Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Atkinson, WI and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,292 in Fort Atkinson, WI, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Fort Atkinson, WI outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Fort Atkinson, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,292
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,292 per month in Fort Atkinson, WI vs $1,835 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Fort Atkinson, WI $2,292
  • Nosara $1,835

A couple spends around $3,361 per month in Fort Atkinson, WI vs $2,825 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Fort Atkinson, WI $3,361
  • Nosara $2,825

A family of three spends $4,430 per month in Fort Atkinson, WI vs $3,814 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Fort Atkinson, WI $4,430
  • Nosara $3,814

Fort Atkinson, WI costs about 25% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Fort Atkinson, WI and Nosara sit above the global median – Fort Atkinson, WI by 69%, Nosara by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Atkinson, WI
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.85 $13.85
$12.34 ₡5,535
12.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8 $75.8
$61.3 ₡27.5K
23.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.21 $12.21
$7.76 ₡3,481
57.35%
Cappuccino
$5.27 $5.27
$4.44 ₡1,992
18.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.79 ₡803
62.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.29 ₡580
82.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 $5.94
$3.24 ₡1,451
83.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.28 $8.28
$4.43 ₡1,985
86.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Atkinson, WI
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.55 ₡696
-47.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 $2.15
$3.08 ₡1,380
-30.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.53 ₡1,133
13.04%
Eggs
$3.49 $3.49
$3.45 ₡1,546
1.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.84 $7.84
$7.32 ₡3,284
7.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.91 $10.91
$10.24 ₡4,594
6.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.56 $10.56
$14.10 ₡6,326
-25.11%
Apples (1kg)
$5.74 $5.74
$2.29 ₡1,027
150.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.64 ₡737
4.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.45 $3.45
$4.79 ₡2,149
-27.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$1.64 ₡735
193.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$3.85 ₡1,727
-28.57%
Onion (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$3.75 ₡1,681
-14.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.09 ₡488
82.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.59 ₡1,160
-23.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.14 $12.14
$5.12 ₡2,295
137.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.14 $8.14
$19.92 ₡8,931
-59.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.80 ₡1,255
-40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$3.52 ₡1,580
-7.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Atkinson, WI
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.22 ₡549
57.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.17 ₡973
46.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.56 ₡698
14.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.11 $31.11
$8.67 ₡3,886
258.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.55 ₡697
-34.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K $34.7K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
0.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-33.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Atkinson, WI
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$94.8 ₡42.5K
82.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.97 $49.97
$36.15 ₡16.2K
38.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.5 $50.5
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-4.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Atkinson, WI
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.40 $36.40
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-50.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.16 $8.16
$7.91 ₡3,548
3.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Atkinson, WI
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,177 $1,177
$490 ₡219.9K
140.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K $24.3K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
104.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Atkinson, WI
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.69 $19.69
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-64.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.80 $14.80
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-73.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.96 $44.96
$80.4 ₡36.0K
-44.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.4 $64.4
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-17.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Atkinson, WI
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,588 $1,588
$801 ₡359.1K
98.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 $1,284
$790 ₡354.1K
62.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,522 $2,522
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-37.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,145 $2,145
$1,409 ₡632.0K
52.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,512 $2,512
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-64.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,233 $2,233
$1,236 ₡554.3K
80.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Atkinson, WI
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
8.62
-25.41%

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

Last update for Fort Atkinson, WI: 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
Fort Atkinson, WI
$1.3K
Nosara
$790 38.5% $495
Groceries & Markets
Fort Atkinson, WI
$319
Nosara
$350 9.5% $30
Eating Out
Fort Atkinson, WI
$278
Nosara
$213 23.5% $65
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Atkinson, WI
$273
Nosara
$184 32.7% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Fort Atkinson, WI
$65
Nosara
$121 87% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Fort Atkinson, WI
$53
Nosara
$90 69.9% $37
Getting Around
Fort Atkinson, WI
$20 *
Nosara
$89 349% $69

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,588 in Fort Atkinson, WI 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 $76.0 in Fort Atkinson, WI versus $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries tell a different story – $319 in Fort Atkinson, WI vs $350 in Nosara – so Fort Atkinson, WI wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fort Atkinson, WI
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
22:54 10:54 PM
21:54 9:54 PM
1 h behind Fort Atkinson, WI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,500
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Fort Atkinson, WI Nosara 3,680 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Fort Atkinson, WI
  • 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
Fort Atkinson, WI vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Atkinson, WI or Nosara?
Fort Atkinson, WI costs about 25% more than Nosara, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fort Atkinson, WI and in Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,438 per month in Fort Atkinson, WI and $2,753 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Fort Atkinson, WI or Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nosara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Atkinson, WI compared to Nosara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,292 in Fort Atkinson, WI and $1,835 in Nosara. That's a gap of about 25%.
How do childcare costs compare in Fort Atkinson, WI and in Nosara?
Kindergarten costs $1,177 per month in Fort Atkinson, WI and $490 in Nosara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Fort Atkinson, WI or in Nosara?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Nosara, where all-in costs run around $1,835, than in Fort Atkinson, WI at $2,292. In Nosara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Atkinson, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Atkinson, WI or Nosara?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nosara costs $1,835 versus $2,292 in Fort Atkinson, WI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Fort Atkinson, WI compared to Nosara?
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.
Should I move to Fort Atkinson, WI or to Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Nosara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fort Atkinson, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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