Moving to Jamaica from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to Jamaica? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to Jamaica, you would find that Jamaica is 14.8% cheaper than Costa Rica overall. A CRC33,997,640 salary in Costa Rica would need to be roughly JMD10,633,714 in Jamaica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Jamaican Patois. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kingston averages 89°F vs 77°F in San Jose, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Costa Rica and Jamaica.
What does your salary buy?
CRC33,997,640 → JMD10,633,714
To maintain the same standard of living in Jamaica
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 34.3% less
Groceries
pay 20.6% more
Transportation
pay 7.9% more
Housing
pay 2.5% more
Childcare
pay 67.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 12.3% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Costa Rica to Jamaica.
Who's moving to Jamaica?
Top countries of origin for Jamaica's foreign-born residents.
- 6,349
- 4,832
- 2,343
- 1,825
- 1,338
- 1,148
- · · ·
-
18.100
Costa Rica
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Jamaica compared to Costa Rica.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Costa Rica performs better than Jamaica across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Costa Rica performs better than Jamaica across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Costa Rica performs better than Jamaica across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Costa Rica generally does better on employment & economy, though Jamaica leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Costa Rica performs better than Jamaica across all family life metrics.
Data: Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | San Jose | Kingston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Kingston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
Meteorological Service, Jamaica
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and Jamaica. To live, work, or study long-term in Jamaica, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Jamaica's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Jamaica
Visa Free
Jamaica passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Jamaica than Costa Rica?
On average Jamaica is about 10% less expensive than Costa Rica, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Jamaica?
Budget about JMD2,658,428 for 3 months in Jamaica (based on a CRC33,997,640 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Jamaica?
Connectivity is usually fine (Jamaica: 15.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Jamaica offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Jamaica safe for expats?
Costa Rica performs better than Jamaica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Jamaica is 53.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in Jamaica compared to Costa Rica?
Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Jamaica, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Jamaica scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).
What's the weather like in Jamaica compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Kingston is 89°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Kingston receives around 32.0 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in Jamaica?
The official languages in Jamaica are English and Jamaican Patois. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
