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• Cost of Living in Costa Rica

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• Pros and Cons of Living in Costa Rica

• Moving to Costa Rica

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Costa Rica has become one of the top destinations in the world for American expats, retirees, and digital nomads — and for good reason. The country offers legal residency pathways, excellent healthcare, zero local income tax on foreign earnings, and a cost of living that is a fraction of what most Americans spend at home. But one question comes up more than any other once people start seriously researching a move: where exactly should I live?

The answer depends entirely on your lifestyle. Costa Rica is a small country — roughly the size of West Virginia — yet it packs an extraordinary range of living environments into that space. From the dry, sunny Pacific beaches of Guanacaste to the spring-like mountain towns of the Central Valley, the lush jungle coast of the Southern Pacific, and the surf villages of the Nicoya Peninsula, each region offers a fundamentally different experience of daily life.

This guide covers the best places to live in Costa Rica for expats in 2026 — including Playas del Coco, Tamarindo, Atenas, Grecia, Escazú, La Fortuna, Jacó, Quepos, Costa Ballena, Santa Teresa, and Sámara. For each area we compare cost of living, climate, healthcare access, internet reliability, expat community size, and airport proximity so you can match the right region to your priorities.

Whether you're planning a full retirement, making a permanent move as a family, or exploring life as a digital nomad, this guide gives you an honest picture of what each region is actually like to live in — not just visit.

Best Places to Live in Costa Rica for Expats (2026 Guide)