Tamarindo is the most expensive of Costa Rica's 4 priced cities — $1,675 a month in essentials, 118% above Puntarenas at $768. The average net salary of $938 covers that 0.6×. 124.9 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at distrito level. PM2.5 averages 7.1 µg/m³ a year, 1× the WHO guideline of 5. Oct averages 27°C, Apr 29°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $950 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $1,924 |
| Groceries | $235 |
| Dining out | $247 |
| Utilities | $157 |
| Local transport | $86 |
| Essentials / mo | $1,675 |
| Avg net salary | $938 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $1,380 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $2,711 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Tamarindo, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $11.54 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $49.46 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $11.38 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $4.30 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $3.30 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $4.40 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $2.37 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $1.84 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $2.36 |
| White bread, 500 g | $3.07 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $2.42 |
| Eggs, 12 | $3.41 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $10.70 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $10.08 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $5.13 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $1.72 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $3.98 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $2.60 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $3.68 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $3.17 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $2.09 |
| Monthly transit pass | $85.73 |
| Taxi start | $2.44 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $1.59 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.50 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $98.31 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $58.70 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $30.19 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $102.32 |
| Cinema, one seat | $7.69 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Tamarindo has 124.9 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (distrito level). That is the highest of the 10 Costa Rica cities we track. Costa Rica's national figure is 102.9, so Tamarindo runs 22 above the country as a whole.
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27.7°C | 29.6°C | 66% | 28% | 3 mm |
| Feb | 28.1°C | 29.7°C | 62% | 22% | 1 mm |
| Mar | 28.8°C | 30.9°C | 61% | 31% | 6 mm |
| Apr | 29°C | 32.8°C | 67% | 56% | 48 mm |
| May | 28.2°C | 33.3°C | 78% | 81% | 264 mm |
| Jun | 27.3°C | 32.6°C | 84% | 88% | 341 mm |
| Jul | 27.5°C | 32.4°C | 81% | 83% | 200 mm |
| Aug | 27.3°C | 32.5°C | 83% | 85% | 283 mm |
| Sep | 26.9°C | 32.4°C | 85% | 86% | 307 mm |
| Oct | 26.7°C | 32°C | 86% | 85% | 368 mm |
| Nov | 26.7°C | 31.3°C | 83% | 72% | 180 mm |
| Dec | 27.3°C | 30.4°C | 73% | 35% | 25 mm |
Need the full Costa Rica model?
Open the gated deep-dive for city shortlist, cost detail, weather, visa, tax, dating-market signals, and subregion rankings.
Unlock Costa Rica deep-dive