Costa Rica – Visas
Costa Rica opens its doors to visitors from around the globe, with nationals of many countries permitted to…
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Your life in Costa Rica starts here
Make your move to Costa Rica
Rainforests, volcanoes and two coastlines come with a territorial tax system that leaves foreign income alone. A dedicated retirement route offers a way in, and living costs stay manageable.
Costa Rica at a glance
Cost of living
Moderate
Property
Very affordable
Healthcare
Moderate
Safety
Higher risk
Climate
Warm (~22°C)
English
Moderate
Expat community
Established
Where Costa Rica is strongest: visa ease #5 of 81property affordability #22 of 75tax friendliness #27 of 81
Worth weighing up: safety #69 of 78English-friendliness #55 of 81healthcare #52 of 78
TaxTerritorial: foreign income untaxed
Visa / residencyPensionado ($1,000/mo pension)
General information to compare destinations, not personal financial, tax or immigration advice.
Health insurance in Costa Rica
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Your first steps to Costa Rica
Costa Rica – Residency
Costa Rica provides several well-established routes to legal residency for foreign nationals, among them the Pensionado (retirement), Rentista…
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Fresh from Costa Rica
Latest articles
Eco-Living in Paradise: Why Retiree Expats are Flocking to Costa Rica
Costa Rica, with its spectacular natural landscapes and renowned commitment to sustainability, has become a highly sought-after destination…
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Costa Rica is regularly voted as one of the world’s happiest countries, so it’s no surprise that many…
Read more →How To Rent Or Buy Property In Costa Rica
Famous for its relaxed way of life and smiling locals, Costa Rica is a popular destination for expats.…
Read more →You won’t be the first
Real people who made the move
Mike White, Guanacaste
Who are you? Mike White, Founder of The Happy Rollers (helping people move to Costa Rica so they…
Read more →Doron Nadivi, Grecia
Who are you? Doron Nadivi, Chief Commercial Officer of Pruvo.Where, when and why did you move abroad? In…
Read more →Debbie Rudd, Grecia
I am Debbie Rudd and I am about to turn 70 in a few weeks. I came here…
Read more →Sarah, San Jose
Who are you? Hi! My name is Sarah. I am originally from Boston. I run a Costa Rica…
Read more →Bob Normand, Quepos-Manuel Antonio
Who are you? I’m a 73 year old retired, single expat born in Massachusetts where I lived my…
Read more →Casey Bahr, San Isidro de El General
Who are you? I’m Casey Bahr, a retired software engineer who moved to Costa Rica with his wife…
Read more →The complete picture
Costa Rica moving guide
Costa Rica – Air Travel
Costa Rica’s air travel landscape centres on two international gateways — Juan SantamarÃa (SJO) outside San José and…
Read more →Costa Rica – Animal Welfare and Cultural Issues
Costa Rica takes an increasingly progressive stance on animal welfare, backed by a landmark anti-cruelty statute passed in…
Read more →Costa Rica – Banking
Costa Rica operates a well-structured, two-tier banking system made up of state-owned public banks and licensed private institutions,…
Read more →Costa Rica – Buses and Trams
Costa Rica’s public bus network is wide-ranging, budget-friendly, and extends to virtually every part of the country —…
Read more →Costa Rica – Buying or Importing a Car
Any foreign national can buy or import a vehicle in Costa Rica, but the process is considerably more…
Read more →Costa Rica – Buying Property
Foreign nationals are entitled to purchase and hold property in Costa Rica on essentially the same basis as…
Read more →Costa Rica – Car Rental
Hiring a car in Costa Rica is a relatively simple process, but it comes with rules that set…
Read more →Costa Rica – Citizenship
Costa Rica provides multiple pathways to citizenship, including naturalisation following five or seven years of lawful residency (depending…
Read more →Costa Rica – Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has a strong and growing presence in Costa Rica, yet it functions almost…
Read more →Costa Rica – Cost of Living
While Costa Rica is considerably more affordable than most economies in Western Europe and North America, it holds…
Read more →Costa Rica – Cycling
For cyclists, Costa Rica presents a land of striking contrasts: active riding communities flourish in coastal towns and…
Read more →Costa Rica – Dentists and Dental Treatment
Costa Rica’s dental care landscape operates through a two-track structure: the public Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)…
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