Compare countries · Costa Rica vs Portugal
Costa Rica vs Portugal
Costa Rica(North America)·
Portugal(Europe)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Costa Rica leads on 2, Portugal on 9, 1 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Costa Rica cheaper than Portugal?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Costa Rica at 52.9 and Portugal at 48.8. Portugal is about 8% cheaper overall.
Is Costa Rica or Portugal safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Costa Rica scores 1.86 and Portugal scores 1.43. Portugal ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Costa Rica or Portugal?
On the UN Human Development Index, Costa Rica scores 0.833 and Portugal scores 0.890. Portugal 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 Costa Rica compared to Portugal?
GNI per capita runs $17,930 in Costa Rica against $29,930 in Portugal; people live 81.0 years on average against 82.4; Numbeo users rate healthcare 65 against 72. 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)
Costa Rica
52.9
Worse than 73% of countries
Portugal
48.8
Worse than 65% of countries
Portugal: 8% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Costa Rica
20.3
Worse than 69% of countries
Portugal
25.2
Worse than 83% of countries
Costa Rica: 19% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Costa Rica
1.86
Better than 63% of countries
Portugal
1.43
Better than 96% of countries
Portugal: more peaceful (1.43 vs 1.86).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Costa Rica
0.833
Better than 68% of countries
Portugal
0.890
Better than 80% of countries
Portugal: higher human development (0.890 vs 0.833).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Costa Rica
$33,815
Better than 64% of countries
Portugal
$53,146
Better than 78% of countries
Portugal: 57% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Costa Rica
81.0 yrs
Better than 80% of countries
Portugal
82.4 yrs
Better than 88% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Costa Rica
64.8
Around the global middle
Portugal
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
Portugal: better-rated healthcare (72.0 vs 64.8).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Costa Rica
165 Mbps
Better than 72% of countries
Portugal
242 Mbps
Better than 87% of countries
Portugal: 47% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Costa Rica
72/100
Better than 78% of countries
Portugal
84/100
Better than 94% of countries
Portugal: freer press (84 vs 72 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Costa Rica
7.44
Better than 97% of countries
Portugal
6.03
Around the global middle
Costa Rica: happier on the Cantril ladder (7.44 vs 6.03).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Costa Rica
516
Around the global middle
Portugal
612
Better than 89% of countries
Portugal: stronger English proficiency (612 vs 516).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Costa Rica
93.1
Better than 85% of countries
Portugal
97.8
Better than 97% of countries
Portugal: more pleasant climate rating (97.8 vs 93.1).
Not comparable for this pair
- Perceived street safety: Numbeo doesn't publish a safety index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Costa Rica and Portugal 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 Costa Rica profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Portugal profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.