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Analytics
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
#931
,
Nomad Score:
65%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to urban centers; local markets and eateries offer good value but imported goods can be pricey.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are reasonable but can spike during high tourist seasons; options range from shared rooms to private bungalows.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Fresh local produce is affordable; dining out is moderately priced with many local sodas and international options.
🚌 Transportation Cost
75%
Weight: 20
Public buses are cheap; taxis and car rentals are moderately priced but limited in frequency.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
69%
Weight: 15
Affordable local entertainment like beach activities and cultural events; nightlife can be pricier.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
54%
Weight: 10
Limited gym facilities with moderate pricing; many prefer outdoor activities or yoga studios.
💱 Currency Stability
80%
Weight: 30
Costa Rican colón is relatively stable with low inflation, supported by tourism and remittances.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
67%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 20-30 Mbps; occasional outages in remote areas but generally reliable for remote work.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
42%
Weight: 40
Few dedicated coworking spaces; most nomads rely on cafes or accommodations with WiFi.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
73%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer free WiFi with decent speeds, popular spots for digital nomads.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
68%
Weight: 30
Good selection of cafes with power outlets and comfortable seating, though not all are optimized for long work sessions.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
59%
Weight: 100
Growing but still niche; attracts eco-conscious and nature-loving nomads rather than large communities.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
84%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
85%
Weight: 30
Strong emphasis on outdoor lifestyle and relaxation; easy to balance work with beach and nature activities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
89%
Weight: 15
Excellent natural environment with lush rainforests, beaches, and biodiversity.
🧼 Cleanliness
61%
Weight: 10
Generally clean but some areas suffer from waste management challenges, especially during tourist peaks.
🗨️ Language Barrier
52%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English is spoken in tourist and expat areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
87%
Weight: 15
Good air quality due to coastal location and abundant greenery.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
58%
Weight: 25
Suitable for families seeking nature and outdoor activities but limited schooling and healthcare options.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
60%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare facilities available locally; more advanced care requires travel to larger cities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
74%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable; private clinics are more expensive but still reasonable compared to North America.
🏥 Healthcare
65%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; serious medical needs require travel to San José or abroad.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
79%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; rainy season from May to November can be heavy.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
63%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of hurricanes and flooding during rainy season; low earthquake risk compared to other Central American regions.
🏞️ Green Spaces
95%
Weight: 10
Abundant natural parks, beaches, and forests providing excellent green spaces.
❄️ Air Conditioning
58%
Weight: 15
Not always standard in accommodations; fans are common, and AC can be expensive to run.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
31%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mainly wet and dry seasons with consistent temperatures.
🔊 Noise Pollution
62%
Weight: 10
Generally quiet with natural sounds; occasional noise from nightlife and tourism.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
76%
Weight: 20
Rich Afro-Caribbean and indigenous influences; vibrant local traditions and festivals.
🌃 Nightlife
50%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly low-key bars and beach parties rather than clubs.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
97%
Weight: 15
Exceptional access to beaches, rainforests, wildlife, and outdoor activities like surfing and hiking.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
64%
Weight: 10
Several Spanish schools and informal language exchange opportunities available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
83%
Weight: 10
Wide range of eco-tours, wildlife excursions, and cultural experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; focus is on outdoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
72%
Weight: 25
Good mix of local Caribbean cuisine and international options catering to tourists.
🧠 Yoga Studios
70%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and wellness centers catering to tourists and nomads.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
51%
Weight: 15
Limited gyms; many rely on outdoor fitness or yoga.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
78%
Weight: 15
Abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and organic options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
84%
Weight: 20
GMT-6, convenient for North and South American clients and collaborators.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
47%
Weight: 25
Small digital nomad community limits networking; informal meetups occur occasionally.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
39%
Weight: 20
Local job market limited; most nomads work remotely for companies abroad.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
42%
Weight: 20
Small freelance community; limited local support infrastructure.
🏢 Coworking Quality
40%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic amenities; not comparable to major cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
35%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup ecosystem; focus is on tourism and small businesses.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Cash is king; mobile payments growing but not widespread.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
50%
Weight: 15
Emerging interest but limited infrastructure and acceptance.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
57%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is in San José (~4 hours away); small local airport with limited flights.
🚇 Public Transit
48%
Weight: 20
Limited local public transit; buses available but infrequent.
🚶 Walkability
65%
Weight: 20
Walkable within town center but distances to beaches and amenities can require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
32%
Weight: 15
No major ride-sharing apps; taxis and local drivers are primary options.
🚲 Cycling
60%
Weight: 10
Cycling is possible but limited infrastructure and hilly terrain in some areas.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
55%
Weight: 15
Buses connect to other towns; travel times can be long due to road conditions.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
71%
Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals widely available and popular for local transport.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
70%
Weight: 20
Good coverage in town and nearby areas; rural spots may have weak signal.
🔒 VPN Reliability
82%
Weight: 20
VPN services work well with stable internet; no major restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
68%
Weight: 15
Occasional outages during storms; generally reliable power supply.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
63%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in cafes and some public areas but can be spotty.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
75%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa on arrival for many nationalities; 90-day stay common without hassle.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Costa Rica has moderate tax rates; no special digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
87%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech and press.
🏛️ Political Stability
79%
Weight: 20
Stable democratic government with low corruption compared to regional neighbors.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
45%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners; requires significant documentation and local presence.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
52%
Weight: 10
Moderate bureaucracy; possible but can be slow and complex for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
60%
Weight: 35
Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa with reasonable requirements.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
67%
Weight: 50
Welcoming community with growing infrastructure but still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
43%
Weight: 25
Occasional meetups; no large-scale or regular nomad events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
55%
Weight: 20
Moderate online presence with some Facebook groups and forums.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
69%
Weight: 100
Generally safe for tourists; petty theft can occur, especially at night.
♀️ Female Friendly
65%
Weight: 50
Relatively safe and welcoming but caution advised in isolated areas.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70%
Weight: 50
Diverse population with Afro-Caribbean influences; generally tolerant society.