Long-Term & Monthly Rentals in Jacó, Costa Rica
Renting in Jacó for a month or longer works differently from booking a short Airbnb stay. Prices are quoted monthly instead of nightly, utilities like electricity and water are often billed separately, deposits come into play, and the longer you stay, the more the arrangement starts to look like housing rather than a vacation: contracts, furnishings, flexibility and lease expectations all start to matter.
This guide covers what monthly rentals in Jacó actually cost, what is usually included, how deposits work, and what to watch out for. We own a furnished 2-bedroom condo at Viva Jaco that we rent by the month, so along the way we'll use it as a concrete example — and it is one available option if the numbers work for you.
What Does a Monthly Rental Cost in Jacó?
There is no official price index for monthly rentals in Jacó, so treat any numbers you read online — including ours — as orientation, not fact. From renting here ourselves and watching local listings, this is roughly where furnished monthly rentals tend to land:
| Unit type | Observed monthly range |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | Around $800 and up per month |
| 2 bedrooms | Around $1,300–$2,500 per month |
| 3 bedrooms | Around $1,500–$3,000 per month |
Approximate ranges we have personally observed, not a market index.
What moves the price up or down
- Season — high season (roughly December–May) typically costs more than green season
- Age and condition of the building and the unit
- Whether it comes furnished, and how well
- Location within Jacó and walkability to daily errands
- Building amenities such as pools, gym or coworking
- Distance to the beach
- Length of stay — some owners may price longer commitments differently, depending on the property and rental terms
- Which utilities, if any, are included in the rent
One Month vs Several Months
One month mostly works like vacation-rental economics: you pay a bit more per month in exchange for flexibility, everything furnished and ready, and no long paperwork. Many owners we have encountered (including us) treat a single month as the shortest "long-term" stay.
Several months brings more moving parts: expect a deposit, get a written agreement, and get clear on which utilities you pay and how they are measured.
Six months or longer starts to look like housing. Terms tend to get more formal, and a written contract that spells out rent, deposit, utilities and notice periods protects both sides.
As an example of how one owner handles this — for our condo specifically, not a universal Jacó rule — the deposit for stays under six months is 50% of one month's rent, and for six months or longer it is one month's rent. We do not offer an automatic long-stay discount — the seasonal rate applies to every month of the stay. Our minimum monthly stay is 1 month; anything shorter is booked by the night — just ask us on WhatsApp.
Still comparing towns before committing to Jacó at all? See our comparison: Jacó vs Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa for a month.
What Is Usually Included?
A common surprise for people moving from nightly rentals to monthly rentals: electricity and water should not be assumed to be included in a long-term rental. Short stays usually bundle everything; monthly and longer stays often bill utilities separately, because usage varies so much between tenants. Always ask for the exact list before agreeing on a price.
Included in our condo's rent
- Fully furnished condo
- Internet (150 Mbps symmetrical)
- Cable TV
- HOA/building amenities
- Parking
Billed separately
- Electricity — in our experience roughly $120/month with normal AC use
- Water
- Cleaning — $60 per cleaning through the current Casago service
Electricity Matters
Electricity is the utility that surprises people, and air conditioning is why. Jacó is hot and humid year-round, and how you run the AC materially changes the bill.
In our condo, we have seen roughly $120/month with normal AC use — cooling the bedrooms at night and the living area during the hottest hours — and closer to $200/month when short-term guests run the AC heavily throughout the day. These are our own bills for our own unit, not Jacó-wide averages; a bigger unit, older AC units or different habits will produce different numbers.
If you want the full picture of what we actually pay to live in Jacó — real utility bills, we break it down line by line.
Deposits and Fake Rentals
As owners, we have seen fake listings for properties in our own area — people collecting deposits for units they may not control at all. This is not unique to Jacó; it happens anywhere renters commit money remotely before seeing a place. But because monthly rentals involve deposits, it is worth taking seriously.
A few habits that protect you:
- Verify the property exists. Video calls from inside the unit, current photos on request, or a visit if you are already in the country.
- Verify the person's connection to it. Are they the owner or a manager the owner authorized? Ask for something that ties them to the unit.
- Use a contract for longer arrangements. A simple written agreement covering rent, deposit, utilities and notice protects both sides.
- Understand what the deposit secures — damages, unpaid utilities, early departure — and when and how you get it back.
- Be cautious about urgency. "Someone else wants it, pay today" is a common pressure tactic. Legitimate owners can wait a day for you to verify.
What Matters in a Jacó Location for a Month
For a week, you optimize for the view. For a month, you optimize for daily life. A view matters less on day 25 if every daily errand requires a drive.
When comparing locations in Jacó for a monthly stay, prioritize:
- Walking distance to groceries and a pharmacy
- Restaurants and cafés you would actually use weekly
- Distance to the beach on foot
- General walkability of the immediate streets
- Reliable internet — verify the speed, not the promise
- Noise: bars, traffic and construction sound different at 2 a.m.
- Parking, if you have or plan to rent a car
- Access to transportation for trips out of town
Central Jacó scores well on almost all of these, which is a big part of why we bought where we did.
Our Monthly Rental at Viva Jaco
A furnished 89 m² 2-bedroom condo in the Viva Jaco building, about a 5-minute walk to Jacó Beach.
The condo
- 89 m², 2 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms
- Fully furnished
- Ocean view and balcony
- Internet: 150 Mbps symmetrical
- Full kitchen
- Washer and dryer
- 3 pools, gym and coworking area in the building
- Parking included
- About a 5-minute walk to Jacó Beach
Building amenities include 3 pools (22 m lap pool, family pool and kids pool), a gym, a coworking area, BBQ areas and gated security.
Check Current Monthly Availability
Monthly availability changes throughout the year.
Deposit: 50% of one month's rent for stays under six months; one month's rent for six months or longer.
Minimum stay: 1 month. Electricity, water and cleaning ($60 per cleaning) are billed separately.
Want every detail — all the photos and the full amenity list? See the full Viva Jaco condo page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are monthly rentals available in Jacó?
Yes. Jacó has furnished condos, apartments and houses offered by the month, including our own 2BR condo at Viva Jaco. In our experience, availability tightens in high season (December–May), so it helps to ask early.
How much does a 2-bedroom monthly rental typically cost?
In our experience, furnished 2-bedroom units in Jacó tend to land somewhere around $1,300–$2,500 per month depending on season, condition, location and what is included. These are approximate ranges we have personally observed, not a market index.
Is electricity included in monthly rentals?
Usually not — assume electricity is billed separately unless the listing clearly says otherwise. In our condo it is separate: we have seen roughly $120/month with normal AC use and closer to $200/month when guests run the AC heavily.
Is water included?
In our condo, water is billed separately. With normal use we have seen roughly $30–40/month. As with electricity, do not assume water is included in a long-term rental — ask.
Can you live in Jacó without a car?
In central Jacó, yes — for daily errands. From our location, groceries, pharmacies, restaurants and the beach are all reachable on foot. A car helps for weekend trips, but it is not required for day-to-day life in the center of town.
What deposit is required for this condo?
For stays under six months, the deposit is 50% of one month's rent. For stays of six months or longer, it is one month's rent.
Can I rent for six months or longer?
Yes. For stays of six months or longer the deposit becomes one month's rent. There is no automatic long-stay discount.
How do I avoid fake rental listings?
Verify the property exists, verify that the person you are dealing with actually controls it, use a written contract for longer arrangements, understand exactly what your deposit secures, and be cautious with anyone pressuring you to pay quickly before you can verify anything.
Thinking About a Month in Jacó?
Send us your dates and we'll tell you straight whether the condo is available and what it will actually cost — rent, utilities and all.
Message Us on WhatsAppNew here? Start at the Jacó Beach Stay home page for the full story of the condo.