black and yellow bird standing on tree branch

Latin America & Caribbean

Costa Rica

Moderate cost
Warm climate
High income

Quick highlights

  • Capital: San Jose
  • Income level: High income
  • Currency: CRC
Cost band
Moderate
Climate
Warm
Languages
Spanish
English official
No

Country ranking

6 / 106.2

Cost of living & financial considerations

Good value in San Jose and Central Valley with careful area choice. Tourist pricing in hotspots.

Estimated monthly total

$1,660-$2,430

/ month

Housing (capital, 1BR)

$1,200/month

San José expat corridors priced up

Housing (countryside, 1BR)

$800/month

Central Valley towns cheaper with space

Food (home cooking)

$330/month

High food prices vs region | imports

Food (eating out)

$700/month

Soda meals ok but coffee adds up

Healthcare

$250/month

Private insurance + clinics mid-high

Transport

$110/month

Buses plus occasional Uber

Utilities + internet

$170/month

Electricity greener but not cheap

Financial overall
Sources: WB | IMF
7 / 107
Good value in San Jose and Central Valley with careful area choice. Tourist pricing in hotspots.
Financial: Tax
Sources: OECD | WB
6 / 106
Tax residency triggers can surprise long stay retirees.
Financial: Prices & housing
Sources: Numbeo | WB
7 / 107
Great value in select cities but safety spending adds cost.
Financial: Banking
Sources: WB Findex
6 / 106
Banking is modern yet onboarding and fees can frustrate.
Financial: Monthly budget
Sources: Numbeo
7 / 107
Budget depends heavily on neighborhood and security needs.

Healthcare access & quality

Best private care is in San Jose and Central Valley. Outside hubs provider depth drops.

Healthcare overall
Sources: WHO | OECD
6 / 106
Best private care is in San Jose and Central Valley. Outside hubs provider depth drops.
Healthcare: Infrastructure
Sources: WHO
6 / 106
Hospitals strongest in major cities.
Healthcare: Insurance
Sources: WHO | OECD
5 / 105
Public coverage varies and private plans fill gaps.
Healthcare: Services & meds
Sources: WHO
6 / 106
Common meds available but some imports cost more.
Healthcare: Wait times
Sources: OECD
5 / 105
Private appointments faster than public waits.

Safety & stability

Safety in San Jose and Central Valley varies by area. Tourist pricing in hotspots.

Safety overall
Sources: WB WGI | UNODC
5 / 105
Safety in San Jose and Central Valley varies by area. Tourist pricing in hotspots.
Safety: Policies
Sources: WB WGI
5 / 105
Enforcement strongest in central districts.
Safety: Crime prevention
Sources: UNODC
5 / 105
Petty theft risk depends on neighborhood.
Safety: Legal framework
Sources: WB WGI
5 / 105
Rule of law is workable but slow processes exist.
Safety: Emergency prep
Sources: UNDRR
5 / 105
Emergency response best in cities and hazards need planning.

Climate & environment

Climate comfort is a daily driver. Tourist pricing in hotspots.

Climate overall
Sources: WHO | UNEP
7 / 107
Climate comfort is a daily driver. Tourist pricing in hotspots.
Climate: Weather comfort
Sources: NOAA
7 / 107
Seasonality and humidity shape comfort.
Climate: Air & water
Sources: WHO
8 / 108
Air quality can affect daily routines.
Climate: Nature & greenspace
Sources: UNEP
6 / 106
Nature access is best near coasts mountains or parks.
Climate: Environmental policy
Sources: OECD | UNEP
5 / 105
Environmental enforcement varies by region.

Social & community infrastructure

Expat networks concentrate in San Jose and Central Valley. Tourist pricing in hotspots.

Social overall
Sources: UNDP
7 / 107
Expat networks concentrate in San Jose and Central Valley. Tourist pricing in hotspots.
Social: Networks
Sources: UNDP
7 / 107
Social life easiest in expat districts.
Social: Clubs
Sources: UNDP
6 / 106
Clubs and meetups mostly in large cities.
Social: Language help
Sources: UNDP
6 / 106
Translation help exists but local language helps most.
Social: Amenities
Sources: UNDP
6 / 106
Recreation strongest in hubs and tourist regions.
Social: Food
Sources: UNDP
7 / 107
Dining variety best in major cities.
Social: Entertainment
Sources: UNDP
6 / 106
Entertainment options scale with city size.

Infrastructure & logistics

Connectivity and services strongest in San Jose and Central Valley. Tourist pricing in hotspots.

Infrastructure overall
Sources: WB | ITU
6 / 106
Connectivity and services strongest in San Jose and Central Valley. Tourist pricing in hotspots.
Infrastructure: Transit
Sources: WB
6 / 106
Public transport best in big cities.
Infrastructure: Roads
Sources: WB
6 / 106
Road quality varies by region.
Infrastructure: Mobility mix
Sources: WB
7 / 107
Rideshare helps in cities while cars help outside.
Infrastructure: Internet
Sources: ITU
7 / 107
Broadband and mobile quality best in urban areas.
Infrastructure: Housing quality
Sources: UN Habitat
6 / 106
Housing quality varies by building age and location.
Infrastructure: Utilities
Sources: WB
5 / 105
Utilities reliability varies and outages can happen.

Legal & administrative ease

Residency planning matters for long stays. Tourist pricing in hotspots.

Legal overall
Sources: WB | OECD
6 / 106
Residency planning matters for long stays. Tourist pricing in hotspots.
Legal: Visa/residency
Sources: IOM
6 / 106
Visa rules can change and proof of income matters.
Legal: Documentation
Sources: WB
6 / 106
Notarization and translations are common steps.
Legal: Estate/inheritance
Sources: OECD
6 / 106
Estate planning needs local advice for foreigners.
Legal: Admin procedures
Sources: WB
6 / 106
Administrative processes can be slow and in person.
Legal: Bureaucracy
Sources: WB
5 / 105
Paperwork friction is a regular complaint.