Business
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% standard rate
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $180,000 for luxury ocean view studio)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $88,000 in inland Quepos neighborhoods)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $252,000 near main road)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $120,000 in Naranjito area)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $304,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $144,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Progressive up to 30%; Small businesses may pay 5-20%
- Tax System
- Territorial tax system (Only income earned in Costa Rica is taxed)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 25% for individuals
- VAT
- 13% (locally known as IVA)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No, Costa Rica generally does not have CFC rules
- Property Tax
- 0.25% of the registered value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- 1.5% transfer tax plus legal fees (approx. 3-4% total)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Law 22215: 0% income tax on foreign-earned income and duty-free import of equipment
Essentials
- City
- Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
- Population
- Approximately 4,000 residents
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber optic available; average 50-100 Mbps in managed accommodations
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 515 CRC (Costa Rican Colón), 1 EUR ≈ 560 CRC; USD accepted widely
- Tap Water
- Generally drinkable, but most nomads prefer filtered/bottled water for taste
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (same as USA/Canada)
- SIM Card
- Liberty (formerly Movistar) and Claro; Liberty offers 5GB for approx. $10 USD
- Banking for Expats
- BNCR (Banco Nacional), BCR (Banco de Costa Rica); Revolut works at most ATMs
- Accommodation
- Boutique hotels, jungle villas, and eco-lodges; Average $1,500 - $3,000/month for quality rentals
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, major credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) accepted in most restaurants and shops
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO, and local agencies like 2Costa Rica Real Estate
- Budget Accommodation
- Selina Manuel Antonio (Dorms from $25/night, Private rooms from $80/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Playa Manuel Antonio/National Park entrance for beach proximity
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Valle Pura Vida or the upper main road (cliffs) for better views and stable fiber optic
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Selina Manuel Antonio Cowork (Daily pass: $15, Monthly: $250; features dedicated desks and phone booths)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Emilio’s Café (High-speed Wi-Fi, ocean views, excellent coffee and pastries)
- Networking Events
- Quepos/Manuel Antonio Digital Nomads Facebook Group meetups; typically Fridays at Marina Pez Vela
- Social Events for Expats
- Language exchange nights at Selina; Marina Pez Vela movie nights
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (available but contentious with local taxis) and official Red Taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Jolly Roger Rentals (Scooters approx. $45/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Playa Biesanz (Hidden cove, calm waters, good for swimming)
- Top Regional Airline
- Sansa Airlines (Flying to Quepos Airport - XQP)
- Top International Airline
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) served by United, American, Iberia
- Highway Access
- Route 34 (Costanera Sur) connects to San José and Uvita
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; Main Bus Terminal in Quepos (Buses to San José for approx. $9)
- Public Transport Passes
- Manuel Antonio-Quepos green shuttle ($0.60 per ride, cash only)
- Regional Travel
- Tracopa Bus for long-distance; Interbus shared shuttles for tourist routes
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Metropolitano (Marina Pez Vela, Quepos) for private care; Hospital Max Terán Valls (Public)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Holistic Families Yoga & Wellness (Drop-in class approx. $15)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Mucho Musculo Gym in Quepos (Monthly pass approx. $40)
- Laundry Services
- Lavanderia El Pueblo (Approx. $2 per kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats is limited; WhatsApp ordering is common for local restaurants
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Chifrijo (Rice, beans, pork rinds, avocado, and pico de gallo)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Falafel Bar (Fresh salads, hummus, and pita; approx. $12-15 per meal)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Gelatería Amorosi (Artisan Italian gelato near the beach)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Super Jordix and the Quepos Farmers Market (Feria) on Fridays/Saturdays
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Unimart.com (Costa Rican Amazon alternative); Amazon delivers via Miami forwarding services
- Grocery Delivery
- Super San José offers local delivery via WhatsApp requests
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The main road 'climb'—notably El Avion and many bars near Selina
- Local Brewery
- Fuego Brew Co. (Nearby in Dominical, but beers served at most local upscale bars)
- Wine Bars
- En陽 (En-Yo) at Tulemar for upscale wine pairings
- Street Food Stalls
- Quepos Malecon stalls (skewered meats 'pinchos' and shaved ice 'copos')
- Popular International Cuisine
- Agua Azul (Seafood and American-influenced contemporary cuisine)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Manuel Antonio National Park (Famous for biodiversity and white sand beaches)
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Captain's Gallery (Local art and photography in Quepos)
- Historical Sites
- El Avion (A converted Fairchild C-123 cargo plane with Iran-Contra history)
- Religious Sites
- Iglesia Inmaculada Concepción de María (Quepos center)
- Annual Events
- Festival del Mar (Quepos, February); Independence Day (September 15)
- Cultural Districts
- Marina Pez Vela (Modern hub for shopping, dining, and yacht culture)
- Theater Venues
- Teatro de Quepos (Occasional local performances)
- Local Markets
- Quepos Feria (Friday afternoons/Saturdays) for fresh produce and crafts
- Music Scene
- Live Latin music at Barba Roja on sunset sessions
- Street Art
- Mural cycle at the Quepos marina and surrounding town walls
- Cooking Classes
- Costa Rica Curry House classes (Learn to make Caribbean-style Tico dishes)
- Art Galleries
- Gabbie's Fine Art Gallery (Manuel Antonio main road)
- Historic Buildings
- The old Banana Company housing units in Quepos (United Fruit Company era)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Pura Vida' lifestyle - a focus on nature, family, and slow living
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Rainmaker Conservation Project (Suspension bridges and waterfalls 30 mins north)
- National Parks Nearby
- Marino Ballena National Park (1 hour drive south to Uvita)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The trails within Manuel Antonio National Park (Sendero Perezoso)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The 'Mirador' on the road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio
- Birdwatching Locations
- Esquipulas Rainforest (Highland birds and toucans)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Playa El Rey (Remote beach south of the park; permits/caution required)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correos de Costa Rica (Quepos branch); DHL Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Soporte Técnico Quepos (Laptops and smartphones)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Selina Manuel Antonio common area
- Language Classes
- COSI (Costa Rica Spanish Institute) Manuel Antonio
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Pública de Quepos
- Community Centers
- PAWS (Pets of Aguirre Welfare Shelter) for volunteering
- Gaming Lounges
- Mostly restricted to internet cafes in Quepos center
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Best Western Hotel Kamuk Casino (Quepos)