Moving to Costa Rica from Cote d'Ivoire

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Cote d'Ivoire to Costa Rica? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Cote d'Ivoire to Costa Rica, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Jose averages 77°F vs 94°F in Yamoussoukro, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Cote d'Ivoire to Costa Rica.

Living there in 2020
3

people born in Cote d'Ivoire live in Costa Rica · UN DESA

Who's moving to Costa Rica?

Top countries of origin for Costa Rica's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to Cote d'Ivoire.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CI
20.6
CR
15.5

Costa Rica performs significantly better than Cote d'Ivoire across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CI
$249
CR
$1,928
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CI
1.8
CR
26.4

Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cote d'Ivoire leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CI
86.0
CR
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CI
0.6t
CR
1.6t

Cote d'Ivoire generally does better on environment, though Costa Rica leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CI
1.4
CR
21.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CI
5.1%
CR
5.9%

Costa Rica generally does better on infrastructure, though Cote d'Ivoire leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CI
2.4%
CR
8.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CI
$7,000
CR
$25,800

Cote d'Ivoire generally does better on employment & economy, though Costa Rica leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CI
62.3 yrs
CR
79.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CI
55.7
CR
8.4

Costa Rica performs significantly better than Cote d'Ivoire 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.

Yamoussoukro Rain: 65.0 in/yr (1652 mm)
94° / 67°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Yamoussoukro San Jose
Jan–Mar 99°/63°F (37°/17°C) 75°/60°F (24°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/69°F (35°/20°C) 78°/62°F (26°/17°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/67°F (32°/19°C) 77°/62°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/67°F (34°/20°C) 76°/61°F (24°/16°C)
View all months
Month Yamoussoukro San Jose
Jan 98°/59°F (36.7°/15.1°C) 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C)
Feb 100°/65°F (38.0°/18.5°C) 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C)
Mar 99°/65°F (37.4°/18.2°C) 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C)
Apr 96°/68°F (35.7°/19.8°C) 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C)
May 94°/70°F (34.7°/20.9°C) 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C)
Jun 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C) 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C)
Jul 90°/67°F (32.0°/19.5°C) 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C)
Aug 88°/66°F (31.0°/19.0°C) 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C)
Sep 91°/67°F (33.0°/19.5°C) 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C)
Oct 94°/69°F (34.2°/20.5°C) 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C)
Nov 94°/70°F (34.7°/21.2°C) 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C)
Dec 94°/63°F (34.5°/17.2°C) 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C)

Data: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional Instituto Meteorológico Nacional

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Cote d'Ivoire passport

Cote d'Ivoire passport holder visiting Costa Rica

Visa Required
Cote d'Ivoire passport holders need a visa to enter Costa Rica.
Costa Rica passport

Costa Rica passport holder visiting Cote d'Ivoire

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Costa Rica passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Cote d'Ivoire.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Costa Rica?

Connectivity is usually fine (Costa Rica: 21.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Costa Rica offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Costa Rica safe for expats?

Costa Rica performs significantly better than Cote d'Ivoire across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to Cote d'Ivoire?

Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cote d'Ivoire leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Costa Rica, compared to 1.8 in Cote d'Ivoire. Costa Rica scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cote d'Ivoire: 43).

What's the weather like in Costa Rica compared to Cote d'Ivoire?

The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 94°F in Yamoussoukro. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while Yamoussoukro gets 65.0 in.

What language do they speak in Costa Rica?

The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Cote d'Ivoire, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

CI CR
Population 28,713,423 5,204,411
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Languages French Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +225 +506
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 911