Costa Rica

CRI

Costa Rica is a Central American democracy widely marketed to retirees and remote workers for its purely territorial tax system, under which foreign-source income is not taxed at all. The economy runs on ecotourism, agriculture, and services, underpinned by unusual regional stability — Costa Rica has had no standing army since 1948.

The two main residency routes are the Rentista visa, requiring proof of stable non-employment income, and the Pensionado visa for qualifying pensioners. The passport ranks 36th globally with visa-free access to about 150 destinations, and dual citizenship is permitted. English proficiency is moderate (rank 55), concentrated in expat areas like Escazú and Guanacaste, with Spanish dominant elsewhere. Naturalisation requires 7 years.

Healthcare (index 68) benefits from a well-regarded public system (Caja) plus affordable private care used heavily by medical tourists, and the cost of living (index 45) is low by North American standards though rising in expat hotspots. Foreigners hold the same property rights as citizens, and biodiversity-driven lifestyle appeal remains the core relocation draw.

Naturalisation: 7 years
Tax system: Territorial
Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Capital: San José
Region: americas
Population: 5,154,000
Cost-of-living: 45 /100

Passport Rank

#36

Visa-Free

150

destinations

Visa-free travel

A Costa Rica passport has visa-free access to 125 destinations. See the full Costa Rica passport breakdown →

Passports that enter Costa Rica without a prior visa (94)

Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.

Czech Republic+76 more

Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.

Country Details

Capital: San José
Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Languages: Spanish
Population: 5,154,000
Tax System: Territorial
Dual Citizenship: Allowed
Naturalisation: 7 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Tropical
English Proficiency Rank: #55
Territorial Taxation: Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

155

Tax Summary

Tax System: Territorial
Territorial Taxation: Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed
Naturalisation: 7 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Allowed

Cost of Living by City

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Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
San José	$800	$530	$290	$80	$22
Heredia	$650	$450	$270	$75	$20
Escazú	$1,200	$850	$320	$90	$22
Guanacaste (Tamarindo area)	$1,100	$750	$300	$110	Free

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

San José

22°J

22°F

24°M

24°A

24°M

23°J

23°A

23°S

22°O

22°N

21°D

Rainfall range: 5–305 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Guanacaste

27°J

28°F

30°M

31°A

31°M

29°J

30°A

29°S

28°O

27°N

26°D

Rainfall range: 3–350 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Tourist
Rentista
Pensionado
Inversionista
Worker
Student
Family
Digital Nomad

Authority: Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería
Official Portal: www.migracion.go.cr
Phone: +506 2299-8100
Email: info@migracion.go.cr

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 7
Language Test: Yes (A2)
Civic Test: Yes
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: Yes
Fee: $200
Processing: ~18 months

Real Estate

Avg price/sqm (capital): $2,500
Transaction taxes: 4%

Foreign buyers: Foreigners have the same property ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens with no restrictions on ownership. Concession land along coastlines (within 200 m of mean high-tide line) cannot be privately owned; the first 50 m is public domain, and the next 150 m is concession land leased from municipalities. Typical prices $1,500–$3,500/sqm.

International Schools

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International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
Country Day School	Escazú	American	$10,000–$18,000
Lincoln School	San José	American / IB	$9,000–$17,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

75 Mbps median

55% fibre coverage

eSIM: Kolbi (ICE), Claro CR, Movistar CR

Driving

IDP required

Local licence required after 3 months

Exchange eligible: No formal exchange treaty — IDP accepted for 90 days from date of entry. After that, residents must obtain a Costa Rican licence via the Dirección General de Migración.

Pet Relocation

Quarantine: none

Rabies titre not required

EU pet passport: not accepted

Safety

GPI Rank

#40

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Taxi meter fraud (use official red taxis or Uber)
⚠beach theft targeting tourists
⚠ATM skimming in San José
⚠fake tour operators selling non-existent trips

Examples of areas to avoid: La Carpio (San José), Limón city centre at night, downtown San José (Mercado Central area) after dark

LGBTQ+ Legal Status

Same-Sex Marriage: Legal
Civil Partnerships: Recognised
Anti-Discrimination Law: Yes
ILGA Rank: #30

Religious Life

Halal Food: Limited
Kosher Food: Limited
Prayer Facilities: Limited

Sample Citizenship Test Questions

Q1. In what year did Costa Rica abolish its military?

Answer: 1948

Source: Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones Naturalisation Guidelines

Q2. What is the capital city of Costa Rica?

Answer: San José

Source: Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones Naturalisation Guidelines

Q3. What does the phrase "Pura Vida" represent in Costa Rican culture?

Answer: Pure Life — a greeting and expression of contentment and the Costa Rican way of life

Source: Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones Naturalisation Guidelines

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Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.