Moving to Costa Rica from Uganda

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Uganda to Costa Rica? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Uganda to Costa Rica, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Uganda to Costa Rica.

Living there in 2020
11 ↑ 22% vs 2015

people born in Uganda 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

The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to Uganda.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

UG
8.8
CR
17.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UG
16.0
CR
15.5

Uganda generally does better on safety, though Costa Rica leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

UG
$139
CR
$1,928
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

UG
1.7
CR
26.4

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

UG
60.0
CR
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UG
0.2t
CR
1.6t

Uganda generally does better on environment, though Costa Rica leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

UG
0.1
CR
21.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UG
5.8%
CR
5.9%

Costa Rica generally does better on infrastructure, though Uganda leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

UG
2.8%
CR
8.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UG
$2,800
CR
$25,800

Uganda generally does better on employment & economy, though Costa Rica leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UG
69.0 yrs
CR
79.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UG
30.4
CR
8.4

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

Data: The World Factbook, Uganda Revenue Authority, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kampala Rain: 49.8 in/yr (1264 mm)
82° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kampala San Jose
Jan–Mar 84°/64°F (29°/18°C) 75°/60°F (24°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) 78°/62°F (26°/17°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 77°/62°F (25°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/64°F (28°/17°C) 76°/61°F (24°/16°C)
View all months
Month Kampala San Jose
Jan 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.7°C) 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.4°C)
Feb 85°/64°F (29.3°/18.0°C) 75°/60°F (23.9°/15.3°C)
Mar 84°/65°F (28.7°/18.1°C) 77°/60°F (25.1°/15.8°C)
Apr 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C) 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.4°C)
May 81°/64°F (27.3°/17.9°C) 79°/63°F (26.1°/17.0°C)
Jun 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.6°C) 78°/62°F (25.7°/16.9°C)
Jul 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.1°C) 77°/61°F (24.9°/16.3°C)
Aug 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.1°C) 77°/62°F (25.2°/16.7°C)
Sep 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.2°C) 78°/62°F (25.8°/16.5°C)
Oct 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.4°C) 78°/62°F (25.4°/16.4°C)
Nov 81°/64°F (27.4°/17.5°C) 76°/61°F (24.2°/16.3°C)
Dec 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.5°C) 74°/60°F (23.4°/15.8°C)

Data: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional Instituto Meteorológico Nacional

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Uganda 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.

Uganda passport

Uganda passport holder visiting Costa Rica

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

Costa Rica passport holder visiting Uganda

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Costa Rica passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Uganda.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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?

Uganda generally does better on safety, though Costa Rica leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Costa Rica is 17.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.8 in Uganda.

How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to Uganda?

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Costa Rica, compared to 1.7 in Uganda. Costa Rica scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Uganda: 49).

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

The average high temperature in San Jose is 77°F, compared to 82°F in Kampala. San Jose receives around 73.5 in of rainfall per year, while Kampala gets 49.8 in.

What language do they speak in Costa Rica?

The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Uganda, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

UG CR
Population 46,205,893 5,204,411
Currency Ugandan Shilling (UGX) Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Languages English, Swahili Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +256 +506
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 911