Everything You Need to Know About the Kosatka Submarine in GTA Online

Kosatka quick facts

Why the Kosatka is worth buying

There are exactly three reasons to own a Kosatka, and one of them towers over the other two.

Reason one: the Cayo Perico Heist. The Kosatka is the required base for the whole operation, from the planning screen in the sub to the finale. It's solo-able, and it's still the best solo money method in GTA Online: a typical repeat run nets roughly GTA$ 600,000 to GTA$ 680,000 once you add secondary loot, and a rare high-value target like the Pink Diamond can still push past GTA$ 1,000,000. Our full Cayo Perico walkthrough covers the complete run and payout math, and the Part 1 intel guide walks you through scoping the island properly.

Reason two: Daily Hidden Caches. Ten packages hide underwater around San Andreas every day at GTA$ 10,000 each, so GTA$ 100,000 per day plus RP. You need the Sonar Station upgrade to actually see them on the map (grabbing them blind is technically possible, practically hopeless). Our hidden caches route guide gets you all ten in under 20 minutes.

Reason three: Daily Treasure Chests. Two chests spawn on Cayo Perico each day, one on land and one underwater, worth GTA$ 25,000 each. You find them while scoping the island, no Sonar required. The treasure chests guide shows you where to look.

But let's be honest: the heist is the draw. Here's what the primary targets alone are worth after the July 2026 payout update, before any secondary loot:

The Tequila, Ruby Necklace, and Bearer Bonds are the common targets, the Pink Diamond is a rarer, higher-value roll of the same dice, and the Panther Statue only appears during certain in-game special events. Hard mode pays 10% more across the board. Stack secondary loot (gold, cash, cocaine, weed, paintings) on top and a typical solo run lands in that GTA$ 600,000 to GTA$ 680,000 range, with the Pink Diamond as the occasional jackpot.

How to unlock and buy the Kosatka

You can't just open Warstock and buy the sub. There's a short unlock chain first:

1. Take the phone call you receive after the Cayo Perico update is installed.

2. Head to The Music Locker, the nightclub underneath the Diamond Casino & Resort.

3. Pay the admission fee: GTA$ 150, or roughly GTA$ 25 if you show up in high-end clothes. Either way, it's pocket change.

4. Find Miguel Madrazo inside, marked with an M on your map, and watch the cutscene.

5. Open Warstock Cache & Carry on your phone. The Kosatka is now listed at GTA$ 2,200,000.

That's it. Once the cutscene plays, the sub is yours to buy whenever you have the cash.

Kosatka upgrades and costs

The base sub does the heist just fine. The add-ons range from essential quality-of-life to expensive toys, and they push the total from GTA$ 2,200,000 to GTA$ 9,085,000 if you buy everything (you shouldn't).

Which Kosatka upgrades are worth it?

Here's the priority order, and it's not close.

Buy the Sparrow first. People assume it's just a helicopter parked in the moon pool, and that undersells it badly. Once you own it, you can request the Sparrow from the Interaction Menu and it spawns right next to you almost anywhere on the map, exactly like a CEO/VIP helicopter, with just a 2-minute cooldown after you store or lose it. It's small, fast, and can be fitted with guns or missiles. That turns Cayo prep missions (and honestly all of freemode travel) dramatically faster. If you buy one add-on beyond Sonar, this is it. This is the best Kosatka upgrade for solo grinders, full stop.

Sonar Station second. GTA$ 1,200,000 unlocks the ten daily hidden caches, which is GTA$ 100,000 per day of near-passive pickup money. If you'll actually farm the caches, it pays for itself in under two weeks of casual play.

Weapon Workshop: situational, but cheap. At GTA$ 350,000 it lets you modify Mk II weapons and buy special ammo on board, which is handy if you run the loud or combat approach to the heist. Skip it if you're a stealth player.

Skip the rest. Guided Missiles cost GTA$ 1,900,000 for a freemode PvP toy that earns you nothing. The GTA$ 75,000 color is purely cosmetic (the flag is free, at least). The Kraken Avisa is nice but not essential; more on it below.

The recommended build for most players: Kosatka + Sparrow + Sonar Station, roughly GTA$ 5,215,000 all in. Add the Weapon Workshop if you go loud. The full GTA$ 9,085,000 loadout is overkill. And remember you can add upgrades later, so if money is tight, buy the base sub now, run Cayo a few times, and upgrade with the proceeds.

The Sparrow, Kraken Avisa, and getting to your sub

The Kosatka's moon pool holds two optional vehicles. The Sparrow is the do-everything pick: a tiny weaponizable helicopter that launches straight out of the sub and, more importantly, can be requested next to you anywhere in freemode. The Kraken Avisa is a fast personal mini-submarine that also carries Sonar, which makes it pleasant for underwater collectible runs, but it's a nice-to-have rather than a need.

You also get a free Dinghy with the sub, so you're never stranded on shore. To get everything in position:

1. Open the Interaction Menu > Services > Kosatka > Request Kosatka to call the sub in.

2. Request the Dinghy (or a moon-pool vehicle) to ride out to it.

3. If the Kosatka is destroyed, just re-request it from Pavel, your onboard captain, with no cooldown.

One defensive note: the Kosatka is a weak combat vessel (around 21 homing missiles will sink it), but it stays hidden off-radar while submerged. In a hostile lobby, keep it underwater and away from trouble.

Kosatka FAQ

Is the Kosatka worth it?

Yes, if you'll run the Cayo Perico Heist. It's the required base for the best solo earner in the game and pays for itself within a couple of runs. If you won't touch the heist, skip it.

Which Kosatka upgrades should I buy first?

The Sparrow (GTA$ 1,815,000) first for its call-in-anywhere convenience, then the Sonar Station (GTA$ 1,200,000) to unlock the daily hidden caches.

Do I need the Sonar Station?

Only if you want the GTA$ 100,000 per day from hidden caches; without it you can't realistically find them. It's not needed for the heist itself.

Do you need the Kosatka to do the Cayo Perico Heist?

Yes. The Kosatka is the mandatory base for the heist, from planning through the finale. There's no other way to start it.

How much does the Kosatka cost fully upgraded?

GTA$ 9,085,000 with every option, but you shouldn't buy everything. The recommended Kosatka + Sparrow + Sonar Station build runs about GTA$ 5,215,000.

Can you sell the Kosatka?

No. Like other HQ-style special vehicles, it has no sell-back option, so treat it as a permanent purchase.

Is the Sparrow worth it?

Yes, it's the best-value add-on. It spawns next to you almost anywhere like a CEO/VIP helicopter (2-minute cooldown) and speeds up Cayo preps and general map travel enormously.