Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Marquette, MI and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,091 in Marquette, MI, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Marquette, MI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,091
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,091 in Marquette, MI versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Marquette, MI $2,091
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,262 in Marquette, MI versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Marquette, MI $3,262
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,432 in Marquette, MI versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Marquette, MI $4,432
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Marquette, MI is roughly 14% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Marquette, MI 54% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marquette, MI
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.27 $17.27
$12.34 ₡5,535
39.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.5 $56.5
$61.3 ₡27.5K
-7.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.06 $10.06
$7.76 ₡3,481
29.64%
Cappuccino
$6.21 $6.21
$4.44 ₡1,992
39.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.79 ₡803
36.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.29 ₡580
18.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.40 $5.40
$3.24 ₡1,451
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90 $6.90
$4.43 ₡1,985
55.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marquette, MI
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.55 ₡696
-34.19%
White Bread (500g)
$4.21 $4.21
$3.08 ₡1,380
36.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.53 ₡1,133
45.85%
Eggs
$4.18 $4.18
$3.45 ₡1,546
21.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.59 $11.59
$7.32 ₡3,284
58.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 $8.39
$10.24 ₡4,594
-18.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.26 $17.26
$14.10 ₡6,326
22.41%
Apples (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$2.29 ₡1,027
89.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.64 ₡737
43.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.79 ₡2,149
-9.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$1.64 ₡735
194.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.85 ₡1,727
-28.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.75 ₡1,681
-33.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.09 ₡488
91.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.59 ₡1,160
-13.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.11 $10.11
$5.12 ₡2,295
97.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.21 $15.21
$19.92 ₡8,931
-23.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.80 ₡1,255
-28.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$3.52 ₡1,580
-51.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Marquette, MI
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.22 ₡549
54.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.17 ₡973
41.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.56 ₡698
7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.47 $30.47
$8.67 ₡3,886
251.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.55 ₡697
-36.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-13.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K $27.4K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-29.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marquette, MI
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 $205
$94.8 ₡42.5K
116.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.7 $57.7
$36.15 ₡16.2K
59.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.62 $45.62
$53.1 ₡23.8K
-14.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marquette, MI
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.93 $41.93
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-43.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.03 $10.03
$7.91 ₡3,548
26.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marquette, MI
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,557 $1,557
$490 ₡219.9K
217.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.0K $20.0K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
68.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marquette, MI
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 $52.3
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-4.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.70 $41.70
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-25.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.0 $89.0
$80.4 ₡36.0K
10.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$77.9 ₡34.9K
33.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marquette, MI
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 $1,275
$801 ₡359.1K
59.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$891 $891
$790 ₡354.1K
12.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,320 $2,320
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-42.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,851 $1,851
$1,409 ₡632.0K
31.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,398 $2,398
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-66.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,485 $2,485
$1,236 ₡554.3K
101.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marquette, MI
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
8.62
-23.78%

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

Last update for Marquette, MI: October 18, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Marquette, MI
$891
Nosara
$790 11.4% $101
Groceries & Markets
Marquette, MI
$382
Nosara
$350 8.5% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marquette, MI
$309
Nosara
$184 40.4% $125
Eating Out
Marquette, MI
$300
Nosara
$213 29% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Marquette, MI
$129
Nosara
$121 6.4% $8.3
Sport & Entertainment
Marquette, MI
$62
Nosara
$90 44.6% $28
Getting Around
Marquette, MI
$19 *
Nosara
$89 367% $70

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,275 in Marquette, MI and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $56.0 in Marquette, MI vs $61.0 in Nosara. Groceries flip the comparison at $382 vs $350, with Nosara cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Marquette, MI
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
10:54 10:54 AM
08:54 8:54 AM
2 h behind Marquette, MI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
20,488
4,912
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 21, 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
  • Marquette, MI Nosara 4,070 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Marquette, MI
  • 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
Marquette, MI vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Marquette, MI and in Nosara?
Marquette, MI and Nosara differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,091 vs $1,835 including rent). Nosara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Marquette, MI compared to Nosara?
You'd need roughly $3,137 in Marquette, MI and $2,753 in Nosara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Marquette, MI and in Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,275 in Marquette, MI versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Marquette, MI and Nosara?
Childcare runs $1,557 in Marquette, MI versus $490 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $56.0 in Marquette, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,091 in Marquette, MI, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Marquette, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Marquette, MI and Nosara?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Marquette, MI or Nosara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Marquette, MI and Nosara are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Marquette, MI or Nosara?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Marquette, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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