10 Best Places to Retire in Costa Rica

For those of you wanting a variety of choice, our list of best places to retire in Costa Rica is a must read piece. The country has everything; from modern cities to rural and traditional villages, from mountains and green forests to sandy beaches. Your task is just to find the scenery that suits you the most.

Costa Rica is a desirable location for lots of people, especially expats from the United States. According to some estimation, there are more than 50,000 Americans who reside in Costa Rica, with many of them being retirees. So why are people attracted to Costa Rica? Besides the fact everything is affordable, the country has a high standard of living and is rapidly developing. Also, Costa Rica has some of the most progressive environmental policies in the world and got the title of “greenest country in the world” in 2009. This all contributes to a healthy and comfortable lifestyle that residents of Costa Rica have. If you don’t believe us, believe the World Happiness Report, which placed the country in 12th place of the happiest countries in the world. For comparison, the United States is behind Costa Rica in 12th place.

When you know all of the things above, it isn’t surprising that Costa Rica has one of the best health systems in Latin America, spending 9.3% of GDP on health. Universal healthcare is provided by the government to every resident of the country, while the private system is affordable and offers even higher quality medical care. Both private and public hospitals are mostly new, well equipped, employing highly qualified physicians. The slight downside is that there are only 1.1 physicians and 1.2 hospital beds per 1,000 population according to Trading Economics. Thanks to so many positive things related to health happening in Costa Rica, the country has become a hotspot in terms of medical tourism.

Although safety is an issue in Costa Rica, the crime situation isn’t so serious like in some other countries of Central America. OSAC’s (The United States Overseas Security Advisory Council) report about Crime and Safety in Costa Rica for 2017 underlines the thefts and petty crimes as major concerns for both residents and visitors. The thieves use large crowds to their advantage and mainly operate around popular touristic locations. The violent crimes, although not so common, do occur. The fact that safety situation isn’t ideal is also confirmed by WEF’s (World Economic Forum) report which placed Costa Rica in 68th place in terms of safety and security. In case this isn’t your primary concern when picking retirement destination, take a look at our list of 10 best places to retire in Brazil.

Before we present you with the list of best places to retire in Costa Rica, let’s quickly cover the methodology. We took recommendations about best places to retire and/or live in Costa Rica from multiple sources including International Living, Expat Exchange, and The Real Costa Rica. Then we awarded points to each place based on the ranking in terms of apartment rent cost (Numbeo, Expatistan, and internet users’ experience), hospital to population ratio (Google Maps) and cost of a one-way flight to the United States (Google Flights). We also added extra points based on the number of the law of weapons and explosives violations (FES America Central) occurring in the city or province. Keep in mind that for some areas and provinces we took, we couldn’t calculate an accurate score, so we left it at the end of the list. Also, note that flight cost takes into consideration the bus ticket to the nearest airport when applicable, and that hospital to population ratio is there to give you an idea about the number of people assigned to one hospital in a particular city. Let’s take a look at the list then, shall we?

10. Guanacaste Province

IM Score: N/A
Rent Cost: $700
Hospital to Population Ratio: N/A
Flight to U.S. Cost: $436-$446
Number of the Law of Weapons and Explosives Violations: N/A

The first two spots on our list belong to highly recommended regions, rather than particular places. The first region is Guanacaste Province, where you’ll find close to tropical paradise as it gets. Situated in the northwest of the country, it offers active culture, large expat communities and warm weather. You’ll be able to enjoy not only the beautiful shoreline but also the mountains, national parks, and wildlife. There are few bigger cities in the region like Liberia and Tamarindo, but also plenty of smaller villages and beach resorts that can offer a bit quieter lifestyle.

9. Costa Ballena – Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal

IM Score: N/A
Rent Cost: $495, $625, $815
Hospital to Population Ratio: N/A
Flight to U.S. Cost: $436
Number of the Law of Weapons and Explosives Violations: 10-16

This entry on our list of best places to retire in Costa Rica is also the place where you can find some of the most beautiful beaches in the country and get spoiled by comfortable coastal life. The three towns/villages: Dominical, Uvita, and Ojochal, have the most recommendations and are a place where most of the expats reside. Still, the whole Costa Ballena offers fantastic opportunities, and it is hard to make a mistake.

8. Tamarindo

IM Score: 12
Rent Cost: $695
Hospital to Population Ratio: N/A
Flight to U.S. Cost: $436
Number of the Law of Weapons and Explosives Violations: 26

Belonging to previously mentioned Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, the number 8 on our list of best places to retire in Costa Rica is ideal for people who like surfing and similar water sports. Still, that isn’t the only thing you can do here. Some of the best restaurants and bars in the country are situated in Tamarindo, and the city itself can be a good base for exploring natural resources of Costa Rica. The downside is that the nearest hospital is an hour away.

7. Cartago

IM Score: 14
Rent Cost: $385
Hospital to Population Ratio: 39,150
Flight to U.S. Cost: $426.88
Number of the Law of Weapons and Explosives Violations: 184

Cartago is probably the city with the shakiest safety situation on the list, but if you can look past it, it can be rewarding. Besides low cost of living, Cartago has an advantage of being situated just 16 miles from the capital San Jose so that the big city life will be at your disposal anytime you like. Cartago has its own charm, offering rich ecological diversity and numerous natural attractions you can explore topped with cultural events happening all year long.

6. Grecia

IM Score: 16
Rent Cost: $800
Hospital to Population Ratio: 5,152
Flight to U.S. Cost: $427
Number of the Law of Weapons and Explosives Violations: 60

To many people, Grecia, the next one on the list of best places to retire in Costa Rica represents an ideal retirement destination thanks to the fact that the city isn’t crowded, has a friendly community, and offers a slower paced lifestyle with lots of attractions and activities to keep you occupied. Even the weather is great, with temperatures being optimal and stable through the whole year. Of course, this comes with the price, since Grecia boosts one of the biggest costs of living on the list.

5. Heredia

IM Score: 16
Rent Cost: $585
Hospital to Population Ratio: 13,735
Flight to U.S. Cost: $426.75
Number of the Law of Weapons and Explosives Violations: 70

Referred to as “city of flowers” by the natives, Heredia that’s up next on the list of best places to retire in Costa Rica brings plenty to the table, and it is one of the best places to retire in Costa Rica. Besides beautiful parks and gardens, you’ll be able to enjoy in warm weather all year while also being just an hour away from the capital San Jose.  When you finish exploring what the city has to offer, there is plenty more to discover in its surroundings filled with amazing views and new adventures.

4. Escazu

IM Score: 17
Rent Cost: $1225
Hospital to Population Ratio: 7,407
Flight to U.S. Cost: $426
Number of the Law of Weapons and Explosives Violations: 11

As you can see by the rent cost, Escazu that ranks 4th on the list of best places to retire in Costa Rica is a place for those people who aren’t afraid reaching deep into their pocket. This is where the wealthy natives and expats come to reside, so the area is filled with upscale attractions, shopping malls, expensive restaurants and developed infrastructure. If you can spend big, Escazu will enable you to experience the good sides of Costa Rica, while avoiding the bad ones.

3. Alajuela

IM Score: 19
Rent Cost: $375
Hospital to Population Ratio: 7,162
Flight to U.S. Cost: $428
Number of the Law Of Weapons and Explosives Violations: 85

At the second place on our list of best places to retire in Costa Rica we have Alajuela that is Costa Rica’s second most populous city, but it isn’t a place where you can see a lot. There are no breathtaking buildings, historical landmarks or something similar. Still, the city has a traditional Costa Rican feel to it and is the place where you can lead a comfortable and affordable living, using it as a base for further exploration of the country.

2. Jaco

IM Score: 19
Rent Cost: $785
Hospital to Population Ratio: 5,000
Flight to U.S. Cost: $431
Number of the Law of Weapons and Explosives Violations: 22

Jaco represents one of the most visited beach resorts in the whole of Costa Rica and a place that was envisioned as a resort community for people of all ages. There are lots of activities at your disposal, starting from water sports to natural attractions nearby. Although Jaco is a touristic destination, there is a significant community of expats and retirees who don’t mind the city’s vibrant lifestyle.

1. San Ramon

IM Score: 22
Rent Cost: $670
Hospital to Population Ratio: 1,785
Flight to U.S. Cost: $429.5
Number of Law of Weapons and Explosives Violations: 57

There are numerous reasons for why San Ramon topped our list of best places to retire in Costa Rica. Besides being affordable, the medical care is excellent, and the city has the best hospital to population ratio on our list. The weather is great all year round, and San Ramon is located in the middle of the country, is a perfect base for exploring other regions. Then there is modern infrastructure, all the commodities you require alongside the rich cultural life and variety of events taking place in the city all year round. Finally, there is a large expat community residing here, so you’ll never feel like a stranger.