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Analytics
La Fortuna, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
#930
,
Nomad Score:
66%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to urban centers; daily expenses are reasonable but slightly higher than other parts of Costa Rica due to tourism.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are mid-range; options include budget hostels to mid-tier apartments, but demand from tourists can push prices up.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer fresh produce at good prices; eating out is affordable but tourist spots can be pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
75%
Weight: 20
Public transport is cheap but limited; taxis and shuttles are moderately priced.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
69%
Weight: 15
Outdoor activities like hiking are free or low cost; tours and excursions can be expensive.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
54%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but limited; prices are moderate but fewer options compared to bigger cities.
💱 Currency Stability
79%
Weight: 30
Costa Rican colón is relatively stable with low inflation, supported by a stable economy.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
67%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 20-30 Mbps; reliable but can be inconsistent during peak hours or bad weather.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
42%
Weight: 40
Few dedicated coworking spaces; most nomads rely on cafes or remote work setups.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
70%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but connection quality varies; popular spots can be crowded.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
61%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but limited plug points and noise can be issues.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
58%
Weight: 100
Growing but still a niche destination compared to San José or Tamarindo.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
84%
Weight: 30
Excellent balance with access to nature, relaxed lifestyle, and outdoor activities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
92%
Weight: 15
Pristine natural environment with lush rainforests, clean air, and abundant wildlife.
🧼 Cleanliness
73%
Weight: 10
Generally clean but some tourist areas can have litter; local efforts maintain public spaces.
🗨️ Language Barrier
55%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English is spoken in tourist areas but limited outside them.
💨 Air Quality
90%
Weight: 15
Excellent air quality due to abundant greenery and low industrial activity.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
78%
Weight: 25
Safe environment with many outdoor activities suitable for families.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
68%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare facilities available; for advanced care, travel to San José is needed.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
80%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are affordable compared to North America and Europe.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Sufficient for minor issues; serious conditions require travel to larger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
87%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; rainy season from May to November.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes and occasional flooding during rainy season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
95%
Weight: 10
Abundant green spaces and proximity to national parks and volcanoes.
❄️ Air Conditioning
50%
Weight: 15
Limited AC in many accommodations; fans are more common due to mild temperatures.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly wet and dry seasons.
🔊 Noise Pollution
65%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; some areas near nightlife or main roads can be noisy.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
76%
Weight: 20
Rich local culture with indigenous influences and strong community traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
41%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly low-key bars and occasional live music.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
98%
Weight: 15
Exceptional access to waterfalls, volcanoes, hot springs, and rainforests.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Some Spanish schools and informal opportunities but not extensive.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
85%
Weight: 10
Wide variety of eco-tours, adventure activities, and cultural experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
35%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; focus is on outdoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
72%
Weight: 25
Good mix of local Costa Rican cuisine and international options catering to tourists.
🧠 Yoga Studios
64%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and wellness centers available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
58%
Weight: 15
Limited gyms and fitness centers; outdoor exercise is more common.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
79%
Weight: 15
Abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and organic options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
83%
Weight: 20
Central Standard Time (UTC-6), convenient for North American clients.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
40%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events; informal meetups occasionally happen.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
35%
Weight: 20
Local job market is small; most remote jobs come from outside.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
42%
Weight: 20
Small freelance community; growing but still limited resources.
🏢 Coworking Quality
40%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic amenities; not comparable to major cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
30%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup activity; focus is more on tourism and agriculture.
💳 Local Payment Services
65%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and local banking services available but less advanced.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
48%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but limited infrastructure and acceptance.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
55%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (~3 hours away).
🚇 Public Transit
38%
Weight: 20
Limited public transport options; mostly buses with infrequent schedules.
🚶 Walkability
60%
Weight: 20
Town center is walkable but many attractions require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
45%
Weight: 15
Limited availability of ride-sharing apps; taxis are common alternative.
🚲 Cycling
50%
Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but roads can be hilly and lack dedicated lanes.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
62%
Weight: 15
Bus services connect to other cities; private shuttles are common.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
67%
Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals available for tourists and nomads.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
74%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in town; rural areas may have weaker signals.
🔒 VPN Reliability
80%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with no known restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
72%
Weight: 15
Generally stable electricity but occasional outages during storms.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited; mostly available in cafes and hotels.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
70%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa is easy to obtain; 90-day stay without visa for many nationalities.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Costa Rica taxes residents on worldwide income; no special digital nomad tax benefits.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
88%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
79%
Weight: 20
Stable democracy with low corruption and peaceful political environment.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
55%
Weight: 15
Process can be bureaucratic and requires local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate complexity; possible with local assistance.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
73%
Weight: 35
Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa with favorable conditions.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
65%
Weight: 50
Growing community but still developing infrastructure for nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
40%
Weight: 25
Occasional meetups but no regular large-scale events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
52%
Weight: 20
Small but active online groups focused on La Fortuna and Costa Rica.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
76%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur in tourist areas.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Safe for women travelers; respectful local culture.
✊ Racial Tolerance
74%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant society with diverse population.