Moving to Cabo Verde from Costa Rica

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Costa Rica to Cabo Verde — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Costa Rica to Cabo Verde, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Costa Rica to Cabo Verde.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CR
17.4
CV
6.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CR
15.5
CV
16.5

Costa Rica generally does better on safety, though Cabo Verde leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CR
$1,928
CV
$616
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CR
26.4
CV
44.6

Cabo Verde generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CR
15.0
CV
59.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CR
1.6t
CV
1.3t

Costa Rica generally does better on environment, though Cabo Verde leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CR
21.3
CV
5.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CR
5.9%
CV
57.2%

Costa Rica performs better than Cabo Verde across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CR
8.3%
CV
12.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CR
$25,800
CV
$8,200

Costa Rica performs better than Cabo Verde across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CR
79.6 yrs
CV
73.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CR
8.4
CV
23.5

Costa Rica generally does better on family life, though Cabo Verde 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.

San Jose Rain: 73.5 in/yr (1866 mm)
77° / 61°F

Avg. annual high / low

Praia Rain: 2.8 in/yr (70 mm)
79° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months San Jose Praia
Jan–Mar 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) 76°/None°F (24°/None°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) 78°/None°F (25°/None°C)
Jul–Sep 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) 83°/None°F (28°/None°C)
Oct–Dec 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) 80°/None°F (27°/None°C)
View all months
Month San Jose Praia
Jan 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) 75°/None°F (24.0°/None°C)
Feb 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) 75°/None°F (24.1°/None°C)
Mar 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C)
Apr 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C)
May 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) 78°/None°F (25.3°/None°C)
Jun 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) 79°/None°F (26.0°/None°C)
Jul 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) 81°/None°F (27.2°/None°C)
Aug 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) 84°/None°F (28.8°/None°C)
Sep 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) 85°/None°F (29.3°/None°C)
Oct 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) 83°/None°F (28.6°/None°C)
Nov 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) 81°/None°F (27.3°/None°C)
Dec 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) 77°/None°F (25.2°/None°C)

Data: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional Instituto Meteorológico Nacional

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and Cabo Verde. To live, work, or study long-term in Cabo Verde, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Cabo Verde's immigration authority.

Costa Rica passport

Costa Rica passport holder visiting Cabo Verde

Visa on Arrival
Costa Rica passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Cabo Verde.
Cabo Verde passport

Cabo Verde passport holder visiting Costa Rica

Visa Required
Cabo Verde passport holders need a visa to enter Costa Rica.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Cabo Verde?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Cabo Verde has 5.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Cabo Verde safe for expats?

Costa Rica generally does better on safety, though Cabo Verde leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Cabo Verde is 6.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.

How is healthcare in Cabo Verde compared to Costa Rica?

Cabo Verde generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in health coverage index. There are 44.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Cabo Verde, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Cabo Verde scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).

What's the weather like in Cabo Verde compared to Costa Rica?

The average high temperature in Praia is 79°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Praia receives around 2.8 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.

What language do they speak in Cabo Verde?

The official language in Cabo Verde is Portuguese. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CR CV
Population 5,204,411 596,707
Currency Costa Rican Colón (CRC) Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE)
Languages Spanish Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +506 +238
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911