Costa Rica Finance

Understand the numbers behind life in Costa Rica

Simple tools and plain-language explanations for budgeting, property costs, banking and currency, so you can ask better questions of the professionals who advise you.

Calculators Living costs

Red-roofed houses on a hillside with mountains behind · Photo: Original image

Editorial status: Costa Rica Finance is general education, not financial, tax or legal advice, and its content is pending review by a qualified professional. There are no paid placements or affiliate links on this site. Editorial standards.

Budget

Living Costs

Build your own monthly budget.

Curved bay and beach with forested hills behind · Photo: Original image

Property

Property Budgets

What goes beyond the price.

Town with a white church in a valley, seen from above · Photo: Original image

Terms

Banking Basics

Accounts, IDs and local payments.

Young crop rows in a tropical garden, from above · Photo: Original image

Money

Currency

Colones, dollars and exchange rates.

Coffee rows on forested hillsides · Photo: Original image

Tools

Calculators

Budget, currency and tax estimators.

Starfruit and bananas in crates at a fruit stand · Photo: Original image

Work

Business Finance

Records and questions for a new business.

Start with a tool

Guides

How to build a relocation budget

Split one-time and monthly costs, then add a buffer.

Guides

Exchange-rate basics for expats and buyers

Why the number you see is rarely the number you get.

Guides

What property costs include beyond the price

A checklist to take to your attorney.

Guides

Questions to ask a bank or adviser

Take these to your first meeting.