Moving to United Kingdom from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 34.8% more expensive than Costa Rica overall. A CRC34,000,000 salary in Costa Rica would need to be roughly £75,800 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 77°F in San Jose, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Costa Rica and United Kingdom.
What does your salary buy?
CRC34,000,000 → £75,800
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 31.9% more
Groceries
pay 23.4% less
Transportation
pay 46.8% more
Housing
pay 79.9% more
Childcare
pay 91.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 49.9% more
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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Costa Rica to United Kingdom.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Costa Rica.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in healthcare spending per person.
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 United Kingdom 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
share of households with internet
United Kingdom 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
share of people below the poverty line
Costa Rica generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica (2016), HM Revenue & Customs (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | San Jose | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional
Met OfficeVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom than Costa Rica?
On average United Kingdom is around 35% pricier than Costa Rica, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
Budget about £18,950 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a CRC34,000,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?
Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 42.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United Kingdom safe for expats?
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 17.8 in Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Costa Rica?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.0 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 26.9 in Costa Rica. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Costa Rica: 81).
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
