The Real Guide to Moving to Costa Rica (From People Who Live Here)
If you’re thinking about moving to Costa Rica, you’re most likely feeling a mix of excitement and overwhelm.
We get it! And we’ve got your back!
There’s a lot of information out there, and a lot of it is either outdated, overly romanticized, or missing important practical details.
Start Planning
We’re Sarah and Thomas. We moved to Costa Rica in 2016 and never looked back.
Through Costa Rica Vibes, we’ve helped thousands of people plan trips here. Along the way, we’ve watched a lot of people seriously consider making the move. Now we’re going deep on the whole move-abroad topic so you can get real, honest clarity instead of a highlight reel. Want the whole story?
If you’re seriously researching the move, two things worth bookmarking now:
- We share daily property listings on Instagram at @cheaphomes.cr . These are real homes for sale all under 300k throughout ever region. New listings are added every single day.
- Every week in our Cheap Homes CR newsletter, we send out a curated batch of around 15–20 properties and businesses for sale, plus honest intel on neighborhoods, affordability, schools, visas, and what different areas are actually like to live in.
Subscribe Here ↓
Is Costa Rica a Good Fit for You?
Before getting into paperwork or logistics, it’s worth pausing for a second.
Costa Rica can be an amazing place to live (there’s a reason we’ve made it our home) but it’s not for everyone.
Moving here tends to work best for people who:
- Are flexible and patient with systems that move slowly
- Don’t need everything to work the same way it does “back home”
- Value lifestyle and environment over convenience
- Have an income source and aren’t looking for a local job
It’s usually a tougher transition for people who:
- Expect things to be fast, efficient, and predictable
- Are uncomfortable with bureaucracy or uncertainty
- Are looking for “cheap paradise” without trade-offs
What’s Your First Question?
Jump to the topic that’s on your mind most right now:
Cost of Living in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is not as cheap as Southeast Asia, and it’s not as expensive as the USA. Where you land on the cost spectrum really depends on your lifestyle, where you live, and whether you’re trying to replicate your home-country life or adapt.
A couple living simply in a smaller beach town or mountain area can do it comfortably on $2,000–$2,500/month.
It will be closer to $3,500–$4,500/month if you’re in a pricier expat hub like Santa Teresa or Tamarindo with a more Western lifestyle.
What most people underestimate is the transition period. The first few months almost always cost more than expected with setup costs, shipping, deposits, and the learning curve of not yet knowing where to shop.
📖 Read More: Cost of Living in Costa Rica: A Realistic Breakdown
Where to Live in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is small but daily life feels completely different depending on where you live.
Here’s a quick overview:
- Guanacaste (Pacific North) Dry, sunny, well-developed expat scene. Tamarindo, Nosara, Flamingo, and Playas del Coco are popular. Higher prices, especially near the beach.
- Central Pacific Jacó and Manuel Antonio are accessible, with more infrastructure. Good for people who want beach life with city proximity.
- Nicoya Peninsula Santa Teresa, Sámara, and Nosara attract the wellness and surf crowd. Slower pace, more community feel, but the roads and logistics can be a challenge.
- Central Valley (San José area) Year-round spring climate, best healthcare access, lower cost of living than the coasts. Less “pura vida postcard” but genuinely livable and underrated.
- South Pacific (Uvita, Dominical, Ojochal) Lush, humid, more off-the-beaten-path. Incredible nature, growing expat community, still relatively affordable.
- Caribbean Coast (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita) A slower, more local feel with a different energy than the Pacific side. Less developed in terms of infrastructure, but more affordable.
📖 Read More: Where to Live in Costa Rica: Region by Region Guide
Visas and Residency
Most people enter Costa Rica on a tourist visa (180 days) and either apply for residency from within the country or leave and re-enter. The “perpetual tourist” approach (border running) is a gray area that’s become more scrutinized in recent years.
Common residency paths:
- Pensionado: for retirees with a qualifying pension income ($1,000+/month)
- Rentista: for people with passive income ($2,500+/month)
- Inversionista: investors who put $150,000+ into the country
- Work/company: running a business or working for a company here
Residency isn’t instant. It typically takes 1–2+ years and involves a lot of paperwork. Most people work with a Costa Rican immigration attorney. And, trust us, it’s worth the cost. We’ve been through some major headaches with immigration here.
📖 Read More: Costa Rica Visas and Residency: What You Actually Need to Know
We cover visa timelines, residency tips, and relocation resources regularly in our Cheap Homes CR newsletter.
Life in Costa Rica
Living here is different from visiting. Really different.
The things that feel charming on vacation such as the slower pace, the improvisational approach to schedules, become really annoying when you are trying to get anything accomplished and it becomes super stressful.
What expat life actually involves:
- Learning to navigate bureaucracy in a second language (or hiring people who do)
- Finding your community, which takes longer than expected
- Adjusting to infrastructure that’s improving but still inconsistent
- Genuinely appreciating nature, wildlife, and a healthier pace of life
The expat community here is warm and generally happy to help newcomers. And there’s a lot of joy in this life, but it’s definitely an adjustment.
📖 Read More: What Expats Wish They Knew Before Moving to Costa Rica
Before You Move: The Practical Checklist
Things worth sorting out before you arrive:
- Research residency options and timeline
- Figure out your income situation (remote work, pension, investments)
- Get a realistic cost-of-living estimate for the area you’re targeting
- Start the conversation with an immigration attorney
- Research healthcare options (CAJA vs. private insurance)
- Decide what to bring, ship, or leave behind
- Plan for a longer-than-expected transition period, financially and emotionally
- Visit first (ideally for a month) before committing
Want to See What Your Money Gets You Here?
We post new Costa Rica properties every single day on Instagram at @cheaphomes.cr . These are real homes for sale all under 300k throughout ever region. New listings are added every single day. It’s the fastest way to get a genuine feel for the market.
Prefer something curated and more in-depth? Every week in our Cheap Homes CR newsletter we send out around 15–20 homes and businesses for sale, plus real talk on neighborhoods, schools, affordability, visas, and everything else that actually matters when you’re planning a move.
Subscribe Here ↓
One Last Thing
We’re not real estate agents or immigration lawyers. We’re people who made this move, built a life here, and want to share what we actually know.
What we offer is lived experience, honest perspective, and a genuine interest in helping you make a good decision, even if that decision is “actually, this isn’t for me.”