Moving to Tanzania from Costa Rica

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Costa Rica to Tanzania — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Costa Rica to Tanzania, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Swahili. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Costa Rica to Tanzania.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CR
17.4
TZ
3.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CR
15.5
TZ
15.8

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CR
$1,928
TZ
$119
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CR
26.4
TZ
1.3

Tanzania 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
TZ
36.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CR
1.6t
TZ
0.3t

Costa Rica generally does better on environment, though Tanzania 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
TZ
2.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CR
5.9%
TZ
13.0%

Costa Rica performs better than Tanzania 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%
TZ
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CR
$25,800
TZ
$3,600

Costa Rica generally does better on employment & economy, though Tanzania 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
TZ
70.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CR
8.4
TZ
36.4

Costa Rica performs better than Tanzania 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.

San Jose Rain: 73.5 in/yr (1866 mm)
77° / 61°F

Avg. annual high / low

Dodoma Rain: 23.9 in/yr (607 mm)
84° / 62°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months San Jose Dodoma
Jan–Mar 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) 85°/65°F (29°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) 82°/61°F (28°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) 82°/58°F (28°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) 87°/64°F (30°/18°C)
View all months
Month San Jose Dodoma
Jan 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) 85°/65°F (29.4°/18.6°C)
Feb 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) 85°/65°F (29.4°/18.6°C)
Mar 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.3°C)
Apr 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.9°C)
May 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) 82°/62°F (28.0°/16.5°C)
Jun 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) 81°/58°F (27.1°/14.4°C)
Jul 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) 80°/56°F (26.5°/13.6°C)
Aug 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.2°C)
Sep 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) 84°/60°F (29.0°/15.3°C)
Oct 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) 87°/62°F (30.5°/16.9°C)
Nov 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.3°C)
Dec 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) 87°/66°F (30.4°/18.8°C)

Data: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional Instituto Meteorológico Nacional, Tanzania Meteorological Agency Tanzania Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Costa Rica passport

Costa Rica passport holder visiting Tanzania

Visa on Arrival
Costa Rica passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Tanzania.
Tanzania passport

Tanzania passport holder visiting Costa Rica

Visa Required
Tanzania 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 Tanzania?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Tanzania has 2.2 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 Tanzania safe for expats?

Costa Rica generally does better on safety, though Tanzania leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Tanzania is 3.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.4 in Costa Rica.

How is healthcare in Tanzania compared to Costa Rica?

Tanzania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Tanzania, compared to 26.4 in Costa Rica. Tanzania scores 43 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Dodoma is 84°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Dodoma receives around 23.9 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.

What language do they speak in Tanzania?

The official languages in Tanzania are English and Swahili. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CR TZ
Population 5,204,411 63,852,892
Currency Costa Rican Colón (CRC) Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Languages Spanish English, Swahili
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +506 +255
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 112