Costa Rica — Pura Vida — is a long-standing favourite of North American and European expats. Stable democracy, no standing army, excellent healthcare, lush biodiversity and a well-developed expat infrastructure make it one of the easiest countries in Latin America to settle in.
最后更新：2026年3月 — 编辑团队, eVisa-Card.com
| 首都 | San José |
| 货币 | Costa Rican Colón (CRC) / USD |
| 语言 | Spanish |
| 月均花费 | ~$1,500–2,800/month |
| 签证类型 | 详情 |
|---|---|
| Pensionado (Retiree Visa) | Requires a guaranteed lifetime pension of $1,000/month from a government or private source. Permanent residency. Must spend 183 days/year in Costa Rica to maintain status. Popular with US and Canadian retirees. |
| Rentista (Passive Income Visa) | For those with passive income (not pension): $2,500/month OR one-time bank deposit of $60,000. 2-year permit, renewable. Must reside 183 days/year. |
| Inversionista (Investor Visa) | Investment of $150,000+ in Costa Rican property, business or government bonds. Permanent residency. No minimum stay requirement. |
| Digital Nomad Visa | For remote workers. Income $3,000/month (individual) or $4,000/month (family). 1-year permit, renewable once. No local work allowed. |
| Temporary Resident (Work) | Sponsored by a Costa Rican employer. For skilled professionals. 2-year permit. |
Costa Rica's CAJA (Caja 费用arricense de Seguro Social) is widely regarded as one of the best public healthcare systems in Latin America. All legal residents must enrol and pay monthly contributions (~$50–150/month based on income). Covers doctor visits, hospitalisation, surgery, maternity and prescription medicines.
Private clinics and hospitals operate alongside the public system. CIMA Hospital (San José), Clínica Bíblica, Clínica Católica and Hospital Clínica Bíblica offer English-speaking doctors and US-comparable standards at 40–60% lower costs.
| 服务 | 费用 |
|---|---|
| CAJA monthly contribution (resident) | ~$50–150/month (income-based) |
| CAJA consultation (covered) | Free or nominal co-pay |
| 私人全科医生咨询 | $60–100 |
| Private specialist | $80–200 |
| Private hospitalisation (每晚) | $400–1,200 |
| 洁牙 (private) | $60–100 |
While the CAJA public system is comprehensive, wait times for non-emergency specialist care and some procedures can be long. Supplementary private insurance provides immediate access to private hospitals and is also useful for the period before CAJA enrolment is active.
A Costa Rican bank account is needed to pay rent, utilities and CAJA contributions, and to receive local salary or pension transfers. The process has become more regulated but remains manageable.
Costa Rica has no restrictions on foreign property ownership — foreigners have the same rights as citizens. The property market is well-established, with a large inventory of expat-friendly properties particularly in the Central Valley, Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio and the Southern Zone.
| Item | 费用 |
|---|---|
| Property transfer tax | 1.5% of registered value |
| Notary fees | 1.25–1.5% of sale price |
| National Registry recording fee | ~0.5% |
| 律师费 | 1–2% of purchase price |
| 年度房产税 (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) | 0.25% of appraised value |
| Annual municipality luxury tax (if applicable) | 0.25–0.55% on values over ¢133M (~$245,000) |
本指南由eVisa-Card.com编辑团队研究和维护。 最后更新：2026年3月。 在做出重大决定之前，请始终向官方政府来源核实当前要求，并咨询持牌专业人员。
资本利得税: 0% on foreign-source income (territorial)
Use our free tax exile simulator to compare your tax savings in Costa Rica. 使用我们的互动模拟器比较27个以上国家的税率
税务信息仅供一般参考。在做出移居决定前，请咨询合格的税务顾问。
编辑团队 — eVisa-Card.com
Expat guides written by travel experts, immigration specialists and expats with first-hand experience in Costa Rica.
✔ 经过核实的信息 ✔ 更新于2026年3月 ✔ 引用官方来源