Costa Rica

"Vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz" ("Il lavoro e la pace per sempre")

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.

overview

Costa Rica Essentials

Inno nazionale

Nobile patria, tu hermosa bandera

Giorno dell'Indipendenza

15 settembre 1821

Haiko

Vita pura vida / Le foreste pluviali pullulano di animali selvatici / I vulcani si assopiscono

Interesting Tradition

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

Weirdest Local Superstition

Mettere una scopa dietro la porta per far andare via gli ospiti

Strangest Law Still on the Books

Illegale chiamare un'azienda in una lingua straniera

overview

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.

overview

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.

overview

Bienvenidos a Costa Rica

Famosa per la sua biodiversità, la Costa Rica è il luogo in cui si possono trovare più specie di farfalle che altrove

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.

Statistiche

Savor the Flavor

Eat

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

Drink

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

overview

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

overview

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

overview

Costa Rica Essentials

Representative Novel

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

National Animal

The sloth

National Pasttime

Calcio (Soccer)

Souvenir nazionale

Chicchi di caffè

Piatto nazionale

Gallo pinto

Festival famoso

Festival Envision

Danza famosa

Swing Criollo

Musica famosa

Calypso

overview

Did You Know?

Il Costa Rica non ha un esercito permanente.

Dal1949, la Costa Rica ha abolito l'esercito e ha destinato i fondi all'istruzione, alla sanità e alla protezione dell'ambiente.

Il Costa Rica è leader nel settore delle energie rinnovabili.

Oltreil 99% dell'elettricità del Paese proviene da fonti rinnovabili come l'energia idroelettrica, geotermica ed eolica.

La Costa Rica ospita il 5% della biodiversità mondiale.

Nonostantele sue dimensioni ridotte, la Costa Rica ospita una vasta gamma di specie vegetali e animali, che la rendono un paradiso per gli amanti della natura.

overview

Costa Rica’s Key Historical Events

1,821

Aprile 2014

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

1838

Luglio 2014

Costa Rica becomes a fully independent country.

1948

Febbraio 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 2015

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

2015

Ottobre 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

Grado del passaporto

B

Rank

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

Accesso senza visto 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
Mobilità
Approval Time (est.)
Appointment Availability
Term (i.e. duration)
Minimum Investment
Requisito della presenza fisica
Costo della vita
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
Costo della vita
2024
Moderate
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

Età mediana

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

Panoramica del costo della vita

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)

Aliquota IVA

13%

cost of living

Cost of Living plus Rent Map

cost of living

Cost of Living Calculator

cost of living

Rent Calculator

Tassazione

Panoramica sulla tassazione

Prima di prendere in considerazione l'idea di trasferirsi in Costa Rica, è importante comprendere il suo sistema fiscale territoriale che tassa solo il reddito prodotto all'interno del Paese.+Le aliquote dell'imposta sul reddito per i lavoratori dipendenti variano dal 10% al 25%, a seconda del guadagno. I contributi sociali sono obbligatori e in Costa Rica si applicano anche le imposte sulla proprietà. Le persone fisiche utilizzano la Cédula de identidad o il DIMEX come numeri di identificazione, a seconda dello status di residenza.+La Costa Rica non ha un trattato di doppia imposizione con gli Stati Uniti.

Tax Residency Requirement

183 days

Worldwide Income Taxation

No (Territorial system)

Higher Rates for Foreign Assets

No

US Double Taxation Treaty

No

Reddito personale

Progressive tax rate based on income levels

0%-25%

Personal Capital Gains

Flat rate on investment gains

0%-15%

Eredità

Based on inherited amount and relationship

0%

Reddito d'impresa

Standard corporate tax rate applied to business profits

30%

Plusvalenze aziendali

Tax rate applied to capital gains from corporate investments

15%

Dividendi

Withholding tax rate applied to dividend distributions

15%

Interesse

Withholding rate interest payment to non-residens

5.5%-15%

Royalties

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

Domande?

Domande frequenti sull'ottenimento della residenza o della cittadinanza in Costa Rica

Trovate le risposte alle domande più comuni sul GlobalPassport™ e sui nostri strumenti che vi guidano verso la residenza o la cittadinanza in Costa Rica.

Quali sono i beni di mobilità disponibili in Costa Rica?

Icona Plus

Devo parlare spagnolo per richiedere la residenza o la cittadinanza in Costa Rica?

Icona Plus

I miei familiari possono richiedere la residenza o la cittadinanza in Costa Rica insieme a me?

Icona Plus

In che modo il GlobalPassport™ mi aiuterà a trasferirmi in Costa Rica?

Icona Plus

Posso mantenere la mia cittadinanza?

Icona Plus