Moving to Costa Rica from Arizona
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Arizona to Costa Rica — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Arizona to Costa Rica, you would find that Costa Rica is 17.7% cheaper than Arizona. A $75,000 salary in Arizona would need to be roughly CRC29,400,706 in Costa Rica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Jose averages 77°F vs 87°F in Phoenix, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Arizona to Costa Rica.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CRC29,400,706
To maintain the same standard of living in Costa Rica
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 29.1% less
Groceries
pay 4.5% less
Transportation
pay 17.9% more
Housing
pay 53.8% less
Childcare
pay 44.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.8% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Arizona to Costa Rica, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Arizona and Costa Rica stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Arizona performs better than Costa Rica across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Arizona performs better than Costa Rica across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Arizona across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Phoenix | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 73°/49°F (23°/10°C) | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 95°/69°F (35°/20°C) | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 103°/80°F (40°/27°C) | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Phoenix | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°/46°F (20.3°/7.6°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) |
| Feb | 72°/49°F (22.1°/9.3°C) | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 78°/53°F (25.7°/11.9°C) | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.7°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) |
| May | 95°/69°F (34.8°/20.6°C) | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) |
| Jun | 104°/77°F (39.9°/25.1°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) |
| Jul | 106°/83°F (41.0°/28.1°C) | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) |
| Aug | 104°/82°F (40.1°/27.8°C) | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) |
| Sep | 100°/75°F (37.8°/24.1°C) | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) |
| Oct | 89°/64°F (31.8°/18.0°C) | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) |
| Nov | 76°/52°F (24.7°/11.1°C) | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/45°F (19.6°/7.1°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa Free
Costa Rica passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Costa Rica than Arizona?
Generally yes: Costa Rica runs about 14% cheaper than Arizona on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Costa Rica?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around CRC7,350,176 in Costa Rica for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Costa Rica?
Working remotely from Costa Rica's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Arizona and Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to Arizona?
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Arizona across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Costa Rica compared to Arizona?
The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 87°F in Phoenix. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while Phoenix gets 8.2 in.
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Arizona, the official language is English.
