Moving to Costa Rica from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hong Kong to Costa Rica? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Costa Rica, you would find that Costa Rica is 36.9% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly CRC21,600,000 in Costa Rica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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 Hong Kong and Costa Rica.
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → CRC21,600,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Costa Rica
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 53.9% more
Groceries
pay 15.4% less
Transportation
pay 45.7% less
Housing
pay 59.9% less
Childcare
pay 38.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 42.4% less
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 Hong Kong to Costa Rica.
Who's moving to Costa Rica?
Top countries of origin for Costa Rica's foreign-born residents.
- 350,854
- 28,214
- 25,530
- 16,682
- 15,209
- 13,711
- · · ·
-
10.3,943
Hong Kong
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Hong Kong across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Hong Kong performs 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though Costa Rica leads in poverty 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
Hong Kong generally does better on family life, though Costa Rica leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016), Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica (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 | Hong Kong | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong 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.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa Required
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Hong Kong
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 Costa Rica than Hong Kong?
On average Costa Rica is about 37% less expensive than Hong Kong, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Costa Rica?
Budget about CRC5,400,000 for 3 months in Costa Rica (based on a HK$590,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Costa Rica?
Connectivity is usually fine (Costa Rica: 23.3 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?
Hong Kong performs better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Costa Rica is 17.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Costa Rica compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
