Moving to Ireland from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to Ireland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 51.6% more expensive than Costa Rica overall. A CRC33,997,640 salary in Costa Rica would need to be roughly €90,028 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Irish. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°F vs 77°F in San Jose, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Costa Rica and Ireland.
What does your salary buy?
CRC33,997,640 → €90,028
To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 40.3% more
Groceries
pay 4.1% more
Transportation
pay 55.0% more
Housing
pay 2.0 times more
Childcare
pay 43.7% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.1 times more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Costa Rica to Ireland.
Who's moving to Ireland?
Top countries of origin for Ireland's foreign-born residents.
- 305,197
- 146,211
- 44,229
- 35,190
- 25,371
- 25,104
- · · ·
-
155.11
Costa Rica
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Ireland compared to Costa Rica.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Ireland performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Costa Rica generally does better on environment, though Ireland leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Ireland generally does better on infrastructure, though Costa Rica leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Costa Rica leads in top income tax rate.
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
Ireland generally does better on family life, though Costa Rica leads in education spending.
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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | San Jose | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and Ireland. To live, work, or study long-term in Ireland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ireland's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Ireland
Visa Free
Ireland passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Ireland than Costa Rica?
On average Ireland is around 37% pricier than Costa Rica, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Ireland?
Budget about €22,507 for 3 months in Ireland (based on a CRC33,997,640 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Ireland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Ireland: 32.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ireland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Ireland safe for expats?
Ireland performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Costa Rica?
Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).
What's the weather like in Ireland compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in Ireland?
The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
