Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Northern Mariana Islands, you would:

Health

live 2.0 years longer

In Northern Mariana Islands, the average life expectancy is 79 years (77 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Costa Rica, that number is 81 years (78 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

make 16.0% less money

Northern Mariana Islands has a GDP per capita of $23,786 as of 2022, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $19,970 as of 2025.

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Life

be 27.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Northern Mariana Islands, approximately 12.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Costa Rica, on the other hand, 9.1 children do as of 2024.

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have 17.5% fewer children

In Northern Mariana Islands, there are approximately 12.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Costa Rica, there are 10.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 3.5 times more likely to have internet access

In Northern Mariana Islands, approximately 25.1% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Costa Rica, about 87.2% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 13.0% less coastline

Northern Mariana Islands has a total of 1,482 km of coastline. In Costa Rica, that number is 1,290 km.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022). How we calculate this

Compare further: Northern Mariana Islands vs. Costa Rica

Cost of Living Comparison · 6 categories - 2026 data
Costa Rica is 6.2% cheaper than Northern Mariana Islands overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
Northern Mariana Islands is about 110 times smaller than Costa Rica.
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Moving from Northern Mariana Islands to Costa Rica · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Costa Rica: At a glance

Costa Rica is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 51,060 sq km. Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.
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How big is Costa Rica compared to Northern Mariana Islands? See an in-depth size comparison.

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