Moving to Costa Rica from American Samoa

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from American Samoa to Costa Rica — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from American Samoa to Costa Rica, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from American Samoa to Costa Rica.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

AS
0.0
CR
17.4

American Samoa performs better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AS
0.0t
CR
1.6t

American Samoa performs better than Costa Rica across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

AS
40.3%
CR
83.0%

Costa Rica performs significantly better than American Samoa across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AS
29.8%
CR
8.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AS
$11,200
CR
$25,800

Costa Rica performs significantly better than American Samoa across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AS
75.3 yrs
CR
79.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AS
10.1
CR
8.4

Costa Rica performs significantly better than American Samoa across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between American Samoa and Costa Rica. To live, work, or study long-term in Costa Rica, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Costa Rica's immigration authority.

Costa Rica passport

Costa Rica passport holder visiting American Samoa

Visa Required
Costa Rica passport holders need a visa to enter American Samoa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Costa Rica?

Usually fine from major cities in Costa Rica. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Costa Rica safe for expats?

American Samoa performs better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Costa Rica is 17.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.0 in American Samoa.

What language do they speak in Costa Rica?

The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In American Samoa, the official languages are English and Samoan.

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At a Glance

AS CR
Population 45,443 5,204,411
Currency United States Dollar ($) Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Languages English, Samoan Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1684 +506
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911