Latin America & Caribbean
Living in Costa Rica
Among the 116 countries we cover, Costa Rica stands out most for civil freedoms and healthcare. Its weakest dimension is affordability.
- Capital
- San Jose
- Population
- 5.2M (2025)
- World Bank income group
- High income
Key figures
- Price level (US = 100)
- 59Lower means cheaper than the US · 2025
- Life expectancy (years)
- 81.0At birth · 2024
- Homicides per 100,000 people
- 17.8Per 100,000 people per year · 2023
- People using the internet
- 87.2%Share of the population · 2024
Scores by dimension
0–100, relative to the 116 countries we cover (100 = best in our set).
- Affordability
- 35 / 100
- Safety
- 57 / 100
- Healthcare
- 68 / 100
- Governance
- 52 / 100
- Civil freedoms
- 78 / 100
- Digital access
- 81 / 100
- Economy
- 78 / 100
- Affordability#75 of 116
- Safety#70 of 116
- Healthcare#50 of 116
- Governance#51 of 116
- Civil freedoms#31 of 116
- Digital access#70 of 116
- Economy#66 of 116
The underlying data
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD / NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD | 59 | 2025 |
| GDP per personWDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD | US$19,970 | 2025 |
| GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD | Int$33,815 | 2025 |
| Unemployment rateWDI · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS | 6.8% | 2025 |
| Inflation (consumer prices)WDI · FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG | -0.1% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy (years)WDI · SP.DYN.LE00.IN | 81.0 | 2024 |
| Doctors per 1,000 peopleWDI · SH.MED.PHYS.ZS | 2.7 | 2022 |
| Health spending per personWDI · SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD | US$1,163 | 2023 |
| Homicides per 100,000 peopleWDI · VC.IHR.PSRC.P5 | 17.8 | 2023 |
| People using the internetWDI · IT.NET.USER.ZS | 87.2% | 2024 |
| Political stability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_PV.SC | 87 | 2025 |
| Rule of law (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_RL.SC | 69 | 2025 |
| Government effectiveness (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_GE.SC | 61 | 2025 |
| Control of corruption (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_CC.SC | 62 | 2025 |
| Voice and accountability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_VA.SC | 77 | 2025 |
| PopulationWDI · SP.POP.TOTL | 5.2M | 2025 |
Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators (updated July 13, 2026) and Worldwide Governance Indicators (updated September 25, 2026), CC BY 4.0. We show the most recent year available for each figure. How we score
Costa Rica: common questions
Is Costa Rica expensive to live in?
The World Bank price level for Costa Rica is 59 (US = 100) in 2025, which places it #75 of 116 countries for affordability in our data. This is a national average. Big cities, housing and imported goods can cost much more.
How safe is Costa Rica?
Costa Rica recorded 17.8 intentional homicides per 100,000 people (2023). Its World Bank political stability score is 87 out of 100 (2025). National figures hide local differences, so check your government's current travel advice for specific areas.
What is healthcare like in Costa Rica?
Life expectancy at birth in Costa Rica is 81.0 years (2024). There are 2.7 doctors per 1,000 people (2022). Access for foreign residents depends on your visa, residency status and insurance, so confirm what coverage you'd be entitled to.
Do I need a visa to move to Costa Rica?
It depends on your citizenship, purpose and length of stay, and the rules change often. We don't give visa advice. Check the official immigration authority or embassy of Costa Rica for the current requirements.