Jacó, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
#1908
,
Nomad Score:
70%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to major cities; local markets and eateries offer good value but imported goods can be pricey.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
64%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are reasonable but can spike during high tourist seasons; options range from budget to mid-range.
🍎 Food & Groceries
73%
Weight: 40
Local produce is affordable; dining out is moderately priced with many casual options.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public buses and local taxis are inexpensive; scooter rentals are common and affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
68%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options like bars and tours are moderately priced but can be costly in tourist hotspots.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
62%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but memberships are somewhat pricey compared to local income levels.
💱 Currency Stability
75%
Weight: 30
Costa Rican colón is relatively stable with moderate inflation; USD widely accepted.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
70%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 20-50 Mbps; reliable in town center but can be spotty in outskirts.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
65%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but limited compared to larger cities; growing digital nomad infrastructure.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
78%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi with decent speeds, popular among remote workers.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
74%
Weight: 30
Good number of cafes catering to digital nomads with power outlets and comfortable seating.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
69%
Weight: 100
Jacó is a known spot for digital nomads but less crowded than San José or Tamarindo.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good coverage.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
83%
Weight: 30
Relaxed beach town vibe promotes good balance between work and leisure.
🌳 Environmental Quality
76%
Weight: 15
Generally clean environment with lush surroundings; occasional litter in tourist areas.
🧼 Cleanliness
67%
Weight: 10
Public areas are moderately clean; some issues with waste management during peak seasons.
🗨️ Language Barrier
60%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English is common in tourist and expat areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
79%
Weight: 15
Good air quality due to coastal location and greenery; occasional dust during dry season.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Limited family-oriented activities; more suited for singles and couples.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
68%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare facilities available; more advanced care requires travel to San José.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable; private clinics more expensive but still reasonable.
🏥 Healthcare
69%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; serious conditions require travel to larger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
87%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; wet season from May to November.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes and tropical storms; generally well-prepared infrastructure.
🏞️ Green Spaces
81%
Weight: 10
Abundant natural parks, beaches, and nearby rainforests for outdoor activities.
❄️ Air Conditioning
72%
Weight: 15
Common in accommodations and cafes but not universal; fans often used.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
35%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal changes; primarily wet and dry seasons without temperature variation.
🔊 Noise Pollution
53%
Weight: 10
Can be noisy due to nightlife and tourist activity, especially in central areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
74%
Weight: 20
Rich local culture with festivals, music, and traditional cuisine; strong Pura Vida lifestyle.
🌃 Nightlife
70%
Weight: 15
Active nightlife with bars and clubs, especially during weekends and tourist seasons.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
89%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, surfing, hiking, and wildlife tours.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
63%
Weight: 10
Several Spanish schools and informal language exchange meetups available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
78%
Weight: 10
Wide range of tours including surfing, canopy tours, and wildlife excursions.
🎳 Indoors Fun
55%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; mostly bars and small venues.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
71%
Weight: 25
Good variety of local and international cuisine; seafood is a highlight.
🧠 Yoga Studios
70%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and wellness centers catering to tourists and locals.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
64%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available; outdoor fitness activities popular.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
73%
Weight: 15
Growing availability of organic and health-focused eateries.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
85%
Weight: 20
GMT-6 time zone aligns well with North American business hours.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
62%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events; informal meetups occur sporadically.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
50%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most digital nomads work for foreign companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
55%
Weight: 20
Emerging freelance community but still developing infrastructure.
🏢 Coworking Quality
63%
Weight: 30
Basic coworking spaces with essential amenities; not high-end.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
40%
Weight: 15
Limited startup ecosystem; most activity centered in San José.
💳 Local Payment Services
67%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and card acceptance improving but cash still common.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
52%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but limited mainstream adoption.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
58%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (~1.5 hours away).
🚇 Public Transit
55%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit within Jacó; buses connect to other cities.
🚶 Walkability
70%
Weight: 20
Central Jacó is walkable; outskirts require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
60%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps available but less prevalent than taxis.
🚲 Cycling
65%
Weight: 10
Cycling possible but limited dedicated bike lanes.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
71%
Weight: 15
Regular bus services to major cities; private shuttles common.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
78%
Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals widely available and affordable.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
74%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in town; rural areas less reliable.
🔒 VPN Reliability
80%
Weight: 20
VPN services work well with stable internet connections.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
76%
Weight: 15
Generally stable power supply with occasional outages during storms.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
69%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in cafes and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
75%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa-free entry for many countries; 90-day stay standard.
📊 Tax Friendliness
58%
Weight: 30
Costa Rica has moderate tax rates; no specific digital nomad tax benefits.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
89%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech and press.
🏛️ Political Stability
78%
Weight: 20
Stable democracy with low political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
55%
Weight: 15
Can be bureaucratic and requires local residency or significant documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Process is moderately straightforward but can be slow.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
70%
Weight: 35
Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa with reasonable requirements.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
73%
Weight: 50
Jacó is welcoming to nomads with growing infrastructure and community.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
57%
Weight: 25
Occasional meetups but limited regular events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
64%
Weight: 20
Active but small online groups focused on Jacó and Costa Rica.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
68%
Weight: 100
Generally safe but petty crime can occur, especially in tourist areas.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Safe for women travelers with some caution advised at night.
✊ Racial Tolerance
72%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant society with diverse expat community.