Costa Rica is a mountainous, rainforest-covered Central American country with Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Costa Rica is famed for its beaches, volcanoes, and wildlife, despite the fact that its capital, San Jose, is home to cultural institutions such as the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. A fourth of the land area is protected rainforest, which is abundant with species like spider monkeys and quetzal birds.
The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide To Costa Rica
Living in Costa Rica Overview
Costa Rica has strong levels of connection, allowing digital nomads to stay in contact with their businesses from anywhere in the globe. Costa Rica is an appealing place for digital nomads due to its geographic position, temperature, timezone, air connections, and tourist experience.
Costa Rica is an excellent place to live for a variety of reasons. It is popular with retirees, students, digital nomads, and families seeking a beautiful, safe, and serene environment. The Central American country has a huge and welcoming expat population, making it simple to make new acquaintances and connections.
While it is feasible to live in Costa Rica on $1,000 per month, you will enjoy life more if you stretch your budget and allow for extra activities and events. A monthly salary of $1,400 is adequate for a comfortable living in many desirable parts of the country.
It is simple to live in Costa Rica since foreigners have the same rights as locals when it comes to renting or purchasing a home. The challenge comes from competing with other expats for your ideal tropical house. There are no restrictions on the sort of residence that non-residents can rent or buy in Costa Rica.
Work in Costa Rica
Becoming a permanent resident is the primary criterion for working in Costa Rica. It is possible to work with temporary permission, but only on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of the Department of Immigration. Being a highly competent worker is one approach to securing a job and a work visa in Costa Rica.
The remote worker visa allows foreign citizens to work remotely from Costa Rica, whereas other visa types in Costa Rica either need firm sponsorship or do not grant work authorization immediately. Local employment is limited. Visa holders are not permitted to work in Costa Rica for a living.
The primary requirements are proof of a minimum consistent monthly income of $US3,000 ($4,000 for a family) for the preceding year, as well as proof of health insurance for the year you’re applying for.
This Central American country has several benefits that make it a perfect destination for digital nomads and those seeking a change of scenery. There are several reasons why remote workers may consider moving to Costa Rica, from its beautiful beaches to its inexpensive cost of living.
5 Best Places to Work in Costa Rica
Uvita
Uvita is the main town on the Costa Ballena in the Southern Zone (Whale Coast). It is located between Dominical and Ojochal to the north and south, respectively. People are drawn to this region of the country because it is always emerald green all year. It’s the type of setting you to imagine when you see Costa Rica tourist brochures. Mountains filled with wildlife contrast with empty beaches—waves pounding, birds soaring, monkeys chirping. There are no skyscrapers or fast-food restaurants here.
Quepos/Manuel Antonio
Quepos and Manuel Antonio are sister cities on the country’s Central Coast. This region of Costa Rica is magnificent, and there’s a reason why expats flock here. Pez Vela, a world-class marina in one of the most magnificent locations on the planet, is located in Quepos. It has 195 wet slips and dry docks for boats up to 200 feet long. This location draws fishermen, deep-sea competitions, and seafaring boats from all over the world due to its worldwide facilities.
Playas del Coco
Coco is also known as Coco Beach. If you want a lot of suns, here is the spot to be in Costa Rica—in the northwest part of the nation, in the Guanacaste region. It is consistently warm to hot 95 degrees Fahrenheit, seldom dropping below 78 degrees Fahrenheit even on the coldest and sunniest days of the year. Even during the “rainy” season, there are plenty of sunny breaks.
Atenas
Atenas people have the best of both worlds because they live in the central valley, less than 45 minutes west of San José on a new tollway. Living in a smaller town but still being near to everything the capital has to offer.
Concerts, ballets, museums, great cuisine, shopping, world-class medical centers, and the larger international airport in adjacent suburban Alajuela—Juan Santamaria International Airport. If you want to spend the weekend at the beach, the nearest beach in Jaco is around an hour away. Yet if you never want to leave town, everything you need is right at your fingertips.
Nuevo Arenal
In comparison to the other places on this list, Nuevo Arenal is probably the smallest and most rural. Yet, it is not isolated. Your daily life necessities, such as petrol stations, shops, pharmacy, and banks, are all conveniently located in town. Additionally, because the region around Arenal Volcano is such a famous tourist destination, there are plenty of restaurants on the north side of the lake, ranging from high-end food to local sodas (small family-owned restaurants severing local Costa Rican cuisine).
