Escazú vs Santa Ana: Which Is Better for Expats?

The two favorite expat suburbs west of San José, compared on climate, lifestyle, health care, schools and access to the beach.

Escazú and Santa Ana are the two most popular expat suburbs west of San José, and they sit side by side. Escazú is more upscale, cooler and closer to the city, with Hospital CIMA, big malls and international schools. Santa Ana is sunnier, drier and more relaxed, with more space. Both sit on the highway to the Pacific beaches.

Buyers who plan to live near the capital, or to split their time between the city and a beach home, ask us about these two all the time. Here is how they compare.

Escazú at a glance

Escazú climbs from the valley floor into the mountains southwest of San José. It is often called the country's Beverly Hills, and it has the largest English-speaking community in Costa Rica. You will find gated communities, modern condo towers, large homes with city views, country clubs and some of the country's best restaurants.

Escazú's biggest practical advantages are health care and shopping. Hospital CIMA, accredited by Joint Commission International, is here, and so are Multiplaza and Avenida Escazú, two of the country's biggest shopping centers. Several international and bilingual schools are in or near Escazú. Downtown San José is a short drive away outside rush hour.

The old center of Escazú still feels like a Costa Rican town, with a church and park, and the higher parts of the canton keep a rural, agricultural character with cooler air and views over the valley.

Santa Ana at a glance

Santa Ana is just west of Escazú and feels more suburban. The law firm ECIJA describes it as more relaxed, with larger homes with gardens, green spaces and a warmer, drier microclimate. It is popular with young families, retirees and remote workers, and has a growing number of coworking spaces, restaurants and shopping centers, particularly around Lindora.

Santa Ana keeps a small-town center of its own, and its countryside is known for horseback riding, golf and constant breezes. It is a little farther from downtown San José than Escazú, and a little closer to the Pacific.

Head to head

Climate

Santa Ana is warmer, drier and sunnier. Escazú is cooler, especially in the hills. If you love sunshine and dislike damp, Santa Ana usually wins. If you like cool evenings, look at the upper parts of Escazú.

Health care

Escazú has the edge with Hospital CIMA close by. Santa Ana has its own private medical services, and CIMA is a short drive away. For a full picture, see our guide to private hospitals in San José.

Schools

Both are well placed for international and bilingual schools, with several in or near Escazú. Visit in person and ask about curriculum, accreditation and transport before choosing a home, because a school run across the valley at rush hour is a daily cost.

Lifestyle

Escazú is more cosmopolitan and English-friendly, with fine dining and malls. Santa Ana is quieter, more outdoorsy and more family-oriented, with more space for gardens and pets.

Traffic and access

Both depend on the same congested corridors. Route 27 passes through both, which is great for reaching the airport side of the valley and the Pacific, and painful at rush hour. If you will commute to the east side of San José every day, neither is ideal.

Beach access

This is where these suburbs shine. The Central Pacific beaches at Jacó and Playa Hermosa are roughly an hour and a half away on Route 27, so a weekend beach house is realistic from either one.

So which should you choose?

Choose Escazú if you want top private health care minutes away, an English-friendly community, malls and fine dining, and the shortest drive into the city.

Choose Santa Ana if you want more sunshine, a garden or larger lot, a calmer suburban rhythm and a head start on the road to the beach.

Either way, rent first if you can, and drive your daily routes at rush hour before you buy. Our San José neighborhood guide covers the other areas expats consider, from Rohrmoser to Barrio Escalante.

Living in a gated community or a condo tower

In both suburbs, most expats choose between three kinds of homes: a house inside a gated community, an apartment in a condo tower or low-rise building, or a standalone home on its own lot. Each comes with its own trade-offs.

• Gated communities offer security, shared green areas and often a pool or clubhouse. Ask about HOA fees, what they cover, reserve funds and the rules on pets, rentals and renovations.
• Condo towers are popular in Escazú for their views, gyms and lock-and-leave convenience, which suits people who travel or split time with a beach home.
• Standalone homes give you the most freedom and space, especially in Santa Ana, but you take on security, maintenance and gardening yourself.

Our guide to buying a condo in Costa Rica lists the documents to request before you make an offer, and our nine due diligence checks apply to any purchase.

Rent first, then buy

We say this to almost every buyer moving to the Central Valley: rent for a few months before you buy. Live through some rainy season afternoons, drive to the hospital, school and supermarket at rush hour, and spend weekends in both suburbs. A neighborhood that looks perfect on a Sunday can feel very different on a Tuesday at 7:30 in the morning.

When you rent, pay attention to the micro-location. In Escazú, a home high in the hills has cooler air and views but a longer, steeper drive down; a condo near the malls is convenient but busier. In Santa Ana, the difference between a home near the highway and one out in the countryside is the difference between a quick commute and a quiet garden.

Other suburbs worth a look

Escazú and Santa Ana are not the only options. Ciudad Colón, a little farther west, is quieter and more rural. Rohrmoser puts you in the city near La Sabana Park and the embassies. On the east side, Los Yoses, Barrio Escalante and Curridabat offer walkability and a more Costa Rican rhythm. Heredia, north of the city, is greener and generally more affordable. Our San José neighborhood guide reviews the main ones.

City base, beach home

Many of our clients live in Escazú or Santa Ana and keep a beach home on the Central Pacific or in Guanacaste. Expat Properties | CR helps buyers plan that combination, from comparing beach towns to managing the beach home as a rental when you are not using it. Start the conversation whenever you are ready.

Frequently asked questions

Is Escazú or Santa Ana more expensive?

Both are among the most expensive areas around San José. Escazú, especially San Rafael and the hills, generally carries the highest prices for condos and homes near the malls and Hospital CIMA. Santa Ana offers somewhat more space for the money in places, with larger lots and gardens, but prices vary a lot by community.

Which is warmer, Escazú or Santa Ana?

Santa Ana. It sits just west of Escazú and has a warmer, drier microclimate with more sunshine, which many residents love. Escazú is cooler, especially higher up in the hills, where evenings can call for a sweater. Both are far milder than the coast, and many homes in either suburb have no air conditioning.

Which is better for getting to the beach?

Both sit on Route 27, the toll highway toward the Pacific, so both are well placed for weekends in Jacó or Playa Hermosa, roughly an hour and a half away. Santa Ana is slightly farther west, so its residents are often already past the worst of the traffic heading out of the city.

Cover photo: MongeNajera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Loganx1221, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons