Moving to Nigeria from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to Nigeria? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to Nigeria, you would find that Nigeria is 49.2% cheaper than Costa Rica overall. A CRC34,152,674 salary in Costa Rica would need to be roughly NGN66,127,656 in Nigeria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Abuja averages 91°F vs 77°F in San Jose, making it significantly warmer.
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 Nigeria.
What does your salary buy?
CRC34,152,674 → NGN66,127,656
To maintain the same standard of living in Nigeria
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 70.2% less
Groceries
pay 22.7% less
Transportation
pay 39.9% less
Housing
pay 27.4% less
Childcare
pay 84.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 50.9% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Nigeria
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Nigeria compared to Costa Rica.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Costa Rica performs better than Nigeria 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
Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica 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 Nigeria leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
Costa Rica performs better than Nigeria across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Costa Rica generally does better on employment & economy, though Nigeria leads in unemployment 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Costa Rica performs better than Nigeria across all family life metrics.
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 | Abuja |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Abuja |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
Nigerian Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and Nigeria. To live, work, or study long-term in Nigeria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Nigeria's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Nigeria
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Nigeria passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Nigeria than Costa Rica?
On average Nigeria is about 36% less expensive than Costa Rica, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Nigeria?
Budget about NGN16,531,914 for 3 months in Nigeria (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 Nigeria?
Connectivity is usually fine (Nigeria: 0.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Nigeria offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Nigeria safe for expats?
Costa Rica performs better than Nigeria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Nigeria is 21.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in Nigeria compared to Costa Rica?
Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Nigeria, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Nigeria scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).
What's the weather like in Nigeria compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Abuja is 91°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Abuja receives around 48.1 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in Nigeria?
The official language in Nigeria is English. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
