Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Jamaica Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Jamaica

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 13.9% more expensive than Jamaica without rent, and 18.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 9.9% more expensive than Jamaica without rent, and 10% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,833
$8.96 JMD 1,426
7.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.3K
$63.1 JMD 10K
-7.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 ₡4,957
$8.16 JMD 1,299
21.32%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₡1,954
$3.72 JMD 592
4.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 ₡1,100
$1.27 JMD 202
73.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡827
$0.79 JMD 127
108.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,517
$2.57 JMD 409
17.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,278
$3.18 JMD 506
43.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₡1,033
$3.75 JMD 597
-45.07%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$2.85 JMD 454
7.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 ₡1,261
$1.53 JMD 243
64.71%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,646
$3.35 JMD 533
-1.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,650
$11.05 JMD 1,759
-15.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 ₡4,775
$7.61 JMD 1,212
25.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 ₡6,808
$7.7 JMD 1,225
76.62%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 ₡2,337
$6.35 JMD 1,011
-26.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡782
$3.54 JMD 564
-55.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 ₡1,672
$4.15 JMD 660
-19.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$2.21 JMD 352
36.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,524
$2.44 JMD 389
24.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$2.14 JMD 340
33.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡506
$2.31 JMD 368
-56.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,273
$1.19 JMD 190
113.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,434
$9.48 JMD 1,509
-48.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 ₡7,442
$11.4 JMD 1,814
30.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,137
$2.58 JMD 411
-12.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₡1,366
$3.07 JMD 488
-11.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡476
$0.92 JMD 146
3.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 ₡24.8K
$48.67 JMD 7,748
1.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡904
$0.9 JMD 143
101.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 ₡969
$3.22 JMD 513
-40.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 ₡3,850
$8.26 JMD 1,315
-6.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡735
$1.32 JMD 210
11.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₡18.7M
$41.3K JMD 6.6M
-9.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡17.4M
$32.7K JMD 5.2M
6.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 ₡43.5K
$143 JMD 22.8K
-39.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.7K
$22.85 JMD 3,637
11.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 ₡27.4K
$45.99 JMD 7,321
19.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡28.9K
$56.4 JMD 8,981
2.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 ₡14.2K
$10.44 JMD 1,661
172.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₡4,546
$12.47 JMD 1,986
-27.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 ₡275.9K
$227 JMD 36.2K
142.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 ₡4.9M
$3,598 JMD 572.8K
172.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 ₡36.2K
$26.41 JMD 4,205
173.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 ₡27.6K
$23.94 JMD 3,811
130.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₡59.3K
$66 JMD 10.5K
79.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₡52.1K
$79.6 JMD 12.7K
30.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡408.8K
$663 JMD 105.5K
23.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 ₡269.6K
$357 JMD 56.8K
50.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 ₡748.3K
$1,471 JMD 234.2K
1.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ₡510.2K
$930 JMD 148K
9.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 ₡1.3M
$2,716 JMD 432.4K
-7.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 ₡693K
$2,140 JMD 340.6K
-35.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.8K
$691 JMD 110K
44.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
8.34
26.26%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Jamaica: October 28, 2025

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