Moving to Costa Rica from Cayman Islands

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Cayman Islands to Costa Rica — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Cayman Islands to Costa Rica, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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?

Real numbers on people moving from Cayman Islands to Costa Rica, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
9 ↑ 12% vs 2015

people born in Cayman Islands live in Costa Rica · UN DESA

Who's moving to Costa Rica?

Top countries of origin for Costa Rica's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Cayman Islands and Costa Rica stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

KY
4.5
CR
17.4

Cayman Islands 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

KY
5.0t
CR
1.6t

Costa Rica performs significantly better than Cayman Islands across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KY
58.7
CR
21.3

Cayman Islands performs better than Costa Rica across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KY
4.0%
CR
8.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KY
$71,400
CR
$25,800

Cayman Islands performs better than Costa Rica across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KY
82.0 yrs
CR
79.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KY
7.7
CR
8.4

Cayman Islands generally does better on family life, though Costa Rica leads in education spending.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Tourism and Development, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cayman Islands 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 Cayman Islands

Visa Free
Costa Rica passport holders can enter Cayman Islands without a visa.

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?

With 21.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Costa Rica can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Cayman Islands and Costa Rica.

Is Costa Rica safe for expats?

Cayman Islands performs better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Costa Rica is 17.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.5 in Cayman Islands.

What language do they speak in Costa Rica?

The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Cayman Islands, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

KY CR
Population 64,309 5,204,411
Currency Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD) Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1345 +506
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911