Moving to Costa Rica from Belize
What to Expect
Considering a move from Belize to Costa Rica? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Belize to Costa Rica. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Jose averages 77°F vs 88°F in Belmopan, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Belize to Costa Rica.
Who's moving to Costa Rica?
Top countries of origin for Costa Rica's foreign-born residents.
- 350,854
- 28,214
- 25,530
- 16,682
- 15,209
- 13,711
- · · ·
-
38.167
Belize
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to Belize.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Belize across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Belize generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Belize generally does better on environment, though Costa Rica leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Costa Rica generally does better on infrastructure, though Belize leads in water stress level.
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
Costa Rica generally does better on employment & economy, though Belize leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Costa Rica generally does better on family life, though Belize leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Belmopan | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/71°F (33°/21°C) | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/68°F (29°/20°C) | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Belmopan | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82°/64°F (28.0°/17.7°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) |
| Feb | 85°/64°F (29.2°/17.6°C) | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 88°/65°F (31.2°/18.5°C) | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 91°/68°F (32.8°/20.0°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) |
| May | 93°/71°F (34.1°/21.6°C) | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) |
| Jun | 90°/73°F (32.3°/22.6°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) |
| Jul | 89°/72°F (31.7°/22.0°C) | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) |
| Aug | 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.9°C) | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) |
| Sep | 89°/72°F (31.8°/22.1°C) | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) |
| Oct | 87°/70°F (30.8°/21.3°C) | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) |
| Nov | 85°/68°F (29.2°/20.0°C) | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) |
| Dec | 82°/66°F (28.0°/18.7°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) |
Data:
National Meteorological Service of Belize,
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belize 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.
Belize passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa Free
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Belize
Visa FreeData: 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?
Connectivity is usually fine (Costa Rica: 21.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Costa Rica offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Costa Rica safe for expats?
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Belize across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Costa Rica is 17.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 27.9 in Belize.
How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to Belize?
Belize generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Costa Rica, compared to 10.8 in Belize. Costa Rica scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belize: 68).
What's the weather like in Costa Rica compared to Belize?
The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 88°F in Belmopan. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while Belmopan gets 79.5 in.
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Belize, the official languages are Belizean Creole, English and Spanish.
