Moving to Maldives from Costa Rica

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Costa Rica to Maldives — from daily expenses to quality of life.

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

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Costa Rica and Maldives stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CR
17.4
MV
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CR
15.5
MV
1.3

Maldives 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
MV
$2,288
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CR
26.4
MV
21.6

Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Maldives leads in adult obesity rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CR
15.0
MV
29.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CR
1.6t
MV
3.6t

Costa Rica performs better than Maldives 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
MV
17.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CR
5.9%
MV
15.7%

Costa Rica generally does better on infrastructure, though Maldives leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CR
8.3%
MV
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CR
$25,800
MV
$22,400

Maldives generally does better on employment & economy, though Costa Rica leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CR
79.6 yrs
MV
76.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CR
8.4
MV
25.7

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

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Costa Rica passport

Costa Rica passport holder visiting Maldives

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

Maldives passport holder visiting Costa Rica

Visa Free
Maldives 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 Maldives?

With 17.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Maldives can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Costa Rica and Maldives.

Is Maldives safe for expats?

Maldives performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Maldives is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.

How is healthcare in Maldives compared to Costa Rica?

Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Maldives leads in adult obesity rate. There are 21.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Maldives, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Maldives scores 61 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).

What language do they speak in Maldives?

The official language in Maldives is Maldivian. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CR MV
Population 5,204,411 390,164
Currency Costa Rican Colón (CRC) Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
Languages Spanish Maldivian
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +506 +960
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911