.18
-22.97%
Eggs
$4.03₡1,806
$6.33€5.63
-36.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.04₡4,504
$19.27€17.14
-47.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.40₡4,665
$22.30€19.83
-53.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.69₡6,140
$20.29€18.04
-32.53%
Apples(1kg)
$5.16₡2,313
$3.72€3.31
38.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69₡760
$1.31€1.17
29.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.60₡1,613
$2.99€2.66
20.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.39₡1,519
$6.82€6.07
-50.29%
Potato(1kg)
$3.36₡1,506
$1.96€1.75
71.43%
Onion(1kg)
$3.18₡1,427
$2.16€1.92
47.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12₡504
$1.71€1.52
-34.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66₡1,195
$0.77€0.69
245.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38₡2,415
$11.86€10.55
-54.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.05₡7,197
$8.29€7.38
93.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71₡1,214
$1.70€1.51
59.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30₡1,480
$2.72€2.42
21.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Martinique
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13₡507
$1.58€1.40
-28.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.8₡29.5K
$49.36€43.91
33.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28₡1,021
$4.17€3.71
-45.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.00₡895
$2.02€1.80
-0.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.08₡4,074
$41.86€37.24
-78.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54₡689
$2.53€2.25
-39.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K₡14.6M
$35.5K€31.6K
-8.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6K₡16.4M
$32.9K€29.3K
11.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Martinique
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.7₡42.9K
$154€137
-37.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.83₡13.8K
$11.22€9.98
174.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.4₡26.2K
$46.74€41.58
24.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Martinique
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.6₡29.4K
$38.53€34.27
70.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.18₡9,948
$17.54€15.60
26.45%
Cinema Ticket
$8.25₡3,701
$11.14€9.91
-25.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Martinique
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$743₡333.3K
$494€440
50.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7K₡5.7M
$3,987€3,547
217.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Martinique
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1₡33.7K
$111€98.4
-32.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.5₡25.3K
$27.84€24.76
102.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131₡59.0K
$152€135
-13.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110₡49.2K
$214€191
-48.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Martinique
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$841₡376.9K
$1,003€892
-16.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$655₡293.9K
$711€632
-7.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,750₡784.7K
$1,675€1,490
4.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,177₡527.9K
$1,350€1,201
-12.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,434₡1.1M
$2,261€2,011
7.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,640₡735.7K
$2,660€2,366
-38.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Martinique
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,071₡480.5K
$2,175€1,934
-50.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.56
1.45
559.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Costa Rica: October 12, 2026
Last update for Martinique: October 11, 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
Costa Rica
$655 36.9%
Martinique
$711 34.2% ↑ 8.5%$56
🛒Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
$383 21.5%
Martinique
$436 21% ↑ 13.9%$53
🍽Eating Out
Costa Rica
$223 12.5%
Martinique
$359 17.3% ↑ 61.1%$136
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
$185 10.4%
Martinique
$212 10.2% ↑ 14.8%$27
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
$168 9.4%
Martinique
$227 10.9% ↑ 35.4%$59
🚌Getting Around
Costa Rica
$83 4.6%
Martinique
$70 3.4% ↓ 15.3%$13
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
$82 4.6%
Martinique
$61 2.9% ↓ 25.9%$21
🏠Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
$1.2K 31.7%
Martinique
$1.4K 29.2% ↑ 14.7%$173
🛒Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
$873 23.5%
Martinique
$1K 22.5% ↑ 18.9%$165
🍽Eating Out
Costa Rica
$719 19.4%
Martinique
$1.2K 26.4% ↑ 69.8%$502
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
$216 5.8%
Martinique
$223 4.8% ↑ 3.6%$7.7
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
$373 10%
Martinique
$505 10.9% ↑ 35.4%$132
🚌Getting Around
Costa Rica
$167 4.5%
Martinique
$143 3.1% ↓ 14.6%$24
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
$186 5%
Martinique
$139 3% ↓ 25.3%$47
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $830 in Costa Rica vs $994 in Martinique. For reference, capital cities sit at $927 in San Jose and $994 in Fort-de-france.
💰Average salary: $1,089 in Costa Rica vs $2,248 in Martinique. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 20% higher in Martinique.
⭐Dining out costs 87% more in Martinique.
⭐Public transport is 240% more expensive in Martinique.
⭐Salaries are 106% higher in Martinique, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Martinique.
Costa Rica→Martinique2,550 km≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
Costa Rica
Martinique
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
Costa Rica vs Martinique: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Costa Rica or Martinique?
Costa Rica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 17% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Costa Rica or in Martinique?
Housing costs more in Martinique: a central one-bedroom averages $994 versus $830 in Costa Rica.
How do daily expenses compare in Costa Rica vs Martinique?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Costa Rica, adding to the overall 17% price gap.
Can you live in both Costa Rica and Martinique on $2,000 per month?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Costa Rica, but in Martinique it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Costa Rica or Martinique?
Costa Rica is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
Costa Rica vs other spots: cost of living compared