Moving to Gabon from Costa Rica

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Costa Rica to Gabon, and you’d need to navigate life in French.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CR
15.5
GA
12.5

Gabon 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
GA
$673
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CR
26.4
GA
4.8

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

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CR
15.0
GA
53.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CR
1.6t
GA
2.0t

Costa Rica performs better than Gabon 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
GA
3.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CR
5.9%
GA
0.5%

Costa Rica generally does better on infrastructure, though Gabon leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CR
8.3%
GA
20.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CR
$25,800
GA
$19,800

Costa Rica performs better than Gabon 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
GA
69.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CR
8.4
GA
28.6

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

Data: Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica, 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

Libreville Rain: 111.9 in/yr (2842 mm)
83° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months San Jose Libreville
Jan–Mar 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) 86°/75°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) 84°/74°F (29°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) 81°/72°F (27°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) 83°/74°F (28°/23°C)
View all months
Month San Jose Libreville
Jan 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) 85°/75°F (29.5°/24.1°C)
Feb 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C)
Mar 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) 86°/75°F (30.2°/23.9°C)
Apr 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.1°C)
May 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) 85°/75°F (29.4°/24.0°C)
Jun 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) 82°/74°F (27.6°/23.2°C)
Jul 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) 80°/72°F (26.4°/22.1°C)
Aug 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) 80°/71°F (26.8°/21.8°C)
Sep 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) 82°/74°F (27.5°/23.2°C)
Oct 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) 82°/74°F (28.0°/23.4°C)
Nov 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.4°C)
Dec 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) 84°/74°F (29.0°/23.4°C)

Data: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional Instituto Meteorológico Nacional

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Costa Rica passport

Costa Rica passport holder visiting Gabon

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Costa Rica passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Gabon.
Gabon passport

Gabon passport holder visiting Costa Rica

Visa Required
Gabon 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 Gabon?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Gabon has 3.4 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 Gabon safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Gabon compared to Costa Rica?

Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Gabon leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Gabon, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Gabon scores 49 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Libreville is 83°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Libreville receives around 111.9 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.

What language do they speak in Gabon?

The official language in Gabon is French. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CR GA
Population 5,204,411 2,340,613
Currency Costa Rican Colón (CRC) CFA Franc BEAC (FCFA)
Languages Spanish French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +506 +241
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911