Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Martha's Vineyard, MA and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,659 in Martha's Vineyard, MA, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Martha's Vineyard, MA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,659
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Martha's Vineyard, MA versus $1,835 in Nosara.

  • Martha's Vineyard, MA $2,659
  • Nosara $1,835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,767 in Martha's Vineyard, MA versus $2,825 in Nosara.

  • Martha's Vineyard, MA $3,767
  • Nosara $2,825

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,875 in Martha's Vineyard, MA versus $3,814 in Nosara.

  • Martha's Vineyard, MA $4,875
  • Nosara $3,814

Living in Martha's Vineyard, MA is roughly 45% more expensive than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Martha's Vineyard, MA 96% above, Nosara 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.94 $19.94
$12.34 ₡5,535
61.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.1 $74.1
$61.3 ₡27.5K
20.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.14 $13.14
$7.76 ₡3,481
69.33%
Cappuccino
$5.08 $5.08
$4.44 ₡1,992
14.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.79 ₡803
41.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.29 ₡580
55.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.15 $6.15
$3.24 ₡1,451
89.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.92 $8.92
$4.43 ₡1,985
101.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.55 ₡696
-35.48%
White Bread (500g)
$4.64 $4.64
$3.08 ₡1,380
50.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$2.53 ₡1,133
70.75%
Eggs
$6.19 $6.19
$3.45 ₡1,546
79.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.55 $10.55
$7.32 ₡3,284
44.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.70 $10.70
$10.24 ₡4,594
4.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.79 $18.79
$14.10 ₡6,326
33.26%
Apples (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$2.29 ₡1,027
135.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.64 ₡737
-3.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$4.79 ₡2,149
-32.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.13 $3.13
$1.64 ₡735
90.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$3.85 ₡1,727
-41.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 $2.50
$3.75 ₡1,681
-33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.09 ₡488
141.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.59 ₡1,160
13.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.21 $12.21
$5.12 ₡2,295
138.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.88 $16.88
$19.92 ₡8,931
-15.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.80 ₡1,255
-34.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.52 ₡1,580
-22.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.22 ₡549
44.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.9 ₡33.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.84 $5.84
$2.17 ₡973
169.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.56 ₡698
16.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.79 $26.79
$8.67 ₡3,886
209.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.55 ₡697
-33.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K $27.4K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-20.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$38.7K ₡17.4M
-32.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$94.8 ₡42.5K
88.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.01 $37.01
$36.15 ₡16.2K
2.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 $59.7
$53.1 ₡23.8K
12.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.77 $41.77
$73.8 ₡33.1K
-43.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$35.63 ₡16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.41 $12.41
$7.91 ₡3,548
56.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,165 $2,165
$490 ₡219.9K
341.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.6K $24.6K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
107.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.80 $38.80
$54.8 ₡24.6K
-29.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.38 $16.38
$55.9 ₡25.1K
-70.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$80.4 ₡36.0K
26.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$77.9 ₡34.9K
38.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 $1,615
$801 ₡359.1K
101.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 $1,438
$790 ₡354.1K
82.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,550 $2,550
$4,005 ₡1.8M
-36.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 $2,149
$1,409 ₡632.0K
52.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,748 $2,748
$7,064 ₡3.2M
-61.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,266 $2,266
$1,236 ₡554.3K
83.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$887 ₡397.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
8.62
-24.48%

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

Last update for Martha's Vineyard, MA: October 20, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Martha's Vineyard, MA
$1.4K
Nosara
$790 45.1% $649
Groceries & Markets
Martha's Vineyard, MA
$411
Nosara
$350 14.9% $61
Eating Out
Martha's Vineyard, MA
$327
Nosara
$213 34.9% $114
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martha's Vineyard, MA
$276
Nosara
$184 33.2% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Martha's Vineyard, MA
$119
Nosara
$121 1.5% $1.8
Sport & Entertainment
Martha's Vineyard, MA
$67
Nosara
$90 34.6% $23
Getting Around
Martha's Vineyard, MA
$22 *
Nosara
$89 305% $67

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 $1,615 in Martha's Vineyard, MA and $801 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Martha's Vineyard, MA vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $350 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Martha's Vineyard, MA
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
03:35 3:35 AM
01:35 1:35 AM
2 h behind Martha's Vineyard, MA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,510
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
  • Martha's Vineyard, MA Nosara 3,790 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Martha's Vineyard, MA
  • 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
Martha's Vineyard, MA vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Martha's Vineyard, MA or Nosara?
Nosara wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Martha's Vineyard, MA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nosara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Martha's Vineyard, MA and in Nosara?
You'd need roughly $3,989 in Martha's Vineyard, MA 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Martha's Vineyard, MA compared to Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,615 in Martha's Vineyard, MA versus $801 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Martha's Vineyard, MA and in Nosara?
Childcare runs $2,165 in Martha's Vineyard, MA versus $490 in Nosara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Martha's Vineyard, MA and in Nosara?
Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $74.0 in Martha's Vineyard, MA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Martha's Vineyard, MA or in Nosara?
At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,659 in Martha's Vineyard, MA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Martha's Vineyard, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Martha's Vineyard, MA or Nosara?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nosara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,835 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nosara hard to pass up.
How safe is Martha's Vineyard, MA compared to Nosara?
Safety-wise, Martha's Vineyard, MA 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Martha's Vineyard, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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