The Global Expat Hub🎥 Drone footage coming soon
Countries / Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Stable democracy, no army, universal healthcare and a national brand built on pura vida.
RegionCentral America
CapitalSan José
CurrencyCosta Rican colón
LanguageSpanish
Expat saturationModerate (10% foreign born)
Living cost · Mid-rangefrom $1,900/mo
Drone reel · 4K · muted loop
▶
🇨🇷 Costa Rica from aboveCosta Rica in 60 secondsAerials of San José, Escazú, Tamarindo. Replace this slot with the video element; the text stays overlaid.
Ad
✎Cedar International Schools
Find the right school in San José.
IB, British and American curricula compared. Free placement help for families moving to Costa Rica.
Compare schools →Free for parents
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
LLumen eSIM
Land in Costa Rica connected.
Install before you fly. 10 GB from $12, no contract, works in 190 countries.
Get 15% off →Code EXPATHUB
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
BBluewater Insurance
Health, home and travel in one policy.
Built for expats in Costa Rica. Cancel any time. Claims paid in 5 days on average.
Get covered →From $62/month
Sample creative · fictional advertiserYour moveSets your plan and the listings on flights, hotels, rentals, furnishings, moving and retirement.
Your plan for Costa Rica checklist · timeline · cost breakdown
Affordable move$9,800estimated first-year setup · about 33 weeksMid-range move$19,550estimated first-year setup · about 28 weeksLuxury move$56,050estimated first-year setup · about 20 weeksRetirement move$28,400estimated setup incl. visa, insurance and advice · about 48 weeks
Estimates for one adult before ongoing rent and living costs; couples and families scale up. Tap a plan for the full breakdown.
Costa Rica by the numbers editorial estimates in US dollars
Worth of the dollar$1 ≈ ₡5001 Costa Rican colón ≈ 0.2000¢ · snapshot, changes daily · Current rate ↗
Utilities · 85 m² flat$90/moElectric, water, sewer & garbage
Home internet$45/moBroadband, typical plan
Wi-Fi & connectivity score66/100Median fixed broadband ≈ 110 Mbps
Internet reliability70/100Usually fine; keep a mobile-data backup
English day-to-dayModerateHow far English gets you
Remote-work time zoneExcellent US overlapExcellent US overlap, hard for EU
Phone & eSIM$20/moLocal plan · travel eSIM ≈ $22/10 GB
Walkability of cities40/100Car-dependent outside a few districts
Air quality78/100Clean nearly everywhere; some traffic pollution in San José
Healthy food & food safety72/100Strong organic and farmers'-market culture; additive rules follow Codex
Severe weather & hazards50/100 riskEarthquakes, active volcanoes, heavy rains and landslides; rarely direct hurricane hits
Drive on theRightLeft-hand-drive cars · Licence & vehicles →
Time zoneCST (UTC−6)CST (UTC−6), no DST; 1 hour behind New York in winter
Literacy98%Adult literacy rate
Cost to give birth(CCSS) free with residencyPublic (CCSS) free with residency / private $3,000–6,000
Rural land$5,000–20,000per acre · $5,000–20,000 rural; beach land $50k+
Beauty of cities86/100Architecture, setting, upkeep and green space
Petrol / fuel$1.35/L≈ $5.11 per US gallon
Doctor visit$60Basic clinic visit, paid privately
Emergency room$300Uninsured visit, before treatment
Dentist$50 / $70Check-up & cleaning / one filling
Life expectancy80 yrsAt birth
Unemployment8%National rate
Remote work & digital nomadsWelcomedDigital Nomad visa 1 year + 1 on $3,000/mo income; foreign income tax-free
🌤️ Climate
Tropical with a dry season Dec–Apr and green season May–Nov. The Central Valley is spring-like year-round; coasts hot.
Winter · Jan19°C66°F
Spring · Apr21°C70°F
Summer · Jul21°C70°F
Autumn · Oct20°C68°F
Mean temperatures for San José.
🌧️ Rain & snow
Rainfall about 2,900 mm (114 in) a year.
Snow None.
⚖️ The law
Official legislationSistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica ↗
OverviewLaw of Costa Rica on Wikipedia ↗
Driving On the right. Licence rules →
🏛️ Taxes
Property tax 0.25% of registered value; luxury-home surtax above ~$250k.
Local & regional income tax None; territorial system.
🎓 University
Public (UCR) near-free for residents; private $4–8k/yr.
📱 Phone & eSIM
Carriers Kölbi, Claro, Liberty.
Average cost Local SIM or eSIM with generous data about $20/month; a 30-day travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Saily and similar) around $22 for 10 GB.
🎁 Schemes to attract expats
- Rentista, Pensionado and Inversionista residencies
- Digital Nomad visa with duty-free equipment import
- Territorial tax on local income only
Figures are national averages for planning, not quotes; big cities run higher. Tax schemes change often and carry conditions. Verify before you rely on them.
Official sources for Costa Rica embassies, warnings, law and reference
US Embassy in Costa Rica↗All embassies and consulates in Costa Rica↗US State Department travel advisory↗UK FCDO travel advice↗Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica↗Law of Costa Rica (Wikipedia)↗Costa Rica on Wikipedia↗Visit Costa Rica (ICT) (official tourism board)↗World Health Organization country profile↗Numbeo cost-of-living data↗
Government, intergovernmental and reference sites only; no reviews or opinion. Links open in a new tab.
Ratings & warnings independent
Visa informationTypes, step-by-step application, where to applyPassport renewalOfficial renewal links and timingLiveability scoreThe rating and what drives itSafety ratingCrime, stability and what the number meansTravel warningsState Department and UN advisories, liveRegional information & cuisineWhere to live and what you'll eatCommunity & meetupsFinding your people
Follows your Mid-range tier partner listings match your budget
FlightsGateways, routes and fares for your research tripHotels & accommodationWhere to stay while you scout, with videoRental propertiesNeighbourhoods, prices and how renting worksFurnishings & home setupFurniture, appliances, utilities and internetMoving & shippingGetting your life across the oceanRetirementVisas, costs and where retirees settle
Services & daily life one labelled partner per page
Airport taxis & transfersOfficial cabs, apps, rail links and faresTransportationGetting around, driving and licencesTrains, buses & ticketsIntercity travel and where to bookSchoolsInternational, bilingual and local optionsChild care & nanniesNurseries, nannies, au pairs and costsUniversitiesDegrees, fees and student visasPets: vets, boarding & relocationBringing animals, finding a vet and careLanguage classesLearning before and after you landBest restaurantsWhere locals and expats actually eatHospitals & healthcare accessHow to see a doctor, hospitals, insuranceBanking & money transferAccounts, transfers and currencyTax & legal helpResidency, treaties and who to hireJobs boardRoles open to foreigners, updated weeklyCoworking & remote workWork rights, spaces and freelancing
Rated & officialPartners in three tiersOne labelled partner
Life in Costa Rica faith, wellbeing, shopping and play
✨
Interested in where astrology says you should live?Click here for more info on astrocartography and Costa Rica.
Click here →🕊️ Religious servicesChurches, mosques, synagogues, temples and more🧘 Wellness & spiritualityYoga, retreats, meditation, spas and practitioners🛍️ Retail recommendationsWhere to shop for clothes, tech, homeware and gifts🧺 Groceries & marketsSupermarkets, local markets and what things cost🥾 Recreation & tour guidesOutdoors, sport, day trips and licensed guides📱 Phone & eSIMCarriers, eSIMs, plans and what they cost⛴️ Boats & ferriesFerry routes, marinas, boat rental and ownership🏖️ Beaches, lakes & riversSwimming, water quality and the best spots🚗 Vehicles & driving licenceRent or buy a car, and how to get a local licence🖼️ Art galleries, museums & librariesWhat's free, what costs, and where to start Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning around
Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning aroundJobs board · Costa Rica
Search for jobs for free, or post a job for $100 USD.
Roles open to foreigners in Costa Rica: remote work you can do from San José, and in-person jobs with employers who hire from abroad. Free for job seekers, always. Employers pay a flat $100 per listing, live for 60 days.
Latest listings. Example listings shown until the first real posts go live.
Example · Senior Software Engineer (React / Node)Northwind Labs · Remote, US or EU hours
$95,000–130,000USD
Example · English Teacher (adults & business)International Language Centre · San José · in person
₡1,100,000–₡1,600,000/moCRC