Living in Costa Rica Safely: A Practical Guide for Expats and Travelers

Want to know if Costa Rica is safe to live in? Here’s the good, the bad, and the “Pura Vida” of living in this paradise as an expat.

Costa Rica has a strong pull on anyone visiting the tropical country. One day, you’re spotting sloths in the jungle or enjoying a cafe chorreado in San José. Next, you’re dreaming of saying farewell to your home country and moving to a Costa Rican beach town. That begs the question: is Costa Rica a safe place to live? 

The answer to that is no simple sí. A loved holiday destination, Costa Rica attracts millions of visitors per year who come for the rich biodiversity, outdoor activities, or to surf in Tamarindo. These tourists return home having had a taste of paradise, seeing only the upsides of life in Costa Rica. Yet to live there is to experience the Central American nation in an entirely different way. 

For expats, safety concerns go beyond avoiding pickpockets in touristy areas. Expatriates need to understand how safety concerns might affect their daily quality of life and what challenges Costa Rican society faces beyond the postcard perfection that tourists see. 

Because, while American and European expats flock to Costa Rican, increased crime rates put this paradise in peril. It’s not just petty crime that’s on the rise, either. Violent crimes are on the rise as Costa Rica is used as a transit country for drug trafficking.  

Should this deter expats or is Costa Rica a safe place to live? This expert guide breaks it down: the good, the bad, and the pura vida. We discuss Costa Rica safety rankings, crime stats, experts and insights to help you decide if this Central American gem is the right fit for you.

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Is Costa Rica a Safe Country to Live in? What the Data Says

Is Costa Rica a safe country for expats? Let’s put immediate worries to an end: Costa Rica is the most peaceful country in Central America and the Caribbean. The nation sits at 58th out of 163 countries, scoring 1.95 in the 2024 Global Peace Index.

But the ‘Switzerland of Central America’ has seen better days. On one hand, Costa Rica is about as peaceful as Uruguay and Chile, two of South America’s best countries for expats. On the other, 2023 logged the country’s bloodiest year on record with 905 homicides, or 17.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants – according to investigative non-profit InSight Crime. Last year saw a slight decline in murder rates.

The Better Life Index shows a more conservative estimate for 2024 homicide rate at 10 per 100,000 inhabitants – but that’s still four times as high as the OECD average of 2.6. So what’s driving this rise in violent crimes? 

Drug trafficking accounts for 70% of homicides, according to the InSight Crime report. Costa Rica’s convenient location makes it prime real estate for trafficking operations between South America and North American markets. 

But it’s not just drugs that’s driving up crime rates in areas like Limón and Puntarenas, where homicides have skyrocketed. Mario Zamora, the country’s Minister of Public Security, explains the root causes: “It’s a part of the country where there is less opportunity for youth.” 

Zamora elaborates that, “There’s not a lot of industry, so the government, every four years when there’s elections, they talk about the opportunities that they’re going to give to the province of Limón, and in the end two things out of a hundred happen.” And what’s the result, according to Zamora? “Because there are fewer opportunities for the kids, they change the books for the guns, right.”

This further explains why crime is increasing against American tourists and other foreigners. Petty theft is the main problem, according to the U.S. embassy in Costa Rica, but armed robberies have been known to occur even in broad daylight. 

The  Latin American government has responded by allocating an additional $40 million to security in 2023, Zamora said, adding 1,500 new police officers between 2023 and 2024. The drop in homicide rates reflects a modest success, but merely increasing police present isn’t going to solve the root causes.

According to the State of the Nation Report of 2024, nearly 35% of people earn below the minimum salary, up 4.5% from 1993. The report also saw the Gini coefficient for inequality rise by around 10% over the same period. This climate of rising inequality clearly affects not just the lower strata of Costa Rican society but the country as a whole.

Crime and inequality have led to only about 47% of people feeling safe walking alone at night, according to the Better Life report, much less than the OECD average of 76%. But is that feeling so commonly shared? Not according to Paul Maxfield, author and American expat. “Our family feels very safe living here. In our beach town, we can walk in the daytime and evenings without fear of incident. Extra precautions would be necessary in some parts of the cities.”

“In my experience of 20 years in Costa Rica, it is a very safe place to live,” Maxfield assures us. “Petty theft occurs, and residents take common sense precautions about their possessions as you would anywhere. But violent crime is rare.” 

Crime Rate Costa Rica vs US and Mexico

Costa Rica might face rising crime rates – but how do these numbers compare to the rest of Latin America? Is Costa Rica safer than Mexico, for instance? Costa Rica’s homicide rate of 16.6 is still somewhat lower than Mexico’s 19.3.  Homicide rates in nearby Honduras are much higher at 25.3 while neighboring Panama has a rate of 12.9 – 22% lower than Costa Rica.

Maxfield, too, stresses that “In comparison to other countries in Latin America, Costa Rica is very safe for living and visiting.”

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Comparatively, the United States has a homicide rate of 6 per 100.000 inhabitants, according to the OECD. But only looking at the murder rates to conclude Costa Rica is less safe than America is unfair. 

For expats considering the move, it’s worth noting that crime in Costa Rica is heavily concentrated in specific areas, a report on violence from the NYU Center on National Cooperation found. As Hans Pfister, president of the Cayuga Collection, a hotel group with locations in Costa Rica, puts it: “Costa Rica is probably a lot safer than many major cities in the U.S. at this point.” 

The problem he sees is that “many tourists that come here get careless and just think, pura vida,” without taking any precautions. So why is Costa Rica so safe while the statistics say otherwise?

The Pros of Living in Costa Rica: The Pura Vida Safety Net

Why is Costa Rica a safe country to visit despite rising crime levels and inequality? According to Maxfield, “A strong sense of national and community cohesiveness as well as pride, creates an environment where Costa Ricans are concerned about the entire country or community – wanting to make decisions that will benefit everyone, not just themselves.”

Where does this strong sense of community come from? The answer lies in the country’s cultural cornerstone of ‘Pura Vida’. Literally translated as “pure life”, it’s more than a catchy slogan meant to market Costa Rica as a holiday destination. Pura vida is a deeply ingrained philosophy that shapes Costa Ricans, also known as “Ticos”. 

This laid-back way of living promotes positivity, gratitude, appreciating small things, community connection, and mindfulness, creating higher levels of empathy and a strong social fabric among Costa Ricans and anyone living there. Pura vida fosters well-being and translates into tangible safety benefits for expats in Costa Rica:

• Sense of togetherness: Pura vida emphasizes the importance of community and connection. Costa Ricans are famous for their friendly and welcoming nature. Locals are great strangers like old friends and are always at the ready if help is needed. This makes it easier for expats to connect and build relationships.
  
• Social security: The pura vida mentality does more than help expats integrate more easily. Community creates cohesion which in turn creates a strong support system where people look out after each other’s safety.

• Environmental safety: This attitude of connectedness goes beyond people and extends to the natural environment. Ticos deeply respect nature and are committed to protecting the natural beauty of their country. The country’s national parks and healthy rainforests reflect this attitude. While extreme weather events like landslides during the rainy season can still happen, natural disasters are less likely to happen in a healthy ecosystem.
  
  Besides, Costa Rica’s advanced early warning systems for volcanic activity, earthquakes, and flooding provide crucial time for evacuation and preparation.

Is it Safe to Live in Costa Rica? The Expat Safety Net

Expats moving to Costa Rica are welcomed not just by friendly locals but by other expats, too. The strong presence of expat communities in certain areas provides an additional safety cushion in various ways: 

• Expat networking: Expat communities regularly organize meetups where newcomers can gather all the crucial intel acquired by years of living in Costa Rica. Which rural roads flood in the rainy season, how to avoid some common scams, or which taxi services are most reliable. These events also help newcomers meet like-minded people and integrate.

• Gated communities: In gated communities, the expat effect becomes even stronger. Gated communities in Costa Rica offer expats enhanced security, maintained amenities, and neighbors of similar socioeconomic status.
  
• Neighborhood watch programs: You don’t have to live in a gated community to feel safe. Expat communities have developed extensive security networks in expat areas like Surfside, where the Property Owners Association has installed CCTV cameras on public roads throughout the community to discourage break-ins and theft. Neighborhood watch committees are also increasingly common among expats in Costa Rica. 

Considering the Safety Cons and Risks for Expats 

Costa Rica might have a reputation as a safe destination for expats, but anyone visiting should consider Costa Rica’s challenges before making the move. We’re not referring to the cost of living in Costa Rica here but focus specifically on safety issues. We’ve already discussed the rising crime rates – but what other safety risks should expats be aware of? 

• Crimes targeting foreigners: Expats face higher risks of theft because they’re perceived as wealthy. Think of residential break-ins targeting rentals for expats, car thefts, and street robberies. Our common-sense advice? Keep valuables safely packed away, don’t wear flashy watches or expensive jewelry, and choose your rental carefully.
  
• Infrastructure challenges: Costa Rica’s road system presents serious safety concerns, with poor maintenance, massive potholes, and construction projects that drag on for years. A ring road in San José is nearing completion after four decades of construction, exemplifying the slow pace of improvement.

• Healthcare and language barriers: Although healthcare in Costa Rica is considered to be of good quality, expats can face some difficulties accessing it due to language barriers. Many public facilities operate exclusively in Spanish, making it difficult for non-Spanish speakers to receive proper care during medical emergencies.

• Police response times: Urban centers like San José enjoy 15-30 minute police response times, but remote mountainous and coastal regions may wait 45-90 minutes for assistance, according to the Costa Rica Immigration Experts. Rural areas often have very few officers, presenting a big security gap for expats living outside major cities.

Furthermore, some regions in Costa Rica see much more crime than others. That’s why it’s important to choose your community carefully as an expat.  

How Safe is Costa Rica to Live? Best and Worst Regions for Expats

For expats moving to Costa Rica, location choices can make all the difference. The good news? Many areas remain extremely safe despite national crime statistics.

Safest Areas for Expats

Escazú, just outside San José, tops most safety lists with expat communities living in upscale neighborhoods, gated communities, and with strong security presence. Moving with kids? Santa Ana offers a family-friendly environment with well-maintained streets and parks.

Beyond the Central Valley, Tamarindo on the Pacific coast provides seaside living with robust expat networks, while Grecia charms with its picturesque setting and notably low crime rates. Arenal/La Fortuna is expats’ gateway to outdoor adventures in a quiet and secure setting.

Areas Expats Should Avoid Living in

Within San José, several neighborhoods have consistently high crime rates that make them unsuitable for expatriate living. Los Guido (in Desamparados), La Carpio, and León XIII top the list of areas where even locals exercise extreme caution.

As the name suggests, El Infiernillo (literally “the little hell”) in Alajuela should also be avoided. This neighborhood has become a main distribution point for drugs, with violent territorial disputes between gangs. Similarly, the El Carmen neighborhood in Cartago and La Cieneguita in Limón province experience frequent drug-related violence that makes them dangerous for anyone but particularly unsafe for foreigners.

The Final Verdict: Is Costa Rica a Safe Country for Expats?

Costa Rica and the pura vida cast a spell on all who visit. This paradise in Latin America has natural beauty, friendly culture, and relative stability. Is Costa Rica a safe country to travel to? Sure – but is Costa Rica a safe country for expat living? The verdict is yes. 

Crime rates might have increased in recent years and inequality rising but the fundamental beauty of Costa Rica and its laid-back way of life remain. Choose your living location wisely, find your local and expat communities, and embrace the pura vida mindset.
Planning the big move to Costa Rica? Make sure you’re covered for the unexpected. ExpatDen helps expats and retirees find and settle into their new country, with specialist advice on travel insurance, healthcare, and more.

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