Retire in Costa Rica
To retire in Costa Rica most people use the Pensionado residency: a lifelong pension of $1,000 a month. Foreign pensions are not taxed and prices run at about 63% of the US.
What it takes, what it costs, and where retirees settle, from Costa Rica's law and official data. Checked on Oct 8, 2026.
- Retiree visa
- From $1,000/mo A lifelong, permanent and stable monthly pension, certified by the authority that pays it. Migration Law 8764; Immigration Regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Price level
- ~63% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- 0% Foreign pensions are not taxed. PwC Tax Summaries; Law 9996. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Travel advisory
- Level 2 of 4 Exercise Increased Caution. US State Department. Updated Apr 1, 2026.
- Health spending
- $1,163/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- US tax treaty
- None No income tax treaty with the US. IRS. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Do you qualify?
Temporary residence for anyone who receives a lifelong pension of at least $1,000 a month. It is granted for up to 2 years and renewed every 2 years, and after 3 years in a row as a temporary resident you can apply for permanent residence.
Pensionado visa: documents and feesRetiring in Costa Rica, topic by topic
Visa
Pensionado visa requirements
Documents, government fees and the other routes to residency.
Healthcare
Healthcare for retirees
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance covers, and Medicare abroad.
Money
Banking, pensions and tax
How US, UK and Canadian pensions reach a local bank, and what you report at home.
Budget
Cost of living
Official prices and a budget built from your own rent.
What it costs
Household prices in Costa Rica run at about 63% of US levels. Rent is the line nobody publishes officially, so the cost of living page builds your budget from your own rent.
Build your budgetWhere retirees settle
Escazú
- Canton west of San José, about 71,500 people (2022)
- 1,038 m above sea level
- Hospital CIMA, JCI accredited
Atenas
- Canton in Alajuela province, about 25,500 people (2011)
- 700 m above sea level
Tamarindo
- Beach district in Guanacaste, about 7,100 people (2022)
- On the Pacific coast, 27 m above sea level
- Hospital Metropolitano site in Huacas
Quepos
- Pacific canton next to Manuel Antonio, about 32,400 people (2022)
- On the Pacific coast
- Hospital Metropolitano site at Marina Pez Vela
Wikidata; Hospital CIMA; Hospital Metropolitano. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Costa Rica compared
More guides on Costa Rica
Visiting Costa Rica first
Most people spend a few weeks in Costa Rica before they apply for anything. Two things to sort out for that trip:
Kiwi.com
Flights to Costa Rica
Compare routes and dates before a scouting trip.
Airalo
eSIM for Costa Rica
Mobile data from the day you land, without a local SIM.
Partner links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. How this works.
Retiring in Costa Rica: questions
Can I retire in Costa Rica on Social Security alone?
Yes, if it pays at least $1,000 a month: a state pension paid for life meets the Pensionado rule. A comfortable life usually needs more; build a budget from your own rent on the cost of living page.
Is Costa Rica safe for retirees?
The US State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, exercise increased caution.
Do I pay tax in Costa Rica on my pension?
No. Costa Rica taxes only Costa Rican-source income, and income earned abroad while you are tax resident is not taxed unless it is tied to the country's economic structure. US citizens still file a US return.
How do I retire in Costa Rica as an American?
Most retirees use the Pensionado residency: a lifelong pension of at least $1,000 a month, a $50 application fee and enrolment in the CCSS. Social Security can be paid straight into a bank in Costa Rica, and foreign pensions are not taxed.
Where do retirees live in Costa Rica?
Mostly in the Central Valley, such as Escazú at 1,038 m and Atenas at 700 m, and on the Pacific coast in Tamarindo and Quepos.
Can I retire in Costa Rica on Social Security alone?
If your Social Security is a lifelong benefit of at least $1,000 a month it meets the Pensionado minimum, and it is not taxed in Costa Rica because foreign income is not taxed there.
