Costa Rica

"Vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz" ("Work and peace forever")

overview

Welcome to Costa Rica

Costa Rica, famous for its biodiversity and eco-friendly initiatives, is a haven for nature lovers. With a stable democracy and a strong economy based on tourism and agriculture, it attracts expats seeking sustainability and quality of life.

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Costa Rica Essentials

Himno nacional

Noble patria, tu hermosa bandera

Día de la Independencia

15 de septiembre de 1821

Haiko

Pura vida / Las selvas rebosan de vida salvaje / Los volcanes dormitan

Interesting Tradition

Celebrates Fiesta de los Diablitos a festival reenacting the fight between indigenous people and Spanish conquistadors

Weirdest Local Superstition

Poner una escoba detrás de la puerta para que los invitados se vayan

Strangest Law Still on the Books

Ilegal nombrar una empresa en un idioma extranjero

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Come for the history, stay for the future

Come for the pura vida, stay for the progress: Costa Rica's commitment to sustainable living has created an extraordinary blend of environmental consciousness and modern development. Life flows between morning surf sessions and afternoon work meetings, while evenings are spent in hilltop cafes overlooking the Pacific. The nation's political stability and growing tech presence, combined with friendly residency policies, make it an ideal destination for those seeking to balance professional ambitions with environmental mindfulness.

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Vamos

Embrace a country where 'pura vida' isn't just a greeting, but the essence of daily life. Your journey flows between oceans of opportunity.

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Bienvenidos a Costa Rica

Famosa por su biodiversidad, Costa Rica es el país con más especies de mariposas.

Costa Rica isn't just a country—it's a celebration of life's simple pleasures. Here, time moves at the pace of 'pura vida,' and even a simple nature walk can turn into an encounter with extraordinary wildlife. This is a land where happiness and sustainability dance together.

From the cloud forests of Monteverde to the surf breaks of Guanacaste, Costa Rica offers paradise for every nature lover. Whether you're drawn to the volcanic wonders of Arenal, the biodiversity of Corcovado, or the beach life of Manuel Antonio, you'll find a country that has perfected the balance between development and natural preservation.

Estadísticas

Savor the Flavor

Eat

gallo pinto (rice and beans) - chifrijo (rice beans and pork)

Drink

agua dulce (sugar cane drink) - guaro (sugar cane liquor)

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Algo de tomar?

Beer

Annual consumption (liters per capita)

38

Wine

Annual consumption (liters per capita)

4

Coffee

Annual consumption (liters per capita)

4.22

Tea

Annual consumption (liters per capita)

0.20

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Cultural Tips and Etiquette

#1
Pura Vida' attitude affects all interactions
#2
Environmental consciousness is expected
#3
Coffee farm heritage is respected
#4
Indigenous crafts have deep meaning
#5
Soccer enthusiasm unites communities

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Costa Rica Essentials

Representative Novel

The Presidents by Daniel Gallegos (Play capturing Costa Rican political history)

National Animal

The sloth

National Pasttime

Fútbol

Recuerdo nacional

Café en grano

Plato nacional

Gallo pinto

Festival Famosos

Festival Envision

Danza famosa

Swing Criollo

Música famosa

Calypso

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Did You Know?

Costa Rica no tiene ejército permanente.

‍Desde1949, Costa Rica abolió su ejército y destinó esos fondos a educación, sanidad y protección del medio ambiente.

Costa Rica es líder en energías renovables.

‍Másdel 99% de la electricidad del país procede de fuentes renovables como la energía hidráulica, geotérmica y eólica.

Costa Rica alberga el 5% de la biodiversidad mundial.

A pesarde su pequeño tamaño, Costa Rica alberga una gran variedad de especies animales y vegetales, lo que la convierte en un paraíso para los amantes de la naturaleza.

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Costa Rica’s Key Historical Events

1,821

Abril de 2014

Costa Rica declares independence from Spain and joins the Mexican Empire.

1838

Julio de 2014

Costa Rica becomes a fully independent country.

1948

Febrero de 2015

More than 2,000 people are killed in a 44-day civil war after former president Calderon refuses to accept an election loss.

1987

Marzo de 2015

President Oscar Arias Sanchez wins the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending civil wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua.

2015

Octubre de 2016

Costa Rica wins a long-standing territorial dispute with Nicaragua over sovereignty of Isla Portillo.

MOBILITY

Access Costa Rica Residency Rights on the GlobalPassport™ Platform 

NO. OF Mobility Assets

3

MOBILITY

Citizenship Pathways and
Residency Requirements

Citizenship by Birth
Citizenship by DESCENT
Citizenship by MARRIAGE
2 years
DUAL Citizenship
RESIDENCY BY Naturalization
7
PASSPORT VALIDITY
10 years

MOBILITY

Passport Power

Visa Free Countries

129

Performance Class

Global Contender

Pasaporte Grado

B

Rango

62

Score

138.0

This visa grants access to:

• 33% of the world's population 

• 72% of UNESCO sites 

• 42% of global GDP 

• 43% of the world's land area 

MOBILITY

Acceso sin visado a:

MOBILITY

Number of American Emigrants to Costa Rica by Year 

Year
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Costa Rica
1,187
1,068
835
1,221
1,606
1,616
1,519

MOBILITY

Compare My Passport

Select up to 3 Mobility Assets
Activo de movilidad
Approval Time (est.)
Appointment Availability
Term (i.e. duration)
Minimum Investment
Requisito de presencia física
Coste de la vida
English Usage
Quality of Life
Healthcare Ranking
Passport Power
Visa-free Country Access
Number of American Expats
More Details

Rankings

Costa Rica's Global Rankings 

Costa Rica shines with exceptional climate quality (#7) and very high happiness (#12). Our analysis highlights its attractive combination of moderate living costs (#33) and strong healthcare access (#30).

Exceptional performance
Standard performance
Needs Improvement
Rankings are based on 2023-2024 Global Indices and Assessments from recognized international organizations. Updated quarterly to reflect the most recent available data
33
Coste de la vida
2024
Moderado
50
Quality of Life
2024
Comfortable
58
Safety
2024
Medio
12
Happiness
2024
Very High
90
Tax Burden
2024
Light Load
38
English Proficiency
2023
Moderate Proficiency
29
Rule of Law
2024
Strong
30
Healthcare System
2024
Well-Accessible
7
Pleasant Climate
2024
Very Pleasant

Healthcare

Healthcare Overview

Key Health Indicators

Edad media

34.1

years

Life Expectancy

80.2

years

Obesity Rate

28.60%

Tobacco Use

14.30%

Sources

Health care Indicators

Health Expenditure

7.57%

of GDP

Hospital Beds

1.14

per 1000 people

Doctors

2.718

per 1000 people

Out-of-pocket

20.74%

of total expenditure

Sources

Healthcare

Did you Know?

Universal Healthcare System

Costa Rica offers a universal healthcare system known as 'Caja,' providing low-cost healthcare to citizens, residents, and expatriates.

Private Healthcare Options

In addition to its public system, Costa Rica has an advanced private healthcare sector with hospitals offering world-class medical services.

Medical Tourism Leader

Costa Rica is a global leader in medical tourism, attracting thousands of international patients each year for affordable and high-quality care.

Preventive Care Focus

Costa Rica places a strong emphasis on preventive healthcare, ensuring regular check-ups and vaccinations are available to all residents.

Healthcare for Expats

Expatriates in Costa Rica are eligible for both the public Caja system and private healthcare, ensuring comprehensive coverage options.

Healthcare

United Healthcare Coverage Service Index (2000 - 2021)

Healthcare

Healthcare Cost Calculator

cost of living

Coste de la vida

Costa Rica presents a moderate cost of living, attractive to retirees and digital nomads. San José and popular tourist areas are more expensive than other regions. Housing costs can be high in expat-favorite locations. Food is generally affordable, especially local produce. Utilities can be expensive, particularly electricity. Public transportation is inexpensive but can be unreliable in some areas. Education costs are moderate.

Cost of Gasoline

$1.48

per liter

Cost of Meal

$9.61

(Inexpensive Restaurant)

Monthly Rent

$717.56

(1 bedroom, City Center)

Monthly Utilities

$83.69

(85m² Apartment)

Domestic Beer

$2.88

(0.5 liter draught)

Tipo del IVA

13%

cost of living

Cost of Living plus Rent Map

cost of living

Cost of Living Calculator

cost of living

Rent Calculator

Fiscalidad

Fiscalidad

Antes de plantearse la posibilidad de trasladarse a Costa Rica, es importante conocer su sistema fiscal territorial, que sólo grava las rentas obtenidas dentro del país.+ Los tipos del impuesto sobre la renta para los trabajadores por cuenta ajena oscilan entre el 10% y el 25%, en función de los ingresos. Las cotizaciones a la seguridad social son obligatorias y en Costa Rica también se aplican impuestos sobre la propiedad. Las personas físicas utilizan la Cédula de identidad o el DIMEX como números de identificación en función de su estatus de residencia.+Costa Rica no tiene tratado de doble imposición con Estados Unidos.

Tax Residency Requirement

183 days

Worldwide Income Taxation

No (Territorial system)

Higher Rates for Foreign Assets

No

US Double Taxation Treaty

No

Ingresos personales

Progressive tax rate based on income levels

0%-25%

Personal Capital Gains

Flat rate on investment gains

0%-15%

Herencia

Based on inherited amount and relationship

0%

Ingresos de las empresas

Standard corporate tax rate applied to business profits

30%

Plusvalías de las empresas

Tax rate applied to capital gains from corporate investments

15%

Dividendos

Withholding tax rate applied to dividend distributions

15%

Interés

Withholding rate interest payment to non-residens

5.5%-15%

Derechos de autor

Withholding tax rate for royalty payments

25%

Work Assignment

Foreign individuals are considered tax residents if they stay in Costa Rica for more than 183 days, continuously or discontinuously, during the fiscal period.

Overall Ranking

Global position in PWC’c Ease of Paying Taxes ranking

66

Ease of Paying Taxes Score

Overall score based on multiple factors

78

Total Tax and Cotribution Rate

TTCR percentage including all mandatory contributtions

58.3
%

Time to Comply

Annual hours required to comply with tax regulations

151
HOURS

Number of Payments

Total number of tax payments required annually

10

Post-filing Index

Score measuring the ease of processes after filing taxes

87.2
%

taxation

Tax Burden Map

taxation

Income Tax Calculator

CLIMATE

Climate Type

Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)

Average Temperature

24.83 °C

Humidity

80

%

Average Annual Precipitation

2,926

mm

Rainless Days per Year

244

Best Time to Travel

December-April

¿Preguntas?

Preguntas frecuentes sobre la obtención de la residencia o la nacionalidad en Costa Rica

Encuentre respuestas a preguntas comunes sobre GlobalPassport™ y nuestras herramientas que lo guían hacia la residencia o ciudadanía en Costa Rica.

¿De qué recursos de movilidad dispongo en Costa Rica?

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¿Necesito hablar español para solicitar la residencia o la nacionalidad en Costa Rica?

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¿Pueden mis familiares solicitar la residencia o la ciudadanía en Costa Rica conmigo?

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Cómo me ayudará el GlobalPassport™ a trasladarme a Costa Rica?

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¿Puedo conservar mi nacionalidad?

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