Compare countries · Colombia vs Costa Rica
Colombia vs Costa Rica
Colombia(South America)·
Costa Rica(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Colombia leads on 4, Costa Rica on 8. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Colombia cheaper than Costa Rica?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Colombia at 31.7 and Costa Rica at 52.9. Colombia is about 40% cheaper overall.
Is Colombia or Costa Rica safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Colombia scores 2.73 and Costa Rica scores 1.86. Costa Rica ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Colombia or Costa Rica?
On the UN Human Development Index, Colombia scores 0.788 and Costa Rica scores 0.833. Costa Rica scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Colombia compared to Costa Rica?
GNI per capita runs $7,900 in Colombia against $17,930 in Costa Rica; people live 77.9 years on average against 81.0; Numbeo users rate healthcare 69 against 65. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Colombia
31.7
Better than 75% of countries
Costa Rica
52.9
Worse than 73% of countries
Colombia: 40% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Colombia
10.9
Better than 71% of countries
Costa Rica
20.3
Worse than 69% of countries
Colombia: 46% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Colombia
2.73
Worse than 86% of countries
Costa Rica
1.86
Better than 63% of countries
Costa Rica: more peaceful (1.86 vs 2.73).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Colombia
0.788
Better than 57% of countries
Costa Rica
0.833
Better than 68% of countries
Costa Rica: higher human development (0.833 vs 0.788).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Colombia
$22,640
Around the global middle
Costa Rica
$33,815
Better than 64% of countries
Costa Rica: 49% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Colombia
77.9 yrs
Better than 68% of countries
Costa Rica
81.0 yrs
Better than 80% of countries
Costa Rica: 3.1 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Colombia
68.9
Better than 66% of countries
Costa Rica
64.8
Around the global middle
Colombia: better-rated healthcare (68.9 vs 64.8).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Colombia
210 Mbps
Better than 81% of countries
Costa Rica
165 Mbps
Better than 72% of countries
Colombia: 27% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Colombia
52/100
Worse than 57% of countries
Costa Rica
72/100
Better than 78% of countries
Costa Rica: freer press (72 vs 52 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Colombia
6.04
Around the global middle
Costa Rica
7.44
Better than 97% of countries
Costa Rica: happier on the Cantril ladder (7.44 vs 6.04).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Colombia
480
Worse than 66% of countries
Costa Rica
516
Around the global middle
Costa Rica: stronger English proficiency (516 vs 480).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Colombia
82.3
Around the global middle
Costa Rica
93.1
Better than 85% of countries
Costa Rica: more pleasant climate rating (93.1 vs 82.3).
Not comparable for this pair
- Perceived street safety: Numbeo doesn't publish a safety index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Colombia and Costa Rica for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Colombia profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Costa Rica profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.