Moving to Costa Rica from New York
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from New York to Costa Rica — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from New York to Costa Rica, you would find that Costa Rica is 37.5% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly CRC21,400,000 in Costa Rica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Jose averages 77°F vs 62°F in New York City, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Costa Rica cheaper than New York?
The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 29.7% less
Groceries
pay 13.5% less
Transportation
pay 10.7% less
Housing
pay 59.9% less
Childcare
pay 56.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 37.5% 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.
What salary do you need in Costa Rica?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CRC21,400,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Costa Rica
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Costa Rica
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from New York to Costa Rica, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How New York and Costa Rica stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
New York performs better than Costa Rica across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New York 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
share of people below the poverty line
New York performs better than Costa Rica across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Costa Rica performs significantly better than New York across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Costa Rica vs New York
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | New York City | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/30°F (6°/-1°C) | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 70°/54°F (21°/12°C) | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/66°F (27°/19°C) | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/41°F (12°/5°C) | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | New York City | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°/27°F (3.5°/-2.8°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) |
| Feb | 42°/29°F (5.3°/-1.7°C) | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.8°C) | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 61°/45°F (16.2°/7.1°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) |
| May | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.2°C) | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) |
| Jun | 79°/64°F (26.3°/17.6°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) |
| Jul | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.4°C) | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) |
| Aug | 83°/68°F (28.1°/19.9°C) | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) |
| Sep | 75°/61°F (24.0°/16.0°C) | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) |
| Oct | 64°/50°F (17.7°/10.0°C) | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) |
| Nov | 54°/42°F (12.1°/5.3°C) | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) |
| Dec | 43°/32°F (6.1°/0.0°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional
Can you move from New York to Costa Rica?
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 holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa Free
Costa Rica passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 New York?
Generally yes: Costa Rica runs about 38% cheaper than New York on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Costa Rica?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around CRC5,350,000 in Costa Rica for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Costa Rica?
Working remotely from Costa Rica's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in New York and Costa Rica.
How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to New York?
New York performs better than Costa Rica across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Costa Rica compared to New York?
The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 62°F in New York City. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while New York City gets 49.9 in.
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In New York, the official language is English.
