Moving to Saint Lucia from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to Saint Lucia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to Saint Lucia, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Saint Lucia compared to Costa Rica.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Costa Rica generally does better on safety, though Saint Lucia leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Saint Lucia 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 performs better than Saint Lucia across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Costa Rica performs better than Saint Lucia across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Costa Rica generally does better on employment & economy, though Saint Lucia leads in poverty 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
Costa Rica performs better than Saint Lucia 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | San Jose | Castries |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | — |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | — |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | — |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | — |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Castries |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | — |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | — |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | — |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | — |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | — |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | — |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | — |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | — |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | — |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | — |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | — |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | — |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
Saint Lucia Meteorological Services
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and Saint Lucia. To live, work, or study long-term in Saint Lucia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Saint Lucia's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Saint Lucia
Visa Free
Saint Lucia 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
Can I work remotely from Saint Lucia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Saint Lucia: 10.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Saint Lucia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Saint Lucia safe for expats?
Costa Rica generally does better on safety, though Saint Lucia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Saint Lucia is 36.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in Saint Lucia compared to Costa Rica?
Saint Lucia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 6.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Saint Lucia, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Saint Lucia scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).
What's the weather like in Saint Lucia compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Castries is None°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Castries receives around 0.0 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in Saint Lucia?
The official language in Saint Lucia is English. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
