Moving to Dominica from Costa Rica

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What to Expect

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

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

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CR
17.4
DM
13.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CR
15.5
DM
11.0

Dominica performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CR
$1,928
DM
$968
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CR
26.4
DM
11.2

Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominica leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CR
1.6t
DM
1.3t

Dominica performs significantly better than Costa Rica 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

CR
21.3
DM
19.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CR
5.9%
DM
10.0%

Costa Rica performs better than Dominica 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%
DM
23.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CR
$25,800
DM
$15,900

Costa Rica performs better than Dominica 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
DM
78.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CR
8.4
DM
11.3

Costa Rica performs better than Dominica across all family life metrics.

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

Roseau Rain: 101.4 in/yr (2575 mm)
85° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months San Jose Roseau
Jan–Mar 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) 82°/71°F (28°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) 85°/74°F (30°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) 87°/76°F (30°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) 84°/73°F (29°/23°C)
View all months
Month San Jose Roseau
Jan 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) 82°/71°F (28.0°/21.8°C)
Feb 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) 82°/71°F (28.0°/21.6°C)
Mar 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) 83°/71°F (28.4°/21.8°C)
Apr 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) 84°/72°F (29.1°/22.5°C)
May 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) 85°/75°F (29.6°/23.7°C)
Jun 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.5°C)
Jul 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) 86°/76°F (30.2°/24.6°C)
Aug 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) 87°/76°F (30.5°/24.3°C)
Sep 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.8°C)
Oct 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.2°C)
Nov 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Dec 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) 83°/72°F (28.6°/22.2°C)

Data: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional Instituto Meteorológico Nacional

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Costa Rica passport

Costa Rica passport holder visiting Dominica

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

Dominica passport holder visiting Costa Rica

Visa Free
Dominica passport holders can enter Costa Rica 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 Dominica?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Dominica has 19.5 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 Dominica safe for expats?

Dominica performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Dominica is 13.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.

How is healthcare in Dominica compared to Costa Rica?

Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominica leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 11.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Dominica, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Dominica scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Roseau is 85°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Roseau receives around 101.4 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.

What language do they speak in Dominica?

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

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At a Glance

CR DM
Population 5,204,411 74,629
Currency Costa Rican Colón (CRC) East Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
Languages Spanish English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +506 +1767
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911