Forum
Analytics
La Fortuna, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
#930
,
Nomad Score:
64%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to urban centers; daily expenses are reasonable but higher than rural areas.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are mid-range; options include budget hostels to mid-tier apartments, but limited luxury choices.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer fresh produce at good prices; eating out is affordable with many local eateries.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transportation is cheap; taxis and shuttles are moderately priced but limited in frequency.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
65%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are mostly nature-based tours; prices vary but generally affordable.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
54%
Weight: 10
Few gyms available; memberships are moderately priced but options are limited.
💱 Currency Stability
87%
Weight: 30
Costa Rican colón is relatively stable with low inflation rates.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
62%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 15-25 Mbps; some areas have unstable connections.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
41%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces; mostly small setups with basic amenities.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
68%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but connection quality varies.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
59%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
47%
Weight: 100
Growing but still a niche destination for digital nomads.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
89%
Weight: 30
Excellent balance due to natural surroundings and relaxed lifestyle.
🌳 Environmental Quality
93%
Weight: 15
High environmental quality with lush rainforests and clean air.
🧼 Cleanliness
72%
Weight: 10
Generally clean but some tourist areas can be littered.
🗨️ Language Barrier
50%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English is spoken in tourist areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
91%
Weight: 15
Excellent air quality due to abundant vegetation and low pollution.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
72%
Weight: 25
Safe environment with family-oriented activities and schools.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
70%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services available; more complex care requires travel to larger cities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
84%
Weight: 25
Affordable healthcare compared to North America and Europe.
🏥 Healthcare
72%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; limited specialist availability locally.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
85%
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
98%
Weight: 10
Surrounded by national parks, rainforests, and natural reserves.
❄️ Air Conditioning
55%
Weight: 15
Limited AC availability in accommodations; fans more common.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; tropical climate with wet and dry seasons.
🔊 Noise Pollution
78%
Weight: 10
Low noise pollution outside tourist hotspots; peaceful surroundings.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
76%
Weight: 20
Rich local culture with indigenous influences and strong eco-tourism focus.
🌃 Nightlife
40%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly low-key bars and occasional live music.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
99%
Weight: 15
Exceptional access to volcanoes, waterfalls, hot springs, and hiking trails.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Some Spanish language schools and informal learning opportunities.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
87%
Weight: 10
Wide range of eco-tours, adventure activities, and cultural experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
35%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment; focus is on outdoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
74%
Weight: 25
Good variety of local and international cuisine, with emphasis on fresh ingredients.
🧠 Yoga Studios
58%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios available; mostly small and informal.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
50%
Weight: 15
Limited gyms and fitness centers; outdoor activities preferred.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
80%
Weight: 15
Abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and organic options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
75%
Weight: 20
GMT-6, convenient for North and South American time zones.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
43%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events; informal meetups occasionally.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
30%
Weight: 20
Few local remote job opportunities; mostly reliant on global remote work.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
35%
Weight: 20
Small freelance community; limited local support infrastructure.
🏢 Coworking Quality
40%
Weight: 30
Basic facilities; lacks advanced amenities found in larger cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
28%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup activity; focus is on tourism and agriculture.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Cash is common; some digital payment options but limited.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
32%
Weight: 15
Low adoption; limited local infrastructure or services.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
50%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport, about 3 hours away.
🚇 Public Transit
45%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; mostly buses with infrequent schedules.
🚶 Walkability
60%
Weight: 20
Small town center is walkable; outskirts require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
38%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps have limited presence; taxis are more common.
🚲 Cycling
55%
Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but hilly terrain and road conditions can be challenging.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
62%
Weight: 15
Bus services connect to major cities; travel times can be long.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
50%
Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals available but limited in number.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
70%
Weight: 20
Good coverage in town and tourist areas; rural spots may have weak signal.
🔒 VPN Reliability
75%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with stable internet connections.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
78%
Weight: 15
Generally stable power supply with occasional outages during storms.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi hotspots; mostly available in cafes and hotels.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
70%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa is easy to obtain; 90-day stay allowed for many nationalities.
📊 Tax Friendliness
55%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no specific digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
89%
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
40%
Weight: 15
Banking requires local residency or significant documentation; can be bureaucratic.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate process with some paperwork; not fully digitalized.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
65%
Weight: 35
Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa with reasonable requirements.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Growing awareness and infrastructure but still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
35%
Weight: 25
Few organized nomad events; mostly informal gatherings.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
50%
Weight: 20
Small but active online groups focused on Costa Rica nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Generally safe for tourists; petty crime exists but violent crime is low.
♀️ Female Friendly
65%
Weight: 50
Moderately female-friendly with some cultural conservatism.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant society with diverse population.