Moving to Costa Rica from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Costa Rica? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Costa Rica, you would find that Costa Rica is 9.1% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly CRC32,837,469 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Jose averages 77°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and Costa Rica.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$125,240 → CRC32,837,469
To maintain the same standard of living in Costa Rica
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 13.8% less
Groceries
pay 10.4% more
Transportation
pay 0.4% less
Housing
pay 21.1% less
Childcare
pay 23.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 16.4% 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 New Zealand 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
- · · ·
-
67.20
New Zealand
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Costa Rica leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Costa Rica leads in water stress level.
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
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Costa Rica leads in top income tax 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
New Zealand generally does better on family life, though Costa Rica leads in education spending.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa Free
Costa Rica passport holder visiting New Zealand
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 Zealand?
On average Costa Rica is about 3% less expensive than New Zealand, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Costa Rica?
Budget about CRC8,209,367 for 3 months in Costa Rica (based on a NZ$125,240 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
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?
New Zealand performs better than Costa Rica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Costa Rica is 17.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Costa Rica, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Costa Rica scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Costa Rica compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
