Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Lansing, MI

For one person, living is cheaper in Nosara: $1,835 a month against $2,165 in Lansing, MI, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

89

Cost of Living Index in Nosara
Learn more

Nosara Living Index
105

Cost of Living Index in Lansing, MI
Learn more

Lansing, MI Living Index

Jump to prices

Nosara

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,835

/mo nomad

Lansing, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,165

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,165 in Lansing, MI.

Nosara $1,835
Lansing, MI $2,165

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Nosara versus $3,137 in Lansing, MI.

Nosara $2,825
Lansing, MI $3,137

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,814 in Nosara versus $4,110 in Lansing, MI.

Nosara $3,814
Lansing, MI $4,110

Living in Nosara costs roughly 15% less than in Lansing, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nosara 35% above, Lansing, MI 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.34 ₡5,535

$16.80 $16.80

-26.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.3 ₡27.5K

$64.2 $64.2

-4.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 ₡3,481

$11.98 $11.98

-35.23%

Cappuccino

$4.44 ₡1,992

$5.52 $5.52

-19.57%

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

$1.79 ₡803

$2.85 $2.85

-37.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡580

$2.02 $2.02

-36.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,451

$4.89 $4.89

-33.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 ₡1,985

$6.17 $6.17

-28.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 ₡696

$0.84 $0.84

84.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 ₡1,380

$3.03 $3.03

1.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 ₡1,133

$4.64 $4.64

-45.47%

Eggs

$3.45 ₡1,546

$2.71 $2.71

27.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.32 ₡3,284

$11.21 $11.21

-34.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ₡4,594

$11.44 $11.44

-10.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 ₡6,326

$16.67 $16.67

-15.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 ₡1,027

$3.34 $3.34

-31.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₡737

$1.52 $1.52

7.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.79 ₡2,149

$4.46 $4.46

7.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 ₡735

$3.64 $3.64

-54.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.85 ₡1,727

$2.47 $2.47

55.87%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 ₡1,681

$2.99 $2.99

25.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₡488

$2.11 $2.11

-48.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 ₡1,160

$2.49 $2.49

4.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.12 ₡2,295

$9.84 $9.84

-47.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.92 ₡8,931

$15.55 $15.55

28.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 ₡1,255

$2.38 $2.38

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 ₡1,580

$3.50 $3.50

0.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 ₡549

$1.52 $1.52

-19.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.9 ₡33.1K

$30.38 $30.38

143.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ₡973

$2.95 $2.95

-26.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 ₡698

$1.52 $1.52

2.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.67 ₡3,886

$10.02 $10.02

-13.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 ₡697

$1.00 $1.00

55.00%

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

$34.5K ₡15.5M

$30.5K $30.5K

13.34%

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

$38.7K ₡17.4M

$25.2K $25.2K

54.05%

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

$94.8 ₡42.5K

$231 $231

-58.99%

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

$36.15 ₡16.2K

$59.8 $59.8

-39.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.1 ₡23.8K

$51.6 $51.6

2.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 ₡33.1K

$28.12 $28.12

162.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.63 ₡16.0K

$22.30 $22.30

59.78%

Cinema Ticket

$7.91 ₡3,548

$12.10 $12.10

-34.63%

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

$490 ₡219.9K

$640 $640

-23.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ₡5.3M

$32.3K $32.3K

-63.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ₡24.6K

$55.6 $55.6

-1.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.9 ₡25.1K

$40.96 $40.96

36.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 ₡36.0K

$82.8 $82.8

-2.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 ₡34.9K

$121 $121

-35.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ₡359.1K

$1,063 $1,063

-24.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 ₡354.1K

$922 $922

-14.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,005 ₡1.8M

$1,556 $1,556

157.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,409 ₡632.0K

$1,434 $1,434

-1.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,064 ₡3.2M

$1,615 $1,615

337.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,236 ₡554.3K

$1,508 $1,508

-18.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$887 ₡397.6K

$3,292 $3,292

-73.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.49

32.82%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 20, 2026

Last update for Lansing, MI: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Nosara

$790 43%

Lansing, MI

$922 42.6% 16.8% $133

Groceries & Markets

Nosara

$350 19.1%

Lansing, MI

$373 17.2% 6.5% $23

Eating Out

Nosara

$213 11.6%

Lansing, MI

$293 13.5% 37.7% $80

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nosara

$184 10%

Lansing, MI

$343 15.8% 86.1% $159

Clothing & Footwear

Nosara

$121 6.6%

Lansing, MI

$135 6.2% 11.6% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Nosara

$90 4.9%

Lansing, MI

$52 2.4% 41.6% $37

Getting Around

Nosara

$89 4.8%

Lansing, MI

$47 2.2% 47% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $801 in Nosara and $1,063 in Lansing, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lansing, MI pays 271% 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: $61.0 in Nosara vs $64.0 in Lansing, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $373 per month, with Nosara cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇷 Nosara

🇺🇸 Lansing, MI

🕒 Local time

18:08 6:08 PM

20:08 8:08 PM

2 h ahead of Nosara

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,912

112,644

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 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 21, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

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

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Nosara Lansing, MI 3,640 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Nosara
Lansing, 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 Lansing, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nosara and Lansing, MI differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,835 vs $2,165 including rent). Nosara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 271% lower in Lansing, 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: $801 in Nosara versus $1,063 in Lansing, 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 $61.0 versus $64.0 in Lansing, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,835 per month in Nosara versus $2,165 in Lansing, MI – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,835 in Nosara versus $2,165 in Lansing, MI, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Nosara but tight or insufficient in Lansing, 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 Lansing, 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 18% less than in Lansing, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.