Moving to Niger from Costa Rica

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Costa Rica to Niger? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Costa Rica to Niger, and you’d need to navigate life in French. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Niamey averages 97°F vs 77°F in San Jose, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Niger compared to Costa Rica.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CR
17.4
NE
4.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CR
15.5
NE
24.9

Costa Rica generally does better on safety, though Niger leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CR
$1,928
NE
$76
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CR
26.4
NE
0.2

Niger generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CR
15.0
NE
93.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CR
1.6t
NE
0.1t

Costa Rica generally does better on environment, though Niger leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CR
21.3
NE
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CR
5.9%
NE
11.0%

Costa Rica performs better than Niger across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CR
8.3%
NE
0.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CR
$25,800
NE
$1,600

Costa Rica generally does better on employment & economy, though Niger leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CR
79.6 yrs
NE
60.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CR
8.4
NE
66.8

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

Data: 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

Niamey Rain: 21.3 in/yr (541 mm)
97° / 72°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months San Jose Niamey
Jan–Mar 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) 96°/67°F (36°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) 103°/80°F (39°/27°C)
Jul–Sep 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) 93°/74°F (34°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) 96°/68°F (36°/20°C)
View all months
Month San Jose Niamey
Jan 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) 90°/61°F (32.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) 96°/66°F (35.7°/19.0°C)
Mar 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) 102°/73°F (39.1°/22.9°C)
Apr 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) 106°/80°F (40.9°/26.5°C)
May 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) 104°/82°F (40.2°/27.7°C)
Jun 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) 99°/78°F (37.2°/25.7°C)
Jul 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) 93°/75°F (34.0°/24.1°C)
Aug 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) 91°/74°F (33.0°/23.2°C)
Sep 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) 94°/74°F (34.4°/23.6°C)
Oct 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) 100°/76°F (37.8°/24.2°C)
Nov 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) 97°/67°F (36.2°/19.5°C)
Dec 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) 92°/62°F (33.3°/16.7°C)

Data: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional Instituto Meteorológico Nacional, Direction de la Meteorologie nationale (DMN) Direction de la Meteorologie nationale (DMN)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Costa Rica passport

Costa Rica passport holder visiting Niger

Visa Required
Costa Rica passport holders need a visa to enter Niger.
Niger passport

Niger passport holder visiting Costa Rica

Visa Required
Niger 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 Niger?

Connectivity is usually fine (Niger: 0.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Niger offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Niger safe for expats?

Costa Rica generally does better on safety, though Niger leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Niger is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.

How is healthcare in Niger compared to Costa Rica?

Niger generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Niger, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Niger scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Niamey is 97°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Niamey receives around 21.3 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.

What language do they speak in Niger?

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

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At a Glance

CR NE
Population 5,204,411 24,484,587
Currency Costa Rican Colón (CRC) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages Spanish French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +506 +227
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911