Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Murphysboro, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Murphysboro, IL: $1,701 a month against $1,837 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Nosara outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,837
/mo nomad
Murphysboro, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$1,701
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Murphysboro, IL

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 Murphysboro, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Nosara vs $1,701 in Murphysboro, IL, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,837
  • Murphysboro, IL $1,701

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Nosara vs $2,583 in Murphysboro, IL, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,775
  • Murphysboro, IL $2,583

A family of three spends $3,712 per month in Nosara vs $3,466 in Murphysboro, IL, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,712
  • Murphysboro, IL $3,466

Nosara costs about 8% more than Murphysboro, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Nosara and Murphysboro, IL sit above the global median – Nosara by 37%, Murphysboro, IL by 27%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,509
$17.97 $17.97
-32.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡27.1K
$84.3 $84.3
-28.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 ₡3,399
$11.85 $11.85
-36.37%
Cappuccino
$4.31 ₡1,941
$6.79 $6.79
-36.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₡773
$2.95 $2.95
-41.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₡608
$2.47 $2.47
-45.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 ₡1,459
$6.86 $6.86
-52.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 ₡2,018
$7.78 $7.78
-42.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡707
$0.83 $0.83
89.16%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 ₡1,429
$1.81 $1.81
75.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 ₡1,091
$4.11 $4.11
-41.12%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,609
$4.12 $4.12
-13.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,349
$13.19 $13.19
-43.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.42 ₡4,697
$9.81 $9.81
6.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 ₡6,156
$15.47 $15.47
-11.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ₡1,044
$5.95 $5.95
-61.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡728
$1.53 $1.53
5.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.74 ₡2,138
$4.09 $4.09
15.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 ₡747
$4.87 $4.87
-65.91%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 ₡1,679
$1.09 $1.09
241.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,611
$2.03 $2.03
75.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₡497
$1.64 $1.64
-32.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 ₡1,149
$0.77 $0.77
231.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,232
$10.35 $10.35
-52.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.01 ₡9,020
$9.99 $9.99
100.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₡1,256
$2.51 $2.51
11.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ₡1,589
$4.21 $4.21
-16.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ₡537
$2.05 $2.05
-41.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 ₡32.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ₡1,011
$5.09 $5.09
-55.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ₡701
$1.54 $1.54
0.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.86 ₡3,993
$20.65 $20.65
-57.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 ₡708
$1.01 $1.01
55.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₡9.8M
$38.1K $38.1K
-42.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₡15.6M
$27.8K $27.8K
24.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.5 ₡42.1K
$190 $190
-50.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$33.40 $33.40
5.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 ₡23.2K
$39.26 $39.26
31.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 ₡32.2K
$43.73 $43.73
63.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44 ₡16.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 ₡3,535
$8.57 $8.57
-8.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡220.7K
$1,436 $1,436
-65.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.4M
$30.7K $30.7K
-61.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₡24.1K
$33.84 $33.84
58.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.1K
$34.81 $34.81
60.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₡35.7K
$93.0 $93.0
-14.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 ₡35.6K
$114 $114
-31.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₡354.3K
$622 $622
26.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₡351.6K
$560 $560
39.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,860 ₡1.7M
$907 $907
325.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 ₡634.4K
$866 $866
62.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,972 ₡3.1M
$903 $903
672.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 ₡541.3K
$984 $984
22.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 ₡395.0K
$2,541 $2,541
-65.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.55
31.60%

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

Last update for Nosara: October 5, 2026

Last update for Murphysboro, IL: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$780
Murphysboro, IL
$560 28.1% $219
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$350
Murphysboro, IL
$338 3.3% $11
Eating Out
Nosara
$209
Murphysboro, IL
$332 58.7% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$180
Murphysboro, IL
$263 46.1% $83
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Murphysboro, IL
$124 3.2% $3.8
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Murphysboro, IL
$61 30.1% $26
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Murphysboro, IL
$21 * 75.9% $66

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Nosara versus $622 in Murphysboro, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 190% higher in Murphysboro, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara versus $84.0 in Murphysboro, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $350 in Nosara vs $338 in Murphysboro, IL – so Murphysboro, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇺🇸 Murphysboro, IL
🕒 Local time
12:31 12:31 PM
13:31 1:31 PM
1 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
7,500
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Murphysboro, IL 3,110 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Murphysboro, IL

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 Murphysboro, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nosara or Murphysboro, IL?
Nosara costs about 8% more than Murphysboro, IL, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Nosara and in Murphysboro, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Nosara and $2,551 in Murphysboro, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nosara or Murphysboro, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Murphysboro, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Nosara and in Murphysboro, IL?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Nosara and $84.0 in Murphysboro, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Nosara or in Murphysboro, IL?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Nosara or in Murphysboro, IL?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Murphysboro, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,701, than in Nosara at $1,837. In Murphysboro, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nosara or Murphysboro, IL?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Murphysboro, IL costs $1,701 versus $1,837 in Nosara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nosara compared to Murphysboro, IL?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Nosara or to Murphysboro, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Murphysboro, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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