Moving to Costa Rica from Yemen
What to Expect
Considering a move from Yemen to Costa Rica? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Yemen to Costa Rica, you would find that Costa Rica is 89.4% more expensive than Yemen overall. A YER17,863,500 salary in Yemen would need to be roughly CRC46,742,675 in Costa Rica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
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 Yemen and Costa Rica.
What does your salary buy?
YER17,863,500 → CRC46,742,675
To maintain the same standard of living in Costa Rica
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 46.2% more
Groceries
pay 1.4% more
Transportation
pay 1.9% less
Housing
pay 2.1 times more
Childcare
pay 5.5 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 15.2% 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
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Costa Rica compared to Yemen.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Yemen generally does better on safety, though Costa Rica leads in road traffic deaths.
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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Yemen generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Costa Rica 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
Yemen generally does better on environment, though Costa Rica leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Yemen 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
Costa Rica generally does better on employment & economy, though Yemen 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Costa Rica performs significantly better than Yemen across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Yemen Tax Authority
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Yemen 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.
Yemen passport holder visiting Costa Rica
Visa Required
Costa Rica passport holder visiting Yemen
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 Yemen?
On average Costa Rica is around 37% pricier than Yemen, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Costa Rica?
Budget about CRC11,685,669 for 3 months in Costa Rica (based on a YER17,863,500 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: 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?
Yemen 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 6.3 in Yemen.
How is healthcare in Costa Rica compared to Yemen?
Yemen 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 2.9 in Yemen. Costa Rica scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Yemen: 42).
What language do they speak in Costa Rica?
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish. In Yemen, the official language is Arabic.
