Americas · 1 city on Nomada
Digital nomad guide to Costa Rica
Updated May 2026
Mid-tier monthly
$1,690–$1,690
median $1,690
Best for: Pacific-coast nomads who want jungle, surf, and stable democracy.
Costa Rica's DNV is one of the older Latin American programs and remains the cleanest path to a 1+ year base. San José is the necessary admin city; the real nomad story is the Pacific coast (Tamarindo, Santa Teresa, Nosara) and the Caribbean (Puerto Viejo). Costs are higher than most of Latin America — closer to US-mid-tier than to neighboring Nicaragua or Honduras.
Visa story
Rentista / Pensionado for residency; DNV launched 2022 ($3k/mo income, 1-year renewable).
Open the per-city visa cards on each city page for the specific income tests, durations, and program names. None of this is legal advice — confirm with the consulate before booking.
City on Nomada
Sorted by monthly cost · cheapest first
Best months across Costa Rica
Months where the country’s averages cluster within nomad-comfortable temp, humidity, and rainfall ranges.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Other Americas bases
Build your stack for Costa Rica
- Travel insuranceLong-term, nomad-friendly cover that follows you across Costa Rica
- Multi-currency bankingAvoid the 4% conversion fees foreign cards rack up across Costa Rica
- eSIM data planDay-one connectivity in Costa Rica without local-SIM friction
- Coworking & colivingDay passes, monthly memberships, and verified workspaces in Costa Rica
- Visa conciergesFiling help and concierge services for Costa Rica residency paths
- Flight dealsCheapest routes in and out of Costa Rica