Moving to New Zealand from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Costa Rica to New Zealand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Costa Rica to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 27.9% more expensive than Costa Rica overall. A CRC33,904,791 salary in Costa Rica would need to be roughly NZ$129,311 in New Zealand to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°F vs 77°F in San Jose, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Costa Rica to New Zealand.
What does your salary buy?
CRC33,904,791 → NZ$129,311
To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 19.3% more
Groceries
pay 5.9% more
Transportation
pay 7.3% more
Housing
pay 29.9% more
Childcare
pay 31.9% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 99.0% 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?
How many people actually move from Costa Rica to New Zealand, based on official data.
people moved from Costa Rica to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to New Zealand?
Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.
- 286,746
- 144,207
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Costa Rica to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
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 New Zealand 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
New Zealand 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
New Zealand 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
New Zealand 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 | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and New Zealand. To live, work, or study long-term in New Zealand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check New Zealand's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa Required
New Zealand 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 New Zealand than Costa Rica?
No — New Zealand is on average about 3% more expensive than Costa Rica. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly NZ$32,328 in New Zealand on a CRC33,904,791 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from New Zealand?
Internet is rarely the blocker — New Zealand has 35.9 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 New Zealand safe for expats?
New Zealand performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
