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

🙂 Solo nomad: Jamaica is 12.2% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 15.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Jamaica is 9% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 9.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.96 JMD 1,426
$9.65 ₡4,833
-7.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.1 JMD 10K
$58.6 ₡29.3K
7.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.16 JMD 1,299
$9.9 ₡4,957
-17.58%
Cappuccino
$3.72 JMD 592
$3.9 ₡1,954
-4.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 JMD 202
$2.2 ₡1,100
-42.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 JMD 127
$1.65 ₡827
-52.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 JMD 409
$3.03 ₡1,517
-15.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 JMD 506
$4.55 ₡2,278
-30.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.75 JMD 597
$2.06 ₡1,033
82.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 JMD 454
$3.06 ₡1,530
-6.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 JMD 243
$2.52 ₡1,261
-39.29%
Eggs
$3.35 JMD 533
$3.29 ₡1,646
1.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.05 JMD 1,759
$9.29 ₡4,650
18.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.61 JMD 1,212
$9.54 ₡4,775
-20.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.7 JMD 1,225
$13.6 ₡6,808
-43.38%
Apples (1kg)
$6.35 JMD 1,011
$4.67 ₡2,337
35.97%
Banana (1kg)
$3.54 JMD 564
$1.56 ₡782
126.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 JMD 660
$3.34 ₡1,672
24.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 JMD 352
$3.01 ₡1,507
-26.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 JMD 389
$3.04 ₡1,524
-19.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 JMD 340
$2.85 ₡1,426
-24.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 JMD 368
$1.01 ₡506
128.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 JMD 190
$2.54 ₡1,273
-53.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.48 JMD 1,509
$4.86 ₡2,434
95.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.4 JMD 1,814
$14.87 ₡7,442
-23.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 JMD 411
$2.27 ₡1,137
13.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 JMD 488
$2.73 ₡1,366
12.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 JMD 146
$0.95 ₡476
-3.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.67 JMD 7,748
$49.46 ₡24.8K
-1.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.9 JMD 143
$1.81 ₡904
-50.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.22 JMD 513
$1.93 ₡969
66.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.26 JMD 1,315
$7.69 ₡3,850
7.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 JMD 210
$1.47 ₡735
-10.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3K JMD 6.6M
$37.4K ₡18.7M
10.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K JMD 5.2M
$34.8K ₡17.4M
-6.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 JMD 22.8K
$86.9 ₡43.5K
65.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.85 JMD 3,637
$25.46 ₡12.7K
-10.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.99 JMD 7,321
$54.7 ₡27.4K
-15.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 JMD 8,981
$57.8 ₡28.9K
-2.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.44 JMD 1,661
$28.42 ₡14.2K
-63.27%
Cinema Ticket
$12.47 JMD 1,986
$9.08 ₡4,546
37.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$227 JMD 36.2K
$551 ₡275.9K
-58.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,598 JMD 572.8K
$9,816 ₡4.9M
-63.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.41 JMD 4,205
$72.3 ₡36.2K
-63.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.94 JMD 3,811
$55.2 ₡27.6K
-56.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66 JMD 10.5K
$118 ₡59.3K
-44.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 JMD 12.7K
$104 ₡52.1K
-23.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$663 JMD 105.5K
$817 ₡408.8K
-18.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 JMD 56.8K
$539 ₡269.6K
-33.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,471 JMD 234.2K
$1,495 ₡748.3K
-1.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$930 JMD 148K
$1,019 ₡510.2K
-8.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,716 JMD 432.4K
$2,511 ₡1.3M
8.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,140 JMD 340.6K
$1,384 ₡693K
54.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$691 JMD 110K
$996 ₡498.8K
-30.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.34
10.53
-20.80%

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

Last update for Jamaica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

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