Moving to Kentucky from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to Kentucky? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to Kentucky, you would find that Kentucky is 33.5% more expensive than Costa Rica overall. A CRC34,152,674 salary in Costa Rica would need to be roughly $76,663 in Kentucky to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English.
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 Kentucky.
What does your salary buy?
CRC34,152,674 → $76,663
To maintain the same standard of living in Kentucky
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 23.8% more
Groceries
pay 12.3% more
Transportation
pay 20.7% less
Housing
pay 66.5% more
Childcare
pay 2.3 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 35.1% 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 Kentucky.
people moved from Costa Rica to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
67.96,903
Costa Rica
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Kentucky compared to Costa Rica.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Costa Rica performs better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Kentucky performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Kentucky performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Costa Rica performs better than Kentucky across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | San Jose | Bowling Green |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 52°/31°F (11°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 78°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 87°/64°F (30°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 59°/38°F (15°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Bowling Green |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.1°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 50°/30°F (10.0°/-1.3°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 60°/37°F (15.4°/2.8°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 70°/46°F (20.9°/7.6°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.8°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 86°/64°F (30.1°/17.7°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 89°/68°F (31.9°/19.9°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 89°/66°F (31.6°/18.9°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.4°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 59°/38°F (15.2°/3.1°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 48°/29°F (8.8°/-1.6°C) |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 Kentucky than Costa Rica?
Kentucky and Costa Rica are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to Kentucky?
Budget about $19,166 for 3 months in Kentucky (based on a CRC34,152,674 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Kentucky?
From major Kentucky cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Costa Rica and Kentucky are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Kentucky compared to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica performs better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Kentucky compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Bowling Green is 69°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Bowling Green receives around 49.9 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in Kentucky?
The official language in Kentucky is English. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
