Moving to Costa Rica from Trinidad and Tobago
What to Expect
Considering a move from Trinidad and Tobago to Costa Rica? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Trinidad and Tobago to Costa Rica, you would find that Costa Rica is 28.9% more expensive than Trinidad and Tobago overall. A TTD509,522 salary in Trinidad and Tobago would need to be roughly CRC38,173,179 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 89°F in Port Of Spain, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica.
What does your salary buy?
TTD509,522 → CRC38,173,179
To maintain the same standard of living in Costa Rica
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 55.3% more
Groceries
pay 4.6% more
Transportation
pay 27.8% more
Housing
pay 22.4% more
Childcare
pay 75.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 11.1% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Costa Rica
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Trinidad and Tobago to Costa Rica.
people born in Trinidad and Tobago live in Costa Rica · UN DESA
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
- · · ·
-
56.40
Trinidad and Tobago
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to Trinidad and Tobago.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Trinidad and Tobago generally does better on safety, though Costa Rica leads in homicide rate.
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
Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Trinidad and Tobago leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Trinidad and Tobago across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Trinidad and Tobago 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
Trinidad and Tobago 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Costa Rica generally does better on family life, though Trinidad and Tobago leads in literacy rate.
Data: Inland Revenue Division, 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 | Port Of Spain | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 89°/68°F (32°/20°C) | 75°/60°F (24°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 78°/62°F (26°/17°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) | 77°/62°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) | 76°/61°F (24°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Port Of Spain | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88°/68°F (31.0°/20.0°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C) |
| Feb | 89°/68°F (31.5°/20.2°C) | 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 90°/69°F (32.3°/20.7°C) | 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C) |
| Apr | 91°/72°F (33.0°/22.0°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C) |
| May | 92°/73°F (33.1°/23.0°C) | 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C) |
| Jun | 89°/74°F (31.5°/23.3°C) | 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C) |
| Jul | 88°/73°F (31.3°/23.0°C) | 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C) |
| Aug | 89°/73°F (31.7°/23.0°C) | 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.2°/23.1°C) | 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C) |
| Oct | 90°/73°F (32.2°/22.6°C) | 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C) |
| Nov | 89°/72°F (31.5°/22.3°C) | 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C) |
| Dec | 88°/70°F (31.1°/21.0°C) | 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C) |
Data:
Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service,
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Trinidad and Tobago 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.
Trinidad and Tobago passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa Free
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Trinidad and Tobago
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 Trinidad and Tobago?
On average Costa Rica is around 13% pricier than Trinidad and Tobago, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Costa Rica?
Budget about CRC9,543,295 for 3 months in Costa Rica (based on a TTD509,522 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?
Trinidad and Tobago generally does better on safety, though Costa Rica leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Costa Rica is 17.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 39.5 in Trinidad and Tobago.
How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to Trinidad and Tobago?
Costa Rica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Trinidad and Tobago leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Costa Rica, compared to 41.9 in Trinidad and Tobago. Costa Rica scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Trinidad and Tobago: 75).
What's the weather like in Costa Rica compared to Trinidad and Tobago?
The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 89°F in Port Of Spain. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while Port Of Spain gets 55.4 in.
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Trinidad and Tobago, the official language is English.
