GeoRealityMatch
Stunning sunset landscape in San José, Costa Rica, with rolling hills and dramatic clouds.Vibrant street art in a lively San José alleyway, showcasing Costa Rica's urban culture.

Costa Rica

North America · Central America

High safetyModerate cost of livingVery high development

People live long, and essential health services reach most people.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 165 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development and high safety.RetireeCombines very high life expectancy and high safety.
vs United Statesvs Panamavs Dominican Republic
Safety

61st most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.860lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#61 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
17.7per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$17,930national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
20.3New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
10.1years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 280% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 71% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$20K$40K$33,815 PPP$19,970Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $5,257 a person, $10,800 at PPP, inflation 11.5%2007, $6,138 a person, $11,842 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2008, $6,937 a person, $12,472 at PPP, inflation 13.4%2009, $6,833 a person, $12,274 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2010, $8,266 a person, $12,928 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2011, $9,276 a person, $13,614 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2012, $10,127 a person, $14,464 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2013, $10,803 a person, $15,232 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2014, $10,911 a person, $16,394 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2015, $11,715 a person, $17,525 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2016, $12,091 a person, $19,202 at PPP2017, $12,317 a person, $20,499 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2018, $12,620 a person, $21,549 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2019, $12,952 a person, $23,461 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2020, $12,476 a person, $22,245 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2021, $12,962 a person, $24,084 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2022, $13,972 a person, $26,892 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2023, $17,141 a person, $29,248 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2024, $18,853 a person, $31,552 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2025, $19,970 a person, $33,815 at PPP$0$20K$40KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $5,257 a person, $10,800 at PPP, inflation 11.5%2007, $6,138 a person, $11,842 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2008, $6,937 a person, $12,472 at PPP, inflation 13.4%2009, $6,833 a person, $12,274 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2010, $8,266 a person, $12,928 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2011, $9,276 a person, $13,614 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2012, $10,127 a person, $14,464 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2013, $10,803 a person, $15,232 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2014, $10,911 a person, $16,394 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2015, $11,715 a person, $17,525 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2016, $12,091 a person, $19,202 at PPP2017, $12,317 a person, $20,499 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2018, $12,620 a person, $21,549 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2019, $12,952 a person, $23,461 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2020, $12,476 a person, $22,245 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2021, $12,962 a person, $24,084 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2022, $13,972 a person, $26,892 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2023, $17,141 a person, $29,248 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2024, $18,853 a person, $31,552 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2025, $19,970 a person, $33,815 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
81.0years, at birthVery high
#38 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
84WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
15.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
6.8%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
165 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
516EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet165 MbpsVery fast
Mobile70 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$3,000 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
$100
  • Tax treatmentExempt
  • Processing timeAbout 60 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyNo
  • Minimum stay a year180 days
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official page
Vibrant street art in a lively San José alleyway, showcasing Costa Rica's urban culture.
How it changed

Costa Rica's Human Development Index

0.833Very high human development

62nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 6th of 23 in North America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #60Brunei0.837
  2. #60Kazakhstan0.837
  3. #62Costa Rica0.833
  4. #62Serbia0.833
  5. #64Russia0.832
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.677 in 1990 to 0.833 in 2023.

0.650.780.900.83319902000201020231990: 0.6771991: 0.6821992: 0.6911993: 0.6961994: 0.7011995: 0.7061996: 0.7071997: 0.7121998: 0.7141999: 0.7172000: 0.7202001: 0.7262002: 0.7302003: 0.7362004: 0.7412005: 0.7482006: 0.7552007: 0.7602008: 0.7692009: 0.7732010: 0.7762011: 0.7832012: 0.7892013: 0.7952014: 0.8022015: 0.8032016: 0.8052017: 0.8092018: 0.8132019: 0.8212020: 0.8192021: 0.8172022: 0.8232023: 0.8330.650.780.9019902000201020231990: 0.6771991: 0.6821992: 0.6911993: 0.6961994: 0.7011995: 0.7061996: 0.7071997: 0.7121998: 0.7141999: 0.7172000: 0.7202001: 0.7262002: 0.7302003: 0.7362004: 0.7412005: 0.7482006: 0.7552007: 0.7602008: 0.7692009: 0.7732010: 0.7762011: 0.7832012: 0.7892013: 0.7952014: 0.8022015: 0.8032016: 0.8052017: 0.8092018: 0.8132019: 0.8212020: 0.8192021: 0.8172022: 0.8232023: 0.833

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
81 years2024at birthUp 2.1 years from 78.9 years in 2005
Internet users
87%2024of people onlineUp 62 points from 25% in 2006
Urban population
80%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 14 points from 66% in 2006
Births per woman
1.322024births per womanDown 0.72 from 2.04 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
34%2021of energy usedDown 5 points from 39% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 99% in 2005
Infant mortality
92024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 10 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 1.5 t in 2005
Forest area
60%2023of land under forestUp 4 points from 56% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Pura vida lifestyle, a strong environmental record, and a growing expat community. The case for living here is long lives and wide access to essential health services.

About Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a small Central American country that has built a strong reputation for ecotourism, with an exceptional network of national parks protecting cloud forests, active volcanoes, and both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. The culture is famously relaxed, captured in the local expression pura vida, meaning pure life. Those who love nature, wildlife, and outdoor activity will find it outstanding, though popular areas have become increasingly busy and commercialised.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSan José
  • LanguagesSpanish
  • CurrencyCosta Rican colón (CRC)
  • Area51,060 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Costa Rica against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Costa Rica

Compare Costa Rica

Borders

NicaraguaPanama

Side by side

vs United Statesvs Panamavs Dominican Republicvs Mexicovs Colombiavs PortugalCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Costa Rica's Human Development Index?

Costa Rica's Human Development Index is 0.833 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #62 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Costa Rica safe?

Costa Rica scores 1.86 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #61 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Costa Rica?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Costa Rica at 52.9 (New York = 100); that is #106 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Costa Rica?

Life expectancy at birth in Costa Rica is 81.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #38 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Costa Rica?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Costa Rica at 127.4, ranked #55 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.