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Jacó, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
#1908 ,

Nomad Score: 69%

💰 Cost & Affordability

💸 Cost of Living
71% Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to major cities, though slightly higher than rural Costa Rica due to tourism.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
64% Weight: 80
Rental prices are reasonable but can spike during high tourist seasons.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78% Weight: 40
Local markets offer affordable fresh produce; imported goods are pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
79% Weight: 20
Public buses are cheap; taxis and ride-shares moderately priced.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
67% Weight: 15
Entertainment options are varied but can be costly in tourist hotspots.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
62% Weight: 10
Gyms available but membership fees are above average for the region.
💱 Currency Stability
75% Weight: 30
Costa Rican colón is relatively stable with low inflation rates.

💻 Digital Nomad Essentials

🚀 Internet Speed
73% Weight: 100
Average speeds around 20-50 Mbps; fiber available in some areas but not widespread.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
60% Weight: 40
Few coworking spaces exist, mostly small and concentrated in central Jacó.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
74% Weight: 30
Several cafes offer free WiFi with decent connectivity.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
68% Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but limited compared to larger cities.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
65% Weight: 100
Growing but still a niche destination for digital nomads.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85% Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.

🌟 Quality of Life

⚖️ Work-Life Balance
80% Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with access to beaches and nature supports good balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
85% Weight: 15
Clean beaches and natural surroundings with good environmental awareness.
🧼 Cleanliness
70% Weight: 10
Generally clean but some areas can be affected by tourist influx.
🗨️ Language Barrier
55% Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English spoken in tourist areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
83% Weight: 15
Good air quality due to coastal location and low industrial activity.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Friendly
67% Weight: 25
Suitable for families with outdoor activities but limited schooling options.

🏥 Healthcare

🏥 Healthcare Quality
72% Weight: 20
Decent healthcare facilities nearby; private clinics offer good services.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
80% Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are affordable compared to North America and Europe.
🏥 Healthcare
76% Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with a mix of public and private options.

🌿 Climate & Environment

☀️ Weather
87% Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; rainy season from May to November.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60% Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes and occasional tropical storms.
🏞️ Green Spaces
84% Weight: 10
Abundant natural parks, beaches, and forested areas nearby.
❄️ Air Conditioning
70% Weight: 15
Many accommodations and cafes have AC, but not universal.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32% Weight: 10
Limited seasonal variation; mostly wet and dry seasons.
🔊 Noise Pollution
58% Weight: 10
Noise can be an issue in central tourist areas, especially at night.

🎭 Culture & Entertainment

🎭 Culture
78% Weight: 20
Rich Costa Rican culture with local festivals and traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
65% Weight: 15
Active nightlife with bars and clubs, but smaller scale than big cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
91% Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, surfing, hiking, and wildlife.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60% Weight: 10
Some Spanish schools and informal language exchanges available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
83% Weight: 10
Wide range of tours including surfing, wildlife, and cultural experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
55% Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; mostly bars and small venues.

🍎 Food & Fitness

🍽️ Food Scene
74% Weight: 25
Good variety of local and international cuisine, with fresh seafood.
🧠 Yoga Studios
67% Weight: 10
Several yoga studios catering to tourists and locals.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
63% Weight: 15
Basic gyms and outdoor fitness options available.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
71% Weight: 15
Fresh fruits and vegetables widely available; organic options growing.

💼 Work Environment

🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
89% Weight: 20
GMT-6 timezone aligns well with North and Central America.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
58% Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events; informal meetups occasionally.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
45% Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50% Weight: 20
Growing but still nascent freelance community.
🏢 Coworking Quality
57% Weight: 30
Basic coworking spaces with essential amenities.

📈 Business & Economy

🚀 Startup Scene
42% Weight: 15
Limited startup activity locally; more active in San José.
💳 Local Payment Services
65% Weight: 10
Mobile payments and cards widely accepted; cash still common.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
50% Weight: 15
Moderate interest but limited infrastructure for crypto use.

🚆 Transportation

✈️ Airport Connectivity
53% Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (~1.5 hours away).
🚇 Public Transit
58% Weight: 20
Limited local public transit; buses connect to nearby towns.
🚶 Walkability
69% Weight: 20
Central Jacó is walkable; outskirts require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
64% Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-sharing available but coverage is spotty.
🚲 Cycling
55% Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but limited dedicated infrastructure.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
62% Weight: 15
Buses and shuttles connect Jacó to major cities and airports.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
70% Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals are common and affordable.

📡 Connectivity

📱 Mobile Network Coverage
76% Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in town and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
80% Weight: 20
VPNs work reliably with no known restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
78% Weight: 15
Generally stable electricity with occasional outages during storms.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
67% Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in cafes and some public areas but not widespread.

⚖️ Legal & Administrative

🛂 Visa Ease
70% Weight: 40
Tourist visa easy to obtain; digital nomad visa available with some requirements.
📊 Tax Friendliness
60% Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; some benefits for foreign residents.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
88% Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech and press.
🏛️ Political Stability
85% Weight: 20
Stable democratic government with low corruption.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
55% Weight: 15
Can be bureaucratic and requires local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60% Weight: 10
Process is straightforward but can be slow and paperwork-heavy.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
72% Weight: 35
Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa with reasonable requirements.

🌍 Digital Nomad Community

🌍 Nomad Friendly
68% Weight: 50
Growing infrastructure and community but still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
54% Weight: 25
Occasional meetups but no large-scale regular events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
61% Weight: 20
Moderate presence on social media and nomad forums.

🛡️ Safety & Tolerance

🛡️ Safety
69% Weight: 100
Generally safe but petty crime can occur, especially in tourist areas.
♀️ Female Friendly
70% Weight: 50
Relatively safe and welcoming for female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
73% Weight: 50
Generally tolerant society with some cultural diversity.

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