Moving to Portugal from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to Portugal? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to Portugal, you would find that Portugal is 1.0% more expensive than Costa Rica overall. A CRC33,904,791 salary in Costa Rica would need to be roughly €65,103 in Portugal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Costa Rica and Portugal.
What does your salary buy?
CRC33,904,791 → €65,103
To maintain the same standard of living in Portugal
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 4.6% more
Groceries
pay 18.4% less
Transportation
pay 3.7% less
Housing
pay 23.6% more
Childcare
pay 4.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.3% 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Portugal compared to Costa Rica.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Portugal 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 Portugal 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 Portugal 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
Portugal 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
Portugal 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Costa Rica generally does better on family life, though Portugal leads in life expectancy.
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 | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and Portugal. To live, work, or study long-term in Portugal, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Portugal's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Portugal
Visa Free
Portugal 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 Portugal than Costa Rica?
Portugal 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 Portugal?
Budget about €16,276 for 3 months in Portugal (based on a CRC33,904,791 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Portugal?
Connectivity is usually fine (Portugal: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Portugal offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Portugal safe for expats?
Portugal performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Portugal is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in Portugal compared to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Portugal leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 57.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Portugal, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Portugal scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).
What's the weather like in Portugal compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in Portugal?
The official language in Portugal is Portuguese. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
