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

🙂 Solo nomad: Jamaica is 13.1% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 14.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Jamaica is 11.8% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 7.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.78 JMD 1,373
$9.67 ₡4,545
-9.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.7 JMD 9,812
$58.6 ₡27.5K
7.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.21 JMD 1,284
$10.23 ₡4,812
-19.75%
Cappuccino
$3.61 JMD 565
$3.97 ₡1,868
-9.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 JMD 199
$2.17 ₡1,020
-41.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 JMD 125
$1.73 ₡813
-53.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 JMD 379
$2.89 ₡1,359
-15.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 JMD 479
$4.40 ₡2,072
-30.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.72 JMD 582
$2.05 ₡965
81.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 JMD 449
$3.09 ₡1,452
-7.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 JMD 250
$2.51 ₡1,180
-36.25%
Eggs
$3.35 JMD 524
$3.30 ₡1,551
1.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 JMD 1,720
$9.16 ₡4,308
20.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 JMD 1,204
$9.29 ₡4,370
-17.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 JMD 1,204
$13.16 ₡6,190
-41.49%
Apples (1kg)
$6.32 JMD 988
$4.48 ₡2,106
41.07%
Banana (1kg)
$3.66 JMD 573
$1.62 ₡762
125.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.21 JMD 658
$3.22 ₡1,512
30.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 JMD 342
$2.98 ₡1,403
-26.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.39 JMD 374
$3.01 ₡1,415
-20.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 JMD 318
$2.85 ₡1,338
-28.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 JMD 350
$1.01 ₡476
121.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 JMD 196
$2.51 ₡1,181
-50.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.42 JMD 1,474
$4.94 ₡2,323
90.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.64 JMD 1,977
$15.72 ₡7,394
-19.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 JMD 404
$2.38 ₡1,117
8.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 JMD 484
$2.71 ₡1,275
14.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 JMD 154
$0.94 ₡443
5.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.47 JMD 7,739
$48.94 ₡23.0K
1.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 JMD 144
$1.79 ₡843
-48.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.14 JMD 492
$2.01 ₡945
56.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.07 JMD 1,263
$7.82 ₡3,680
3.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 JMD 206
$1.51 ₡711
-12.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2K JMD 6.4M
$36.8K ₡17.3M
11.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K JMD 5.0M
$34.7K ₡16.3M
-7.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 JMD 22.1K
$86.8 ₡40.8K
62.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.13 JMD 3,618
$25.69 ₡12.1K
-9.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.17 JMD 7,378
$53.8 ₡25.3K
-12.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.3 JMD 8,652
$55.9 ₡26.3K
-1.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.53 JMD 1,647
$28.78 ₡13.5K
-63.41%
Cinema Ticket
$12.35 JMD 1,933
$9.04 ₡4,253
36.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 JMD 34.7K
$560 ₡263.5K
-60.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,578 JMD 559.7K
$10.0K ₡4.7M
-64.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.84 JMD 4,199
$72.4 ₡34.0K
-62.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.49 JMD 3,675
$54.4 ₡25.6K
-56.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.4 JMD 10.4K
$117 ₡55.0K
-43.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.7 JMD 12.9K
$103 ₡48.4K
-19.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$670 JMD 104.8K
$811 ₡381.6K
-17.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 JMD 55.0K
$551 ₡259.0K
-36.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,476 JMD 230.9K
$1,482 ₡697.1K
-0.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$921 JMD 144.0K
$1,036 ₡487.2K
-11.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,690 JMD 420.8K
$2,301 ₡1.1M
16.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,167 JMD 495.4K
$1,575 ₡740.9K
101.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$690 JMD 107.9K
$1,030 ₡484.4K
-33.06%
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: March 2, 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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