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 Martinique and in Costa Rica
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Martinique and in Costa Rica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,076 per month in Martinique vs $1,779 in Costa Rica, rent included.
Martinique $2,076
Costa Rica $1,779
A couple spends around $3,347 per month in Martinique vs $2,745 in Costa Rica, rent included.
Martinique $3,347
Costa Rica $2,745
A family of three spends $4,618 per month in Martinique vs $3,711 in Costa Rica, rent included.
Martinique $4,618
Costa Rica $3,711
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Martinique ($2,090–$2,090) than in Costa Rica ($1,004–$2,127), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Martinique is about 17% higher than in Costa Rica on average.
📊
Both Martinique and Costa Rica are pricier than the global median – Martinique by 54%, Costa Rica by 32%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Martinique
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.72€20.21
$11.77₡5,278
93.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100€89.1
$55.1₡24.7K
81.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.91€13.26
$10.88₡4,880
37.04%
Cappuccino
$4.80€4.27
$4.50₡2,018
6.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64€3.24
$2.37₡1,063
53.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64€3.24
$1.91₡858
90.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.16€6.37
$3.25₡1,457
120.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09€4.53
$4.40₡1,974
15.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Martinique
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75€1.55
$2.45₡1,098
-28.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.94€1.73
$3.57₡1,599
-45.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.57€3.18
$2.75₡1,235
29.82%
Eggs
$6.33€5.63
$4.03₡1,806
57.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.27€17.14
$10.04₡4,504
91.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$22.30€19.83
$10.40₡4,665
114.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.29€18.04
$13.69₡6,140
48.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72€3.31
$5.16₡2,313
-27.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31€1.17
$1.69₡760
-22.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99€2.66
$3.60₡1,613
-16.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.82€6.07
$3.39₡1,519
101.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.75
$3.36₡1,506
-41.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16€1.92
$3.18₡1,427
-32.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71€1.52
$1.12₡504
52.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.69
$2.66₡1,195
-71.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.86€10.55
$5.38₡2,415
120.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29€7.38
$16.05₡7,197
-48.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.51
$2.71₡1,214
-37.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72€2.42
$3.30₡1,480
-17.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Martinique
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58€1.40
$1.13₡507
39.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.36€43.91
$65.8₡29.5K
-25.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.71
$2.28₡1,021
82.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.02€1.80
$2.00₡895
1.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.86€37.24
$9.08₡4,074
361.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.53€2.25
$1.54₡689
64.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€31.6K
$32.5K₡14.6M
9.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K€29.3K
$36.6K₡16.4M
-10.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martinique
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154€137
$95.7₡42.9K
61.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.22€9.98
$30.83₡13.8K
-63.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.74€41.58
$58.4₡26.2K
-19.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Martinique
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.53€34.27
$65.6₡29.4K
-41.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.54€15.60
$22.18₡9,948
-20.92%
Cinema Ticket
$11.14€9.91
$8.25₡3,701
35.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Martinique
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494€440
$743₡333.3K
-33.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,987€3,547
$12.7K₡5.7M
-68.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Martinique
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111€98.4
$75.1₡33.7K
47.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.84€24.76
$56.5₡25.3K
-50.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$152€135
$131₡59.0K
15.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$214€191
$110₡49.2K
95.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Martinique
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003€892
$841₡376.9K
19.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$711€632
$655₡293.9K
8.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,675€1,490
$1,750₡784.7K
-4.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,350€1,201
$1,177₡527.9K
14.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,261€2,011
$2,434₡1.1M
-7.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,660€2,366
$1,640₡735.7K
62.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Martinique
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,175€1,934
$1,071₡480.5K
102.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.45
9.56
-84.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Martinique: October 11, 2026
Last update for Costa Rica: October 12, 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
Martinique
$711 34.2%
Costa Rica
$655 36.9% ↓ 7.8%$56
🛒Groceries & Markets
Martinique
$436 21%
Costa Rica
$383 21.5% ↓ 12.2%$53
🍽Eating Out
Martinique
$359 17.3%
Costa Rica
$223 12.5% ↓ 37.9%$136
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Martinique
$227 10.9%
Costa Rica
$168 9.4% ↓ 26.1%$59
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martinique
$212 10.2%
Costa Rica
$185 10.4% ↓ 12.9%$27
🚌Getting Around
Martinique
$70 3.4%
Costa Rica
$83 4.6% ↑ 18.1%$13
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Martinique
$61 2.9%
Costa Rica
$82 4.6% ↑ 35%$21
🏠Accommodation & Living
Martinique
$1.4K 29.2%
Costa Rica
$1.2K 31.7% ↓ 12.8%$173
🛒Groceries & Markets
Martinique
$1K 22.5%
Costa Rica
$873 23.5% ↓ 15.9%$165
🍽Eating Out
Martinique
$1.2K 26.4%
Costa Rica
$719 19.4% ↓ 41.1%$502
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Martinique
$505 10.9%
Costa Rica
$373 10% ↓ 26.1%$132
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martinique
$223 4.8%
Costa Rica
$216 5.8% ↓ 3.5%$7.7
🚌Getting Around
Martinique
$143 3.1%
Costa Rica
$167 4.5% ↑ 17%$24
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Martinique
$139 3%
Costa Rica
$186 5% ↑ 33.9%$47
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $994 in Martinique vs $830 in Costa Rica. For reference, capital cities sit at $994 in Fort-de-france and $927 in San Jose.
💰Average salary: $2,248 in Martinique vs $1,089 in Costa Rica. 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.
Martinique→Costa Rica2,550 km≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
Martinique
Costa Rica
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
Martinique vs Costa Rica: 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.
Martinique vs other spots: cost of living compared