La Fortuna, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
#930
,
Nomad Score:
63%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to urban centers; daily expenses are reasonable but higher than rural Costa Rica.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
65%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate but can spike during tourist seasons; options range from budget hostels to mid-range apartments.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer fresh produce at good prices; imported goods are pricier but overall food costs remain manageable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
79%
Weight: 20
Public transport is cheap; taxis and shuttles are affordable but limited in frequency.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
62%
Weight: 15
Tourist activities like hot springs and tours can be moderately expensive; local entertainment is affordable.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
54%
Weight: 10
Limited gym facilities with moderate pricing; some outdoor fitness options available.
💱 Currency Stability
76%
Weight: 30
Costa Rican colón is relatively stable with low inflation, but subject to regional economic fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
68%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 20-30 Mbps; reliable but can be inconsistent during peak hours.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
43%
Weight: 40
Few dedicated coworking spaces; most nomads rely on cafes or accommodations with WiFi.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
70%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer free WiFi with decent connectivity, popular among digital nomads.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
65%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers with power outlets and comfortable seating.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
52%
Weight: 100
Growing but still niche; more popular among eco-tourists than full-time digital nomads.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good coverage.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
84%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with access to nature supports good work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
87%
Weight: 15
Clean air and abundant greenery; strong focus on sustainability and conservation.
🧼 Cleanliness
79%
Weight: 10
Generally clean public spaces and streets, though some tourist areas can get littered.
🗨️ Language Barrier
51%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English is spoken in tourist and expat communities but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
89%
Weight: 15
Excellent air quality due to low industrial activity and rich vegetation.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Safe environment and outdoor activities suitable for families.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
67%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services are available; for specialized care, travel to larger cities is needed.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable; private clinics cost more but still reasonable.
🏥 Healthcare
69%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; emergency and advanced care require travel to San José.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
83%
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 tropical storms; well-prepared infrastructure.
🏞️ Green Spaces
95%
Weight: 10
Surrounded by rainforests, national parks, and volcanoes; abundant natural green areas.
❄️ Air Conditioning
58%
Weight: 15
Limited AC in many accommodations; fans are more common due to mild temperatures.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal changes; mainly dry and rainy seasons without temperature variation.
🔊 Noise Pollution
77%
Weight: 10
Generally quiet town with occasional noise from tourism and nightlife.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
74%
Weight: 20
Rich Costa Rican culture with strong indigenous and colonial influences; friendly locals.
🌃 Nightlife
41%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly small bars and occasional live music.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
98%
Weight: 15
Exceptional access to waterfalls, volcanoes, hot springs, and hiking trails.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Several Spanish schools and informal language exchange opportunities.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
86%
Weight: 10
Wide variety of eco-tours, wildlife watching, and cultural experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
39%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment; focus is on outdoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
72%
Weight: 25
Good selection of local and international cuisine; fresh seafood and tropical fruits.
🧠 Yoga Studios
57%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios available; some wellness retreats nearby.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
51%
Weight: 15
Limited gyms; outdoor fitness and hiking are popular alternatives.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
79%
Weight: 15
Abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and organic markets.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
73%
Weight: 20
GMT-6; convenient for North and Central American clients, less so for Europe/Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
40%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events; informal meetups occasionally occur.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
35%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most nomads work for international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
42%
Weight: 20
Small community of freelancers; limited local support infrastructure.
🏢 Coworking Quality
40%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic amenities; not comparable to urban hubs.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
31%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup activity locally; most innovation hubs are in San José.
💳 Local Payment Services
63%
Weight: 10
Cash is common; some digital payment options available but limited.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
50%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but infrastructure and acceptance remain limited.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
56%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (~3 hours away).
🚇 Public Transit
48%
Weight: 20
Limited local public transit; mostly buses connecting to nearby towns.
🚶 Walkability
60%
Weight: 20
Small town center is walkable; outskirts require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
37%
Weight: 15
Limited availability of Uber and similar services; taxis more common.
🚲 Cycling
55%
Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but hilly terrain and lack of dedicated lanes limit use.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
62%
Weight: 15
Regular bus services to major cities; private shuttles available.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
60%
Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals available but limited in number.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
71%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in town and surroundings; rural areas less covered.
🔒 VPN Reliability
80%
Weight: 20
Generally reliable internet allows stable VPN connections.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
74%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with occasional brief outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
59%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi limited mostly to cafes and some public areas.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
67%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa-free entry for many countries; 90-day stay limit.
📊 Tax Friendliness
55%
Weight: 30
No tax on foreign income but local taxes apply; moderate bureaucracy.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
88%
Weight: 15
Strong protections and democratic environment.
🏛️ Political Stability
79%
Weight: 20
Stable democracy with low corruption and peaceful society.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
43%
Weight: 15
Lengthy process with strict documentation; challenging for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate bureaucracy; process can be slow and requires local assistance.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of May 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
54%
Weight: 50
Growing awareness but infrastructure and services still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
38%
Weight: 25
Few organized events; mostly informal gatherings.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
56%
Weight: 20
Small but active online groups focused on La Fortuna and Costa Rica.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
72%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
68%
Weight: 50
Respectful culture; some caution advised when traveling alone at night.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70%
Weight: 50
Moderate racial tolerance; diverse but some social conservatism.