Moving to Costa Rica from Cook Islands
What to Expect
Considering a move from Cook Islands to Costa Rica? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Cook 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.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓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
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to Cook Islands.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Cook Islands generally does better on safety, though Costa Rica leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
share of households with internet
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all employment & economy metrics.
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 performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cook 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 holder visiting Cook Islands
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?
Cook Islands generally does better on safety, though Costa Rica leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Costa Rica is 17.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.5 in Cook Islands.
How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to Cook Islands?
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 26.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Costa Rica, compared to 13.4 in Cook Islands. Costa Rica scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cook Islands: 46).
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Cook Islands, the official languages are Cook Islands Māori and English.
