Best places to retire in Costa Rica
Top retirement cities in Costa Rica
- Atenas — retire score 63/100 (cost 46, climate 100, safety 47)
- Cartago — retire score 62/100 (cost 42, climate 100, safety 52)
- Heredia — retire score 62/100 (cost 42, climate 100, safety 49)
- San Pedro — retire score 62/100 (cost 42, climate 100, safety 49)
- Alajuela — retire score 60/100 (cost 40, climate 100, safety 48)
- San José — retire score 58/100 (cost 35, climate 100, safety 46)
- Quepos — retire score 55/100 (cost 45, climate 83, safety 41)
- Limón — retire score 54/100 (cost 39, climate 83, safety 45)
- Tamarindo — retire score 54/100 (cost 46, climate 76, safety 41)
- Liberia — retire score 53/100 (cost 40, climate 78, safety 45)
- Puntarenas — retire score 52/100 (cost 41, climate 78, safety 40)
Why these cities rank for retirement in Costa Rica
The retire score weights affordability at 40%, climate comfort at 30% and safety at 30%, because fixed-income retirees feel cost most, then weather, then security. In Costa Rica, Atenas leads at 63/100 — cost 46, climate 100, safety 47 — while Atenas is the most affordable base (cost 46/100). Cost is anchored to Costa Rica's World Bank price level, climate to WorldClim normals (so you can judge whether winters and summers suit you), and safety blends natural-disaster exposure with crime. Two things our score deliberately omits — healthcare quality and retirement-visa eligibility — are decisive for retirees, so treat this as the affordability-climate-safety shortlist and verify health cover and residency rules for Costa Rica separately before you commit.
The shortlist, by the numbers
Atenas scores 63/100 (cost 46, climate 100, safety 47; warmest-month highs ~23.2°C, coldest-month lows ~21.3°C). Cartago scores 62/100 (cost 42, climate 100, safety 52; warmest-month highs ~17.2°C, coldest-month lows ~15.4°C). Heredia scores 62/100 (cost 42, climate 100, safety 49; warmest-month highs ~20.9°C, coldest-month lows ~19.0°C). San Pedro scores 62/100 (cost 42, climate 100, safety 49; warmest-month highs ~17.4°C, coldest-month lows ~15.6°C). Each balances the three retirement levers differently — Atenas leads overall, while a city like Atenas wins purely on budget — so rank them by what your pension stretches to and the climate your health prefers.
FAQ
Where is the best place to retire in Costa Rica?
Atenas ranks highest in our retirement score (63/100), balancing affordability, mild climate and safety.
Is Costa Rica a good place to retire?
Costa Rica's best retirement city scores 63/100; the most affordable is Atenas (cost 46/100). We weigh cost, climate and natural-disaster + crime safety — not healthcare or visas, which you should check separately.
What's the cheapest place to retire in Costa Rica?
Atenas has the lowest cost of living in Costa Rica in our data.
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