Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Ann Arbor, MI

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,837 a month against $2,756 in Ann Arbor, MI, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
Learn more

Nosara Living Index
134

Cost of Living Index in Ann Arbor, MI
Learn more

Ann Arbor, MI Living Index

Jump to prices

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,837

/mo nomad

Ann Arbor, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,756

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Ann Arbor, MI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nosara and in Ann Arbor, MI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,756 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Nosara $1,837
Ann Arbor, MI $2,756

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,775 in Nosara versus $4,150 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Nosara $2,775
Ann Arbor, MI $4,150

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,712 in Nosara versus $5,545 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Nosara $3,712
Ann Arbor, MI $5,545

Living in Nosara costs roughly 33% less than in Ann Arbor, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 37% above, Ann Arbor, MI 106% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 ₡5,509

$18.21 $18.21

-32.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ₡27.1K

$58.8 $58.8

2.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 ₡3,399

$11.84 $11.84

-36.32%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,941

$5.18 $5.18

-16.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₡773

$2.89 $2.89

-40.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₡608

$2.15 $2.15

-37.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,459

$6.53 $6.53

-50.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,018

$7.86 $7.86

-43.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡707

$0.97 $0.97

61.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,429

$3.90 $3.90

-18.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,091

$4.78 $4.78

-49.37%

Eggs

$3.57 ₡1,609

$3.69 $3.69

-3.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₡3,349

$19.79 $19.79

-62.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.42 ₡4,697

$13.32 $13.32

-21.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 ₡6,156

$14.85 $14.85

-8.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ₡1,044

$6.74 $6.74

-65.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡728

$1.95 $1.95

-17.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.74 ₡2,138

$3.80 $3.80

24.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 ₡747

$4.49 $4.49

-63.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 ₡1,679

$2.37 $2.37

56.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,611

$2.85 $2.85

25.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₡497

$2.41 $2.41

-54.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 ₡1,149

$2.03 $2.03

25.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 ₡2,232

$9.97 $9.97

-50.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 ₡9,020

$14.76 $14.76

35.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,256

$2.18 $2.18

27.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ₡1,589

$3.66 $3.66

-3.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.19 ₡537

$1.70 $1.70

-30.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 ₡32.5K

$45.56 $45.56

58.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₡1,011

$3.04 $3.04

-26.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ₡701

$1.54 $1.54

0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.86 ₡3,993

$26.38 $26.38

-66.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 ₡708

$1.07 $1.07

46.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ₡9.8M

$36.8K $36.8K

-40.67%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.6K ₡15.6M

$25.4K $25.4K

36.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.5 ₡42.1K

$201 $201

-53.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.11 ₡15.8K

$58.8 $58.8

-40.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 ₡23.2K

$73.1 $73.1

-29.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 ₡32.2K

$63.3 $63.3

12.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.44 ₡16.0K

$19.46 $19.46

82.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 ₡3,535

$13.21 $13.21

-40.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$490 ₡220.7K

$2,030 $2,030

-75.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.4M

$20.2K $20.2K

-41.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₡24.1K

$56.0 $56.0

-4.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.1K

$44.26 $44.26

26.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₡35.7K

$114 $114

-30.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 ₡35.6K

$104 $104

-24.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$786 ₡354.3K

$2,062 $2,062

-61.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 ₡351.6K

$1,382 $1,382

-43.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,860 ₡1.7M

$3,822 $3,822

0.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 ₡634.4K

$2,745 $2,745

-48.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,972 ₡3.1M

$5,514 $5,514

26.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 ₡541.3K

$2,539 $2,539

-52.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$876 ₡395.0K

$4,686 $4,686

-81.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.6

30.61%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$780 43%

Ann Arbor, MI

$1.4K 50.2% 77.3% $603

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.3%

Ann Arbor, MI

$431 15.6% 23.3% $81

Eating Out

Nosara

$209 11.6%

Ann Arbor, MI

$312 11.3% 48.9% $102

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$180 9.9%

Ann Arbor, MI

$333 12.1% 85% $153

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$120 6.6%

Ann Arbor, MI

$144 5.2% 19.3% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Ann Arbor, MI

$90 3.3% 3.1% $2.7

Getting Around

Nosara

$87 4.8%

Ann Arbor, MI

$63 2.3% 27.3% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $786 in Nosara and $2,062 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ann Arbor, MI pays 435% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in Nosara vs $59.0 in Ann Arbor, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $350 vs $431, with Nosara cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Ann Arbor, MI

🕒 Local time

01:26 1:26 AM

03:26 3:26 AM

2 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

123,851

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Ann Arbor, MI 3,600 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Ann Arbor, MI

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

Nosara vs Ann Arbor, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara and Ann Arbor, MI differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($1,837 vs $2,756 including rent). Nosara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 435% lower in Ann Arbor, MI. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $786 in Nosara versus $2,062 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Nosara – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $59.0 in Ann Arbor, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,837 per month in Nosara versus $2,756 in Ann Arbor, MI – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,837 in Nosara versus $2,756 in Ann Arbor, MI, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Ann Arbor, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Nosara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Nosara and Ann Arbor, MI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Nosara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Ann Arbor, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.