KingstonvsSan José
📶
San José has 2x faster internet
80 Mbps avg download speed
🌡️
Tropical Wet vs Tropical Monsoon climate
Different weather patterns year-round
🛂
Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa
Long-stay visa for remote workers
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Kingston
San José
Total Budget
$1,800/mo
$1,700/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$650/mo ✓
$670/mo
Coworking
$200/mo
$175/mo ✓
Meal Out
$5 ✓
$6
Coffee
$3.5
$3 ✓
San José is $100/mo cheaper (6% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🌍 Kingston
📶 Internet35 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC-5
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West8h
🇺🇸 US East8h
🇬🇧 London6h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🇨🇷 San José
📶 Internet80 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC-6
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West8h
🇺🇸 US East8h
🇬🇧 London5h
🇩🇪 Berlin4h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Kingston
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp26°C
Rainy Days229/year
Best months: January, February
San José
ClimateTropical Monsoon
Avg Temp20°C
Rainy Days231/year
Best months: February, January, March, April
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
24°20°
Apr
25°21°
Jul
27°21°
Oct
26°19°
KingstonSan José
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🌍Kingston
🇨🇷San José
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,800
$1,700
📶
Internet Speed
35 Mbps
80 Mbps
Winner🛡️
Safety
2.8/5
3.2/5
Winner⭐
Nomad Score
3.6/10
3.8/10
🍽️
Food Scene
8/10
8/10
🎉
Nightlife
7/10
7/10
🚶
Walkability
5/10
6/10
👥
Community
small
large
Winner0
Kingston wins
vs
3
San José wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Either works
Similar costs - choose based on other factors
💻Developer
San José
80 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
San José
Larger nomad community for networking
🛡️Safety-First
San José
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🌍Kingston
Pros
- +Birthplace of reggae music and rich cultural heritage
- +English-speaking country with friendly locals
- +Famous Blue Mountain coffee experiences
- +Vibrant nightlife and live music scene
Cons
- −Safety concerns in certain downtown areas
- −Limited coworking space options compared to major cities
- −Internet reliability can be inconsistent
- −High crime rates in specific neighborhoods
🇨🇷San José
Pros
- +Gateway to Costa Rica's natural wonders
- +Digital nomad visa available since 2022
- +Excellent healthcare system
- +Year-round spring-like weather
Cons
- −Higher cost than other LATAM cities
- −Traffic congestion is severe
- −Downtown safety concerns at night
- −No beach or surf in city
