Costa Rica is a dream destination for digital nomads. With its stable democracy, excellent healthcare system, growing infrastructure, and incredible biodiversity, it’s no surprise this Central American gem is a remote work favorite. Plus, Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa allows stays up to two years with tax exemptions on foreign income.

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🏙️ 1. San José — Urban Comfort & Connectivity

💡 Best for: Business-focused nomads, good internet, expat networks

• ✅ Pros:
  • Fastest and most reliable internet in the country
  • Modern coworking spaces & infrastructure
  • Central location with access to all regions
  • Affordable rentals compared to coastal towns
• ❌ Cons:
  • No beaches (inland city)
  • Traffic congestion and urban noise
• 💰 Monthly Cost Estimate: $1,200–$1,800
• 💼 Popular Coworking Spaces: Selina Cowork, Impact Hub, ParqueTec

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🏖️ 2. Tamarindo — Surf & Social

💡 Best for: Beach lovers, beginner surfers, active nightlife

• ✅ Pros:
  • Vibrant nomad and expat community
  • Reliable Wi-Fi and growing coworking scene
  • Great food and nightlife for a small beach town
  • Excellent beginner surf breaks
• ❌ Cons:
  • Higher cost of living than inland towns
  • Tourist-heavy in high season
• 💰 Monthly Cost Estimate: $1,500–$2,200
• 💼 Popular Coworking: Sand & Surf CoLab, Tamarindo CoWork

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🌿 3. Santa Teresa — Laid-back Bohemian Vibe

💡 Best for: Creative freelancers, surfers, unplugged lifestyle

• ✅ Pros:
  • Dreamy beaches and yoga lifestyle
  • Strong expat & creative community
  • Rustic but beautiful accommodations
• ❌ Cons:
  • Limited infrastructure
  • Some internet and power outages in rainy season
  • Roads can be rough
• 💰 Monthly Cost Estimate: $1,400–$2,000
• 💼 Popular Coworking: Selina Santa Teresa, Tropico Latino

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🌋 4. La Fortuna — Nature & Adventure Hub

💡 Best for: Nature lovers, wellness nomads

• ✅ Pros:
  • Incredible nature: volcanoes, waterfalls, hot springs
  • Lower cost of living
  • Growing wellness and eco-community
• ❌ Cons:
  • Smaller nomad community
  • Not much nightlife
  • Humid climate year-round
• 💰 Monthly Cost Estimate: $1,000–$1,500
• 💼 Coworking Options: Limited; some hostels offer workspace

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🐢 5. Puerto Viejo (Caribbean Coast) — Afro-Caribbean Culture & Chill

💡 Best for: Off-the-beaten-path nomads, slower pace

• ✅ Pros:
  • Stunning beaches with fewer tourists
  • Unique Afro-Caribbean food & music
  • Very relaxed lifestyle
• ❌ Cons:
  • Slower Wi-Fi in some areas
  • High humidity and more rainfall
  • Fewer coworking spaces
• 💰 Monthly Cost Estimate: $1,000–$1,400
• 💼 Coworking: Currently limited; Selina Puerto Viejo has workspace

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🌐 Visa Info: Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa

• Length: 1 year (renewable to 2 years)
• Income Requirement: $3,000/month (or $4,000 with dependents)
• Tax Benefits: No tax on foreign-sourced income
• Official Site: https://tramiteya.go.cr/dgme/

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✈️ Final Thoughts

Costa Rica offers a diverse range of experiences for digital nomads — from tropical beaches to misty jungles and buzzing city life. Whether you want the ease of city comforts or to surf your morning breaks, you’ll find your rhythm here. Just bring your laptop and some pura vida spirit.

Category	Budget ($)	Mid-Range ($)	Premium ($)
🏠 Accommodation	400–700	800–1,000	1,200+
🍲 Food & Dining	200–350	400–500	600+
💼 Coworking Space	80–150	150–200	250+
🚌 Transportation	30–80	100–150	200+
📶 Internet & Phone	40–70	80–100	120+
🎉 Leisure & Extras	50–150	200–300	400+

🏡 Coworking & Coliving Cost Comparison for Digital Nomads in Costa Rica (2025)

Costa Rica offers a diverse remote work environment — from bustling city coworking offices in San José to beachfront coliving havens in Tamarindo and Santa Teresa. Below is a cost breakdown to help nomads budget effectively.

📊 Summary Table (Monthly Averages)

Location	Coworking Cost 🧑‍💻	Coliving Cost 🛏️	Total (Coworking + Coliving) 💵
San José	$100–150	$500–750	$600–900
Tamarindo	$120–180	$800–1,100	$920–1,280
Santa Teresa	$120–160	$850–1,200	$970–1,360
La Fortuna	$50–80 (limited)	$500–700	$550–780
Puerto Viejo	$60–100 (few spots)	$500–800	$560–900

💡 Tip: Some colivings (especially Selina) bundle coworking access into the stay price.

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🧑‍💻 Coworking Space Examples

San José

• Selina Cowork – ~$150/month
• Impact Hub – ~$140/month
• ParqueTec – ~$100/month
  ✔️ Reliable Wi-Fi, networking events, and central location.

Tamarindo

• Sand & Surf CoLab – ~$120/month
• Selina Tamarindo – ~$160/month (included in coliving)
  ✔️ Close to beach, AC workspaces, great nomad community.

Santa Teresa

• Selina Santa Teresa – ~$140/month
• Tropico Latino Cowork – ~$120/month
  ✔️ Yoga-friendly, relaxed but well-connected.

La Fortuna

• Most coworking is hostel-based
• Some cafés with Wi-Fi: Café Mediterráneo, Red Frog Coffee Roaster
  ✔️ Better for short stays or asynchronous workers.

Puerto Viejo

• Selina Puerto Viejo (only major option) – ~$100/month
  ✔️ Nature-surrounded setup, more relaxed pace.

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🛏️ Coliving Space Examples

Selina (Nationwide)

• Offers private & shared rooms, with coworking access included
• Locations: San José, Tamarindo, Santa Teresa, Puerto Viejo
  💰 Range: $600–1,200/month depending on room type

Outsite (Santa Teresa)

• Premium coliving with fast Wi-Fi & community events
  💰 Range: $1,200–1,600/month

Drifter’s (Tamarindo)

• Mid-budget coliving w/ pool, kitchen, surf classes
  💰 ~$900/month

Private Airbnb (San José or La Fortuna)

• Good for long stays, average prices:
  • San José: $500–700/month
  • La Fortuna: $400–600/month

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🧾 Sample Monthly Budget in Tamarindo (Mid-Range)

Category	Cost (USD)
🛏️ Coliving	$950
🧑‍💻 Coworking	Included
🍲 Food & Drinks	$400
🚌 Transport	$60
🎉 Leisure	$150
📶 SIM/Internet	$50
TOTAL	$1,610

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✅ Final Thoughts

Costa Rica’s coliving and coworking scene is designed for flexibility — ideal for both short-term and long-term stays. Whether you thrive in cities or surf towns, there’s a setup here that suits your rhythm and budget.