10 Reasons to Reconsider Moving to Costa Rica

An honest look at the tradeoffs of expat life here, written by people who made the move anyway.

Costa Rica is a wonderful place to live, and we say that as people who moved here. But moving to Costa Rica is not right for everyone. Costs have risen, the paperwork is slow, and the culture asks you to change pace. Here are ten honest reasons to think twice before you commit.

We sell homes and manage vacation rentals in Playas del Coco, so you might expect us to tell you paradise has no downsides. We would rather you arrive with clear eyes. The expats who stay happy here are the ones who understood the tradeoffs before the shipping container arrived. These are the ten things we ask everyone to sit with before moving to Costa Rica.

1. Spanish is still the language of real life

Plenty of people in Coco speak English. Government offices, clinics, mechanics and utility companies mostly do not. Contracts, legal notices and tax filings arrive in Spanish, and the official version is the one that counts. You can get by in a tourist town without the language, but you cannot fully run your life. If you are not willing to study, every errand takes longer and you will always depend on someone else to translate. That dependence gets old faster than you think.

2. Costa Rica is not the bargain it used to be

The days of living well here on very little are mostly gone. Groceries, restaurants, insurance and anything imported cost real money, and beach towns in Guanacaste run higher than the Central Valley. Some things are still cheaper than in the US or Canada, like fresh produce, labor and property taxes, but a North American lifestyle costs North American money. We break down real numbers in our guide to the cost of living in Costa Rica. Budget honestly, then add a margin.

3. The strong colon has shrunk dollar budgets

This is the change that surprises 2026 arrivals the most. The colon has been one of the strongest currencies in the world against the dollar. In early August 2026 it traded near 454 colones per dollar, roughly 10 percent stronger than a year before and the strongest level in more than a decade, a run analyzed by OMFIF. If your income is in dollars, everything priced in colones (rent, labor, utilities, groceries) became more expensive for you without a single local price changing. Nobody can promise you where the exchange rate goes next. Plan for it to stay strong.

4. Residency takes patience and proof of income

Moving to Costa Rica full time means qualifying for residency, and you cannot simply decide to stay. The common routes in 2026 are pensionado (a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 per month), rentista (stable income of $2,500 per month for two years, or a $60,000 deposit in a Costa Rican bank), and inversionista (an investment of at least $150,000). Applications routinely take six months to a year, though the process has improved: since early 2026, designated Banco de Costa Rica service points can issue the DIMEX residency card the same day once you are approved. Requirements change, so confirm current rules with a licensed immigration attorney before you plan around them.

5. You cannot just take a local job

Costa Rica protects its local labor market. Temporary residents in the pensionado and rentista categories are not allowed to work as employees, and work permits for foreigners are hard to get. Most working expats here earn remotely from abroad. The digital nomad visa requires proof of at least $3,000 per month in foreign income for an individual, or $4,000 for a family. If your plan is to land in a beach town and find a job, that plan will fail. Bring your income with you.

6. Family and friends are a flight away

This one has no workaround. Grandchildren grow, parents age, and you will miss birthdays, graduations and some hard moments. Liberia international airport serves our corner of Guanacaste with direct flights to many US and Canadian cities, which helps more than people expect. It still is not the same as being there. The expats who struggle most here are usually not struggling with Costa Rica. They are struggling with distance. Be honest with yourself about how often you will actually fly home, and what that costs.

7. The climate will test you

Guanacaste's dry season means months of heat and sun with almost no rain, and air conditioning bills to match. The green season brings afternoon downpours that peak around September and October, when some businesses quiet down and mold finds anything leather left in a closet. Add humidity, dust, salt air and insects, and your possessions simply age faster here. Many of us love the rhythm of the two seasons. Some people never adjust to the absence of a crisp fall day. Visit in both seasons before you decide.

8. Healthcare is good, but it runs at two speeds

Costa Rica's public system, the Caja, covers legal residents, and enrollment is mandatory once your residency is approved. Premiums are income-based, commonly in the range of 7 to 11 percent of declared income. Emergency care is immediate, but non-urgent specialist referrals can take months and elective surgery can take far longer. That is why most expats blend the Caja with private care, where a specialist visit typically costs $80 to $120 and major procedures run a fraction of US prices. Budget for both, and confirm current premiums with an accountant when you apply.

9. Cars and roads cost more than you expect

Vehicles are one of the biggest sticker shocks. Import taxes run from 52.29 percent of a newer car's assessed value up to 79.03 percent for vehicles six years old or older, according to CostaRicaLaw.com, which is why used cars cost far more here than in the US. Main highways are decent, but plenty of secondary roads are rough, and the rainy season is hard on all of them. We wrote more in our guide to driving in Costa Rica. A high-clearance vehicle is not a luxury in most of Guanacaste.

10. Buying property works differently here

There is no nationwide MLS, anyone can call themselves an agent, and beachfront land is often concession property with its own rules rather than titled land. None of this is a reason to avoid buying. It is a reason to slow down, work with a SUGEF-registered brokerage and hire your own attorney. Start with our guides on how to buy a home in Costa Rica and concession vs. titled properties before you fall in love with a listing.

So should you still move to Costa Rica?

For many people, yes. We did, and we would do it again. Every reason above has an answer: learn some Spanish, budget for the strong colon, rent before you buy, and treat residency as a marathon. US and Canadian citizens can typically receive up to 180 days per entry as tourists, which makes a proper trial run easy. Spend a season here, including part of the green season, before you commit to moving to Costa Rica for good. If the tradeoffs read like a fair deal rather than a warning, you will probably love it here. And if you saw yourself nodding along happily, read our companion piece on the 10 best reasons to move to Costa Rica.

When you are ready to test the water, we can help. Expat Properties | CR lives and works in Playas del Coco: browse our current listings, look at vacation rentals for your scouting trip, or send us your questions. We will give you the same honest answers you just read.

Frequently asked questions

Is Costa Rica expensive to live in now?

It is no longer a budget destination. Imported goods, cars and beach-town housing cost real money, and the colon traded near a decade-high of about 454 per dollar in August 2026, which cut the local buying power of dollar incomes by roughly 10 percent in a year. Produce, labor and property taxes remain cheaper than in the US.

How long can Americans and Canadians stay in Costa Rica without residency?

US and Canadian tourists can typically receive up to 180 days per entry, though immigration officers have discretion to grant fewer days. Staying longer requires leaving and re-entering or applying for residency, and applicants with a file in process may legally remain while it is decided. Confirm your situation with an immigration attorney.

Do expats have to join Costa Rica's public healthcare system?

Yes. Once temporary or permanent residency is approved, enrollment in the Caja is mandatory, with income-based premiums commonly around 7 to 11 percent of declared income. Coverage includes pre-existing conditions, but non-urgent care involves long waits, so most expats also use private clinics, where a specialist visit typically costs $80 to $120.

Cover photo: s4nt1, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Openverse · Photo: Juhele_CZ, CC0 1.0, via Openverse