Bookmark Nomada — the one-tab toolkit every digital nomad needs·⌘D / Ctrl+D
Bookmark Nomada — the one-tab toolkit every digital nomad needs·⌘D / Ctrl+D
Costa Rica · Americas
Best for: Pacific surf-luxury base — dirt roads, beachfront villas, Nicoya Peninsula's nomad anchor for the wellness and founder crowd.
$3,420/mo
Tropical · Distinct dry season
Best months
Annual range: 27°–30°C
Pathway
Digital nomad visa
Program
Costa Rica Estancia DNV
Typical max stay
24 months
Costa Rica's Estancia DNV (Ley de Atracción de Trabajadores Remotos, launched 2022) — USD 3,000/mo income for individuals or USD 4,000/mo for families, 1-year initial + 1-year renewal. Tax-exempt on foreign-earned income. Standard visa-free 90 days on arrival for US/UK/Canada/EU; Rentista (USD 2,500/mo, 2-year) and Pensionado (USD 1,000/mo pension) cover residency paths. Border runs to Nicaragua via Peñas Blancas are the workaround for nomads stacking multiple visa-free stays.
Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with the relevant consulate before applying — visa programs change with little notice.
Editorial summary — norms vary by region within each country and shift over time. Read the local mood.
Uber Eats
Uber Eats has the broadest San José catalog; Didi Food is the cheaper alternative.
Editorial pick based on which app actually has restaurants AND working couriers in this city. Coverage shifts — apps pull out of markets all the time.
Uber
Uber operates in San José in a legal grey zone but works reliably. DiDi entered Costa Rica in 2022 and is growing.
Editorial pick based on coverage, foreign-card UX, and how reliably drivers actually accept trips. Markets shift — apps pull out of countries and surge pricing varies wildly.
Annual spend
$41,040
FIRE target (4% SWR)
$1,026,000
Coast-FIRE @ 7%/30yr
$134,783
Editorial estimates using the standard 4% Trinity-study rule. Run the FIRE calculator for sequence-of-returns risk, custom withdrawal rates, and country-specific tax assumptions.
