COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives? - any advice?

I was offered COBRA and the monthly cost is more than I expected as an electrician's helper. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I saw that marketplace plans might cost less. How did you decide?

I priced both side by side: total yearly cost, doctors in network and the deductible. Marketplace was cheaper for us, but only because our doctors were covered.