Living in Costa Rica

Are you considering living in Costa Rica? Perhaps you've just returned from a vacation here and want more. Or perhaps, Costa Rica has been on your radar for a while, as you look for an escape out of the grind. Whether you dream of retirement in paradise, seek remote work opportunities, or simply need a change of scenery, Costa Rica offers tons of possibilities for expatriates. From vibrant city life to tropical beach towns and cool mountain retreats, there's a potential spot for everyone to call home.

Low-cost healthcare, strong public education, and friendly people are also a strong draw to life in Costa Rica. But before you pack up and make the move, there are a few things you should know.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about expat life in Costa Rica, from day-to-day practicalities to the cultural nuances that make this country so special.

But first, before making any decisions, we highly recommend you visit here for an extended period of time, say for up to six months, to figure out if Costa Rica works for you, and what type of lifestyle you want. This article is primarily written for people with that possibility, such as remote workers coming down for a few months. It’s not really a guide to diving in on a permanent move from the get-go. And since Costa Rica extended its minimum stay for (most) tourists from 90 days to 180 days in 2023, it’s easier than ever to stay for a few months.

So let’s dive in and take a look at what you might need to know about living in Costa Rica.

When considering a move to Costa Rica, it's essential to understand the country's cost of living. While Costa Rica offers a high quality of life and abundant natural beauty, it's important to note that it's not the cheapest country in Central America, so having some idea of what to expect can help you decide if Costa Rica is for you or not:

We started with the practical part, so here's some fun. Deciding where to live in Costa Rica! And while it's not necessarily important to get this right immediately (after all, part of the fun might be checking out different locations to see what fits you), it's still worth matching a location with your lifestyle needs at least to some extent—for example, if you know you hate endless heat, you won't want to live full time at the beach. And if you need access to good healthcare or the best schools, you'll want to be near the capital. Below, we attempt to shed some light on where to live in Costa Rica:

When moving to Costa Rica, it's important to assess the quality of healthcare facilities and explore options for health insurance coverage. Costa Rica has a comprehensive healthcare system, with both private and public options available to residents and visitors alike.

The public healthcare system provides accessible and affordable healthcare services to Costa Ricans and legal residents. Called the CCSS (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social) and often referred to as simply la Caja, it operates clinics and hospitals throughout the country.

Caja services are available at a low cost to residents and tourists alike. That said, many public hospitals won’t live up to the expectations of North American visitors. The public emergency rooms are usually crowded and noisy, and it’s likely that available doctors or nurses won’t speak English. The Caja system is good in either an absolute emergency or the absolute lack of an emergency, where you have a lot of time and patience to wait. In-between those two extremes, not so much.

Most foreign tourists, visitors, and immigrants in Costa Rica prefer to use private healthcare instead, which often provides more extensive services and shorter wait times. Private clinics and hospitals in Costa Rica are famous for their quality of care and modern medical technology—in fact, they rank among the best in the region.

Some of the most frequented private hospitals in Costa Rica are as follows:

• CIMA. This hospital is controlled by the International Hospital Corporation of Dallas, Texas. CIMA is notably the best-equipped, full-service hospital that features the most modern healthcare technology. The second establishment opened recently in Liberia, Guanacaste.
• Clínica Bíblica. Located in the heart of San José, most Costa Ricans consider this the best hospital in the country.
• Clínica Católica. This hospital is known for its amenities for travelers that include a lodge for companions just a few steps from the hospital. Clínica Católica is on the east side of San José.

When it comes to health insurance coverage, there are various options available. Retirees and expats living in Costa Rica can buy private health insurance plans, which offer flexibility and tailored coverage options. These plans typically cover services such as doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and medications, providing peace of mind for those seeking comprehensive healthcare coverage.

If you're moving to Costa Rica with your kids, then education is key. Here we offer a brief rundown of the education system in Costa Rica.

The internet in Costa Rica has improved immensely in recent years and there are several service providers, both public and private, and some even offer fiber optic connections. More remote regions of Costa Rica can also now receive satellite internet services like StarLink. Internet speed ranges from 15 MBps to 200 MBps, and Costa Rica generally has the second-fastest speed in the region, after Panama.

You can make international calls from most hotels and long-term rentals, although most people nowadays forgo this for services like WhatsApp, Zoom, and Skype, all accessible when you have WiFi.

Buying a pay-as-you-go SIM card is easy as well. They are sold everywhere, including at international airports, and they give you a Costa Rican phone number and access to data so you can use WhatsApp, etc to stay in touch.

Coming to Costa Rica for a long time feels different from coming on vacation, but unless you're coming for longer than six months, you really don't need to worry about the entry requirements, especially if you're from North America or Europe.

Tourists from North America or Europe typically receive a 180-day stamp upon entry, allowing them to stay in the country for that amount of time. There is also a digital nomad visa that allows a stay of up to one year, which is also renewable for a total of two years. In fairness, though, the extension of the regular length of stay for tourists from 90 days to 180 days in some ways makes the digital nomad visa a little irrelevant.

As it stands, you can enter Costa Rica for up to 180 days, and if you want to continue living in the country after that, you can leave for a few days and reenter for another 180 days. But sooner or later, if you're staying long-term, you'll want to get residency.

You can certainly bring your pet to Costa Rica, although there are strict rules around the whole process. But if you're moving here for at least a few months, it's a no-brainer to bring them, right?

If you’re traveling from the USA, your pet will need a health certificate from a licensed vet and have it endorsed by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), as well as have certain vaccinations in order. You would also need to check with the airlines about their protocols for traveling with pets. Not all long-term rentals will welcome animals, so be sure to let us know if this is a priority for you.

We mentioned earlier that going on vacation to Costa Rica and living in Costa Rica are very different from each other. But that doesn't mean you can't take vacations in Costa Rica while living in Costa Rica! What's the point of moving here if you can't enjoy the country?

There are so many places to explore at weekends and on your downtime. You can visit the Arenal Volcano area, the cloud forests of Monteverde, different beach towns on both coasts, or find off-the-beaten-path hidden hotels. You can enjoy adventures like white water rafting, waterfall rappelling, zip lining, horseback riding, ATV tours, hikes, and more. You can surf or go fishing. The sky's the limit and if you live here, you're not in a rush like you would be on vacation. Every weekend can be a new adventure!

Costa Rica is overall safe. For most expats and tourists, it's a welcoming country where it's easy to get around and where exploring is encouraged. However, crime is an issue and if you live here, rather than vacation here, you might hear about things and see things on TV that you wouldn't otherwise. That doesn't make Costa Rica worse than if you're on vacation, it just means you're more involved in the culture because you're no longer a tourist. But it's important to know that most crime—especially violent crime—occurs far away from common expat and tourist areas. To stay safe in Costa Rica, you should just follow the same basic rules you would do in your home country:

1. Avoid bad areas, which tourists typically don't visit anyway.
2. Steer clear of trouble by avoiding drugs and sketchy situations.
3. Stay vigilant, especially in crowded areas and public transport.
4. Bring minimal valuables with you and keep an eye on them.
5. Avoid going out alone at night, especially to lonely areas and especially if you're a woman.
6. Secure valuables where you’re staying and don’t advertise their presence loudly.
7. Don't leave anything visible in rental cars and consider insurance.
8. Make copies of important documents like your passport.
9. If robbed, don't resist and report the incident to the police.
10. Drink responsibly, especially at night and when alone.
11. Be wary of scams, such as fake guides or overcharging taxi drivers.

While the likelihood of being a victim of crime is low, being prepared and vigilant is essential. Take good care of yourself and enjoy plenty! It’ll be all right.

Unless you're getting residency and staying for the long term, it's not worth getting a bank account in Costa Rica. Without legal residency, it's no longer as easy as it used to be to get a Costa Rican bank account, although it’s not impossible. So for the purpose of spending and handling money during your first few months in Costa Rica, you'll likely be using your credit and debit cards from your accounts back home. This will be the focus of this section.

It's not essential to have a car in Costa Rica, and if you're only here for a few months, you can get away without one unless you're living somewhere very remote, which you're probably not going to do, at least to begin with.

We should also point out that driving in Costa Rica can be both an exciting adventure and a stressful challenge. While having a car is convenient, road conditions also vary significantly across the country, with major highways generally well-maintained but smaller roads often potholed and unpaved. It's advisable to exercise caution and patience on Costa Rican roads, particularly on unfamiliar routes.

Public transportation options are readily available and inexpensive in Costa Rica. Buses serve most areas of the country, offering a convenient way to get around. Domestic flights are also relatively inexpensive and, if you're only traveling at weekends, make things easy and fast for you. Additionally, taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber operate in many places, providing convenient door-to-door transportation.

Ultimately, the decision to have a car depends on factors like comfort level with driving in unfamiliar conditions, budget, and lifestyle preferences. If it's something you want to try out, we can offer reduced long-term car rental rates for your stay. Drivers must be 23 years old and a valid driver license is required as well as a passport.

One of the most important aspects of living in Costa Rica is understanding the relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle here. While that laid-back vibe might be great on vacation, do you have the temperament for it on a full-time basis? After all, depending on the type of person you are, the transition to a more relaxed environment can be either refreshing or challenging.

For some North Americans living in Costa Rica, it can be a bit of a curveball. Those accustomed to punctuality and efficiency can find adapting a significant adjustment since in Costa Rican culture people are often late and deadlines are not harshly enforced. It requires patience, flexibility, and an open mind to fully embrace the Costa Rican way of life. Understanding this is key to expat success in Costa Rica. It's not for everyone, and a few months here will determine whether it's for you or not.

As a remote worker testing out the waters in Costa Rica, you'll probably base yourself at home for most of the time. But sometimes it's productive to take your laptop elsewhere for a change of scenery, where you can meet up and network with other digital nomads in real life, rather than only through a Zoom meeting.

Although co-working spaces are a relatively new concept here in Costa Rica, there are some great co-working sites throughout the country. They have fast internet and offices and are easy to access. These spaces are mostly located in the capital city of San José, but can also be found in beach communities like Puerto Viejo, Samara, Tamarindo, Santa Teresa. If having access to a co-working space is important for you please just let us know and we will match you with the right long-term rental!

We hope we’ve covered most of the burning questions you might have about moving to Costa Rica for a few months. But we know this is a major life decision that needs careful consideration and organization. To that end, we’ve come up with a list of questions to help you determine if a) Costa Rica is right for you and b) which parts of Costa Rica are right for you:

1. Are you a remote worker or digital nomad seeking a new country?
2. What type of climate do you like?
3. Do you love the city, the beach, the mountains, or a place more remote and off the grid?
4. What sort of pace of life suits you? Very active, medium, or slow?
5. Which of the following options do you prefer most: sports games and bars, beach and water activities, museums and malls, or jungle hiking, waterfalls, and volcanoes?
6. Is your priority to make money and explore the world, live a comfortable lifestyle without the need for much, or live life with friends and family in a new location?
7. Is having schools and hospitals near you a must?
8. Can you adapt to a laid-back, slower pace of life (for good and for bad)?

Answering these questions, and armed with the knowledge you’ve gathered here, it’ll be easier to determine if Costa Rica is a good fit for the next few months of your life. And if it is, then perhaps after those few months, you’ll be answering questions about buying a property in Costa Rica or getting a residency. One step at a time!

Costa Rica welcomes you if you’re ready to come down no matter what your preference is, beach life or city action. And remember: you’re not alone. Most of us are also expats in Costa Rica and we’re here to support you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth transition and unforgettable experience in your new home. Start planning your move today and embark on the journey of a lifetime in this tropical paradise. Pura Vida!