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Jacó, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
#1908
,
Nomad Score:
68%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to major cities; living costs are reasonable but higher than rural Costa Rica.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are mid-range; beachfront and popular areas command higher prices.
🍎 Food & Groceries
75%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer affordable fresh produce; imported goods and dining out can be pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public buses and local taxis are inexpensive; fuel costs moderate.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
68%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are available but can be somewhat pricey in tourist areas.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
60%
Weight: 10
Gyms exist but are limited; membership fees are moderate.
💱 Currency Stability
79%
Weight: 30
Costa Rican colón is relatively stable with low inflation.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
67%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 20-50 Mbps; occasional outages in peak times.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
54%
Weight: 40
Few coworking spaces, mostly small and basic; growing but limited options.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
72%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, though connection quality varies.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
65%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to nomads with power outlets and decent WiFi.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
58%
Weight: 100
Emerging destination for nomads but less popular than larger cities.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
84%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with good balance between work and leisure.
🌳 Environmental Quality
87%
Weight: 15
Clean beaches and natural surroundings with good environmental standards.
🧼 Cleanliness
70%
Weight: 10
Generally clean but some areas affected by tourist traffic.
🗨️ Language Barrier
55%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English spoken in tourist areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
89%
Weight: 15
Good air quality due to coastal location and low industrial activity.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Limited family-oriented activities; more suited for singles and couples.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
73%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare facilities available; for advanced care, travel to San José recommended.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
81%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable; private care more expensive but still reasonable.
🏥 Healthcare
75%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; serious conditions require travel to larger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
88%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; wet season May-November.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
62%
Weight: 10
Low earthquake risk; occasional heavy rains and flooding during wet season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
85%
Weight: 10
Abundant natural parks, beaches, and forested areas nearby.
❄️ Air Conditioning
60%
Weight: 15
Not widespread; many places rely on fans and natural ventilation.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; tropical climate with wet and dry seasons.
🔊 Noise Pollution
55%
Weight: 10
Tourist areas can be noisy, especially during high season and weekends.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
76%
Weight: 20
Rich local culture with festivals, music, and traditional cuisine.
🌃 Nightlife
61%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly bars and beach parties.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
93%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, surfing, hiking, and wildlife.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
64%
Weight: 10
Several Spanish schools and informal language exchange opportunities.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
80%
Weight: 10
Good variety of tours including surfing, wildlife, and cultural experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
50%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; focus is on outdoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
74%
Weight: 25
Good mix of local and international cuisine; seafood is a highlight.
🧠 Yoga Studios
67%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and wellness centers available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
60%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and outdoor fitness options; limited variety.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
78%
Weight: 15
Fresh fruits, vegetables, and organic options widely available.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
83%
Weight: 20
GMT-6, convenient for North and South American time zones.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
55%
Weight: 25
Small but growing community; limited formal networking events.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
48%
Weight: 20
Local job market limited; mostly reliant on remote work from abroad.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50%
Weight: 20
Emerging freelance community but still small and informal.
🏢 Coworking Quality
52%
Weight: 30
Basic facilities; lacking advanced amenities and professional environment.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
40%
Weight: 15
Very limited startup ecosystem in Jacó itself.
💳 Local Payment Services
65%
Weight: 10
Cash and card payments common; mobile payment adoption growing.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
43%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption; some interest but infrastructure lacking.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
57%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (~1.5 hours away).
🚇 Public Transit
58%
Weight: 20
Local buses available but infrequent; no metro or train services.
🚶 Walkability
69%
Weight: 20
Central Jacó is walkable; outskirts require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
60%
Weight: 15
Limited presence of Uber and local ride-sharing apps.
🚲 Cycling
55%
Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but limited dedicated infrastructure.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
62%
Weight: 15
Buses connect to other cities; private shuttles available.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
71%
Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals are common and affordable.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
78%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout Jacó and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
80%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with minimal restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
70%
Weight: 15
Occasional outages during storms but generally stable.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
63%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi limited mostly to cafes and hotels.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
75%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa easy to obtain; 90 days allowed without extension.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Costa Rica has moderate tax rates; no special digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
89%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech.
🏛️ Political Stability
82%
Weight: 20
Stable democratic government with low corruption.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
55%
Weight: 15
Process can be bureaucratic and requires local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
58%
Weight: 10
Moderate complexity; not very streamlined for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
60%
Weight: 35
Costa Rica introduced a digital nomad visa but with some restrictions.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
67%
Weight: 50
Growing awareness and infrastructure but still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
50%
Weight: 25
Occasional meetups; no large-scale regular events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
62%
Weight: 20
Small but active online groups focused on Jacó and Costa Rica.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Generally safe but petty crime can occur in tourist areas.
♀️ Female Friendly
73%
Weight: 50
Safe for women travelers; respectful local culture.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Moderate racial tolerance; diverse but some social challenges.