You're standing at a crossroads. On one side, there's the humid, electric green of a Cloud Forest. On the other, the scent of roasting garlic and the sound of heels clicking on a 500-year-old cobblestone plaza. Choosing between Costa Rica vs Spain isn't just a choice between two countries. It's a choice between two entirely different versions of your future self.
Honestly, I’ve seen so many people mess this up. They look at a few glossy photos of Manuel Antonio or a sunset in Ibiza and assume they’ve got it figured out. But moving or long-term traveling is about the "boring" stuff—the taxes, the humidity, and whether the local pharmacy has your blood pressure meds.
Let's get real about how these two heavyweights actually stack up in 2026.
The Cost of Living Reality Check
Most people think Costa Rica is dirt cheap. It's not.
Sure, you can find a "soda" (a small local diner) where a plate of gallo pinto and eggs costs you five bucks. But if you want a car? Prepare to get walloped. Import duties in Costa Rica are brutal. A mid-sized SUV that costs $30,000 in the States might run you $45,000 or more here.
Spain is weirdly different. In cities like Valencia or Seville, you can live a remarkably high-quality life for less than you’d spend in a mid-tier US city. Groceries are often cheaper in Spain than in Costa Rica because Europe’s supply chain is so tight. You can get a decent bottle of Rioja for four Euros. Try finding that in a San José supermarket. You’ll be paying $15 for a dusty bottle of imported Chilean wine instead.
Current monthly budget estimates for a couple:
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- Costa Rica: $2,500 – $3,500 (depending on how much you rely on AC and imported peanut butter).
- Spain: $2,300 – $3,000 (outside of Madrid and Barcelona).
Basically, if you want a flashy lifestyle with all the "home" comforts, Spain actually stretches your dollar further. Costa Rica is affordable only if you go full Tico—buying local produce at the feria and ditching the dryer for a clothesline.
Healthcare: The "Caja" vs. the SNS
Healthcare is usually the dealbreaker. Both countries have universal systems, but they feel very different on the ground.
In Costa Rica, legal residents pay into the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social. It's a percentage of your income. It covers everything. But—and this is a big "but"—the wait times for non-emergency surgeries are legendary. We're talking months, sometimes years. Most expats I know carry a private policy for the "fast lane" at CIMA or Clínica Bíblica hospitals in San José.
Spain’s Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) is world-class. It’s consistently ranked in the global top ten. If you’re a resident, you’re in. Like Costa Rica, public wait times for specialists can be a drag, so many expats grab private insurance. The shocker? Private insurance in Spain is incredibly cheap. A healthy 50-year-old might pay $80 to $120 a month for a policy with no co-pays.
One thing people forget: Costa Rica is small. If you live in a remote beach town like Nosara, you are a long, bumpy drive away from a Level 1 trauma center. In Spain, even "rural" areas are usually within 30 minutes of a high-tech facility.
Pura Vida vs. Mañana
Culture shock is a slow burn.
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In Costa Rica, "Pura Vida" is the law of the land. It means "pure life," but it also means "don't worry about it." If the plumber says he’s coming at 10 AM and shows up at 4 PM, that’s Pura Vida. It’s a gentle, non-confrontational culture. People are incredibly kind, but they hate saying "no," which can lead to some confusing "yeses" that never happen.
Spain has the "Mañana" thing, sure, but it’s actually a very social, high-energy culture. The day starts late and ends late. Dinner at 10 PM is normal. The "lifestyle" here is built around the plaza. You don't stay in your house; you live in the streets. If you’re an introvert, Costa Rica’s jungle privacy might be better. If you crave human connection and a lively bar scene, Spain wins by a landslide.
The Visa Maze of 2026
Both countries have rolled out the red carpet for digital nomads recently, but the permanent routes haven't changed much.
- Costa Rica Pensionado: You need a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 USD per month.
- Spain Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV): This is for people who aren't working. You need to show significant savings—usually around $30,000 for the main applicant.
- Digital Nomad Visas: Both countries now have these. Spain’s is great because it has a path to permanent residency; Costa Rica’s is more of a long-term tourist pass.
Honestly, Spain’s bureaucracy is a nightmare. It’s a mountain of paperwork, stamped documents, and "citas previas" (appointments) that are impossible to get. Costa Rica is also bureaucratic, but it feels more "human" and less like a Kafka novel.
Why Geography Actually Matters
Don't underestimate the "wet" in "rainy season."
In Costa Rica, when it rains, it rains. From May to November, your shoes might grow mold if you don't have a dehumidifier. The biodiversity is stunning—monkeys in your backyard, toucans in the trees—but so are the bugs.
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Spain is much more temperate but has actual winters. If you choose Galicia, it’s green and rainy like Ireland. If you choose Seville, it’s a furnace in July. You have to decide: do you want a tropical paradise with no seasons, or a Mediterranean climate with a crisp autumn?
Specific Examples of What to Expect:
- Property: In Spain, you’re likely looking at an apartment (piso) or a townhome. In Costa Rica, you’re more likely to have a standalone house with a yard.
- Safety: Both are safer than the US, but petty theft is a thing in both. In Costa Rica, it's "theft of opportunity" (don't leave your bag on the beach). In Spain, it's expert pickpockets in tourist zones.
- Infrastructure: Spain has high-speed trains (the AVE) that are incredible. Costa Rica has roads that get washed out in a storm.
Making the Call
If you want an adventure, a connection to nature, and a slower, humid pace of life where you can surf every morning, go to Costa Rica. It’s a place that forces you to slow down and breathe.
If you want culture, history, world-class public transit, and the ability to hop on a cheap flight to Paris or Rome for the weekend, Spain is your spot. It’s a more "civilized" transition for most North Americans.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your "stuff": If you can't live without Amazon Prime and Target, choose Spain. Shipping things to Costa Rica is a specialized (and expensive) skill.
- Check the 183-day rule: Both countries will consider you a tax resident if you stay more than half the year. Spain taxes worldwide income aggressively; Costa Rica generally only taxes income earned within its borders. Talk to a cross-border tax pro before you book a one-way ticket.
- Do a "Test Month" in October: Go to Costa Rica in October (the rainiest month) or Spain in January. If you can handle the "worst" weather, you'll love the rest.
Stop looking at the maps and start looking at your bank statements and your tolerance for humidity. Both are amazing, but only one will feel like home.
Next Step: Calculate Your Specific Costs
Start by listing your must-have "luxury" items (imported foods, specific streaming services, car type). Research the specific import duties for those items in Costa Rica versus the VAT and local availability in Spain to see which country actually fits your budget.