Moving to Costa Rica from California
What to Expect
Considering a move from California to Costa Rica? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from California to Costa Rica, you would find that Costa Rica is 42.4% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly CRC19,700,000 in Costa Rica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Costa Rica cheaper than California?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 33.8% less
Groceries
pay 18.8% less
Transportation
pay 12.8% less
Housing
pay 65.8% less
Childcare
pay 55.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 38.0% 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.
What salary do you need in Costa Rica?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CRC19,700,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Costa Rica
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Costa Rica
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from California to Costa Rica.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to California.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
California performs better than Costa Rica across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California 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
California 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 California across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Costa Rica vs California
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Los Angeles | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/49°F (21°/10°C) | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Los Angeles | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°/48°F (20.1°/8.8°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) |
| Feb | 69°/49°F (20.3°/9.6°C) | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 70°/51°F (21.2°/10.6°C) | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 73°/53°F (22.6°/11.9°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) |
| May | 74°/57°F (23.6°/13.9°C) | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) |
| Jun | 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.7°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) |
| Jul | 83°/64°F (28.4°/17.6°C) | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) |
| Aug | 84°/64°F (29.1°/17.8°C) | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) |
| Sep | 83°/63°F (28.4°/17.3°C) | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) |
| Oct | 78°/59°F (25.8°/14.8°C) | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) |
| Nov | 73°/52°F (22.7°/11.1°C) | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) |
| Dec | 68°/47°F (19.8°/8.6°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional
Can you move from California to Costa Rica?
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 California?
On average Costa Rica is about 42% less expensive than California, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Costa Rica?
Budget about CRC4,925,000 for 3 months in Costa Rica (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Costa Rica?
From major Costa Rica cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Costa Rica are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to California?
California performs better than Costa Rica across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Costa Rica compared to California?
The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 75°F in Los Angeles. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while Los Angeles gets 14.9 in.
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In California, the official language is English.
