Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Texas, you would:

Health

be 11.1% less likely to be obese

In Texas, 36.8% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Costa Rica, that number is 32.7% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 75.4% more likely to be unemployed

In Texas, 3.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Costa Rica, that number is 6.8% as of 2025.

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be 35.7% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Texas, 12.6% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Costa Rica, however, that number is 17.1% as of 2025.

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make 71.5% less money

Texas has a GDP per capita of $70,071 as of 2024, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $19,970 as of 2025.

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Sources: World Bank (2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: Texas vs. Costa Rica

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Costa Rica is 21.0% cheaper than Texas
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Size Comparison · See true size
Texas is about 13 times bigger than Costa Rica.
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Moving from Texas 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 Texas? See an in-depth size comparison.

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