Moving to Wisconsin from Costa Rica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Costa Rica to Wisconsin? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Costa Rica to Wisconsin, you would find that Wisconsin is 53.8% more expensive than Costa Rica overall. A CRC33,997,640 salary in Costa Rica would need to be roughly $81,347 in Wisconsin to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Madison averages 56°F vs 77°F in San Jose, making it significantly cooler.
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 Wisconsin.
What does your salary buy?
CRC33,997,640 → $81,347
To maintain the same standard of living in Wisconsin
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 33.4% more
Groceries
pay 18.5% more
Transportation
pay 13.3% less
Housing
pay 68.4% more
Childcare
pay 3.3 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 49.2% 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 Wisconsin.
people moved from Costa Rica to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
67.96,903
Costa Rica
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Wisconsin compared to Costa Rica.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Costa Rica performs better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Wisconsin performs significantly better than Costa Rica 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
Wisconsin performs significantly better than Costa Rica across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Costa Rica performs better than Wisconsin across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | San Jose | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) | 33°/17°F (1°/-8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) | 68°/46°F (20°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) | 78°/57°F (25°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 44°/28°F (7°/-2°C) |
View all months
| Month | San Jose | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) | 26°/11°F (-3.1°/-11.6°C) |
| Feb | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) | 31°/15°F (-0.5°/-9.4°C) |
| Mar | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) | 43°/25°F (6.2°/-4.0°C) |
| Apr | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) | 57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C) |
| May | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) | 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) |
| Jun | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) | 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.4°C) |
| Jul | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) | 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) |
| Aug | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) | 79°/59°F (26.3°/15.0°C) |
| Sep | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) | 72°/50°F (22.1°/10.1°C) |
| Oct | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) | 59°/39°F (14.9°/3.8°C) |
| Nov | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) | 44°/28°F (6.7°/-2.1°C) |
| Dec | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) | 30°/16°F (-1.0°/-8.9°C) |
Data:
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Costa Rica and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Costa Rica passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 Wisconsin than Costa Rica?
On average Wisconsin is around 8% pricier than Costa Rica, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Wisconsin?
Budget about $20,337 for 3 months in Wisconsin (based on a CRC33,997,640 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Wisconsin?
From major Wisconsin cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Costa Rica and Wisconsin are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Wisconsin compared to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica performs better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Wisconsin compared to Costa Rica?
The average high temperature in Madison is 56°F, compared to 77°F in San Jose. Madison receives around 34.5 in of rainfall per year, while San Jose gets 73.5 in.
What language do they speak in Wisconsin?
The official language in Wisconsin is English. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish.
