How much income do I need to live in Costa Rica?

A single-person moderate lifestyle in Costa Rica runs $2,075 per person per month at CostLiving’s benchmark, with housing as the largest line at roughly $832. Real listings broadly match: a one-bedroom in San Jose, Escazu, or Santa Ana typically runs $500 to $900, with newer or expat-popular stock at $1,000 to $1,500. Coastal tourist towns like Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio, or Nosara push housing 30 to 80 percent above central-valley levels. Budget-tier living on $1,245 a month is workable with a flatshare or modest housing in smaller towns. Two-person households typically need $3,200 to $3,750 for the same lifestyle. Costa Rica sits roughly 41 percent below the US national average ($3,525) on totals and is meaningfully cheaper than the USVI or PR for retirees comparing Caribbean alternatives. For the full breakdown, see our Costa Rica cost of living page.