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

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 15.1% more expensive than Jamaica without rent, and 16.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 13.4% more expensive than Jamaica without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.67 ₡4,545
$8.78 JMD 1,373
10.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡27.5K
$62.7 JMD 9,812
-6.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 ₡4,812
$8.21 JMD 1,284
24.60%
Cappuccino
$3.97 ₡1,868
$3.61 JMD 565
9.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₡1,020
$1.27 JMD 199
70.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₡813
$0.80 JMD 125
116.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.89 ₡1,359
$2.43 JMD 379
18.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 ₡2,072
$3.06 JMD 479
43.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ₡965
$3.72 JMD 582
-44.89%
White Bread (500g)
$3.09 ₡1,452
$2.87 JMD 449
7.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,180
$1.60 JMD 250
56.87%
Eggs
$3.30 ₡1,551
$3.35 JMD 524
-1.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.16 ₡4,308
$11.00 JMD 1,720
-16.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,370
$7.70 JMD 1,204
20.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.16 ₡6,190
$7.70 JMD 1,204
70.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 ₡2,106
$6.32 JMD 988
-29.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₡762
$3.66 JMD 573
-55.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.22 ₡1,512
$4.21 JMD 658
-23.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.98 ₡1,403
$2.18 JMD 342
36.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,415
$2.39 JMD 374
25.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,338
$2.03 JMD 318
40.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡476
$2.24 JMD 350
-54.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 ₡1,181
$1.25 JMD 196
100.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94 ₡2,323
$9.42 JMD 1,474
-47.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 ₡7,394
$12.64 JMD 1,977
24.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₡1,117
$2.58 JMD 404
-7.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ₡1,275
$3.09 JMD 484
-12.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ₡443
$0.99 JMD 154
-5.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.94 ₡23.0K
$49.47 JMD 7,739
-1.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₡843
$0.92 JMD 144
94.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 ₡945
$3.14 JMD 492
-35.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.82 ₡3,680
$8.07 JMD 1,263
-3.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 ₡711
$1.32 JMD 206
14.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K ₡17.3M
$41.2K JMD 6.4M
-10.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K ₡16.3M
$32.1K JMD 5.0M
8.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.8 ₡40.8K
$141 JMD 22.1K
-38.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.69 ₡12.1K
$23.13 JMD 3,618
11.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8 ₡25.3K
$47.17 JMD 7,378
13.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 ₡26.3K
$55.3 JMD 8,652
1.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.78 ₡13.5K
$10.53 JMD 1,647
173.31%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 ₡4,253
$12.35 JMD 1,933
-26.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$560 ₡263.5K
$222 JMD 34.7K
152.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K ₡4.7M
$3,578 JMD 559.7K
179.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.4 ₡34.0K
$26.84 JMD 4,199
169.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4 ₡25.6K
$23.49 JMD 3,675
131.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₡55.0K
$66.4 JMD 10.4K
76.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ₡48.4K
$82.7 JMD 12.9K
24.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ₡381.6K
$670 JMD 104.8K
21.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 ₡259.0K
$352 JMD 55.0K
56.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,482 ₡697.1K
$1,476 JMD 230.9K
0.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 ₡487.2K
$921 JMD 144.0K
12.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,301 ₡1.1M
$2,690 JMD 420.8K
-14.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,575 ₡740.9K
$3,167 JMD 495.4K
-50.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,030 ₡484.4K
$690 JMD 107.9K
49.39%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Jamaica: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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