1
Remote Work in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is well-suited for North American remote workers — the same time zone as US Central, an improving coworking ecosystem, and 0% tax on foreign income make it a natural choice.
- Time zone: UTC-6, same as US Central Standard Time (no daylight saving) — easy coordination with US East and West Coast clients
- Internet: fiber 50–100 Mbps available in Escazú and major cities for $40–$60/month; improving in beach towns but still inconsistent
- Digital Nomad Visa: $3,000/month income = 2-year legal stay with 0% local income tax
- Coworking: WeWork Escazú, Selina San José, and independent spaces in Tamarindo and Santa Teresa
- Backup internet: mobile data (Kolbi, Movistar) is essential as backup during rainy season outages
- Power outages: less common in urban areas; rainy season can cause brief cuts in rural/beach areas