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Analytics
Atenas, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
#924
,
Nomad Score:
66%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to major cities, with reasonable prices for daily expenses but slightly higher than other parts of Costa Rica.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate but can be higher in popular expat areas; options range from budget to mid-range.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer fresh produce at good prices; imported goods are more expensive but overall affordable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
75%
Weight: 20
Public transport is cheap; taxis and ride-shares are affordable but less frequent than in bigger cities.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
60%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife and entertainment options; costs are reasonable but choices are fewer.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
68%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available with moderate pricing, though fewer high-end facilities compared to larger cities.
💱 Currency Stability
74%
Weight: 30
Costa Rican colón is relatively stable with low inflation, but some vulnerability to regional economic shifts.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
65%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 20-30 Mbps; stable but can be inconsistent in rural or less developed areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
52%
Weight: 40
Few coworking spaces exist; options are limited and smaller compared to major digital nomad hubs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
67%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, but connection quality varies and fewer dedicated digital nomad cafes.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
58%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread; limited power outlets and seating.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
49%
Weight: 100
Not a major digital nomad hotspot, but growing interest due to climate and lifestyle.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
83%
Weight: 30
Strong emphasis on relaxed lifestyle and outdoor activities supports good work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
87%
Weight: 15
Clean air and natural surroundings with lush greenery and low pollution.
🧼 Cleanliness
79%
Weight: 10
Generally clean public spaces and streets, though some rural areas less maintained.
🗨️ Language Barrier
54%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English is spoken in tourist and expat areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
89%
Weight: 15
Excellent air quality due to abundant vegetation and low industrial activity.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
68%
Weight: 25
Suitable for families with access to schools and outdoor activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
70%
Weight: 20
Good basic healthcare services; private clinics offer higher standards but limited specialized care.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
81%
Weight: 25
Affordable compared to North America and Europe, especially in public healthcare.
🏥 Healthcare
75%
Weight: 20
Reliable healthcare infrastructure with access to essential services; some limitations in advanced treatments.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
86%
Weight: 80
Warm tropical climate with a dry season from December to April; generally pleasant year-round.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
62%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes and occasional heavy rains causing floods; low hurricane risk.
🏞️ Green Spaces
91%
Weight: 10
Abundant parks, forests, and natural reserves nearby, ideal for outdoor activities.
❄️ Air Conditioning
60%
Weight: 15
Not widespread in homes or cafes; many rely on fans due to mild temperatures.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate with little seasonal variation; mainly dry and rainy seasons.
🔊 Noise Pollution
79%
Weight: 10
Low noise levels; peaceful environment outside town center.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
74%
Weight: 20
Rich Costa Rican culture with friendly locals and traditional festivals.
🌃 Nightlife
41%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly small bars and occasional live music.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
93%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to hiking, waterfalls, and nature reserves; strong outdoor lifestyle.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
65%
Weight: 10
Several Spanish language schools and informal learning opportunities available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
78%
Weight: 10
Good variety of eco-tours, coffee plantation visits, and cultural experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
47%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; few cinemas or cultural centers.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
72%
Weight: 25
Good local cuisine with fresh ingredients; limited international dining options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
63%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available, though not as many as in larger tourist hubs.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
65%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers present; fewer specialized facilities.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
76%
Weight: 15
Abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables; organic markets available.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
80%
Weight: 20
GMT-6 time zone aligns well with North and Central American business hours.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
48%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events; small expat and digital nomad community.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
39%
Weight: 20
Local job market limited for remote work; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
42%
Weight: 20
Small freelance community; limited local platforms or support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
50%
Weight: 30
Basic coworking spaces with essential amenities; not many high-end options.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
37%
Weight: 15
Emerging but small startup ecosystem; limited funding and infrastructure.
💳 Local Payment Services
61%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and local banking services available but less developed than in larger cities.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Low to moderate adoption; some interest but limited infrastructure.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
55%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (~30 min away); limited direct international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
49%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options within Atenas; buses available but infrequent.
🚶 Walkability
62%
Weight: 20
Town center is walkable; outskirts require vehicle use.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
53%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps available but less prevalent than in larger cities.
🚲 Cycling
57%
Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but limited dedicated bike lanes and hilly terrain.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Bus connections to San José and other cities; travel times can be long due to road conditions.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
51%
Weight: 10
Limited scooter and bike rental services; more common in tourist areas.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
73%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in town and surrounding areas; some rural spots have weaker signals.
🔒 VPN Reliability
84%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with minimal restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
76%
Weight: 15
Generally stable electricity supply; occasional outages during storms.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
59%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi hotspots; mostly available in cafes and some public spaces.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
70%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa valid for 90 days; straightforward entry for many nationalities.
📊 Tax Friendliness
55%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no specific digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
88%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech and press.
🏛️ Political Stability
82%
Weight: 20
Stable democratic government with low corruption.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
46%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners due to documentation and residency requirements.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
52%
Weight: 10
Moderate bureaucracy; process can be slow and requires local assistance.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
67%
Weight: 35
Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa with up to 1-year stay, renewable.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Growing but still developing infrastructure and community for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
43%
Weight: 25
Few organized events; informal meetups occasionally held.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
50%
Weight: 20
Small but active online groups focused on Atenas and Costa Rica digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
75%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Relatively safe and welcoming for women; cultural norms are respectful.
✊ Racial Tolerance
72%
Weight: 50
Moderate racial tolerance; diverse but some social conservatism.