Moving to Costa Rica from Georgia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Georgia to Costa Rica, you would find that Costa Rica is 18.1% cheaper than Georgia. A $75,000 salary in Georgia would need to be roughly CRC30,144,971 in Costa Rica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Georgia to Costa Rica.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 CRC30,144,971

To maintain the same standard of living in Costa Rica

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 20.9% less

Groceries

pay 7.9% less

Transportation

pay 16.9% more

Housing

pay 48.8% less

Childcare

pay 52.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 25.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 455.37 CRC (July 2026)

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?

How many people actually move from Georgia to Costa Rica, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
15,209 ↑ 20% vs 2015

people born in United States 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

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

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

GA
37.0%
CR
25.7%

Costa Rica performs significantly better than Georgia across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

GA
89.5%
CR
83.0%

Georgia performs better than Costa Rica across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

GA
3.3%
CR
8.3%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

GA
$61,706
CR
$25,800

Georgia performs better than Costa Rica across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

GA
75.6 yrs
CR
79.6 yrs

Costa Rica performs significantly better than Georgia across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Atlanta Rain: 49.7 in/yr (1263 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Atlanta San Jose
Jan–Mar 58°/39°F (14°/4°C) 75°/60°F (24°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 78°/62°F (26°/17°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/69°F (30°/20°C) 77°/62°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 64°/45°F (17°/7°C) 76°/61°F (24°/16°C)
View all months
Month Atlanta San Jose
Jan 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.3°C) 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C)
Feb 57°/38°F (13.7°/3.2°C) 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C)
Mar 65°/44°F (18.1°/6.7°C) 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C)
Apr 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.8°C) 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C)
May 80°/60°F (26.6°/15.7°C) 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C)
Jun 86°/68°F (30.2°/20.1°C) 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C)
Jul 89°/71°F (31.7°/21.8°C) 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C)
Aug 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C)
Sep 82°/65°F (27.9°/18.2°C) 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C)
Oct 73°/54°F (22.6°/12.2°C) 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C)
Nov 64°/44°F (17.6°/6.9°C) 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C)
Dec 54°/36°F (12.2°/2.5°C) 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Instituto Meteorológico Nacional Instituto Meteorológico Nacional

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Costa Rica

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Costa Rica without a visa.
Costa Rica passport

Costa Rica passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Costa Rica passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Costa Rica than Georgia?

Yes — Costa Rica is on average about 12% cheaper than Georgia. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Costa Rica?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CRC7,536,243 in Costa Rica on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Costa Rica?

Usually fine from major cities in Costa Rica. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to Georgia?

Costa Rica performs significantly better than Georgia across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 72°F in Atlanta. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while Atlanta gets 49.7 in.

What language do they speak in Costa Rica?

The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Georgia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

CR
Population 9,687,653 5,204,411
Currency United States Dollar ($) Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +506
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 911