🇨🇷Retire in Costa Rica

Costa Rica's Pensionado (Rentista alt.) is set by rule at Current Pensionado law art. 81 — $1,000/mo lifetime pension; Rentista regulation art. 99 — $2,500/mo stable monthly income for at least two years; the current figure works out to $1,000/month and re-floats when the underlying index changes. Income must be passive (pensions, rent, dividends) — not remote employment. The rule is statutory; the exact amount is index-linked and re-floats (source: Costa Rica SINALEVI — Pensionado law art. 81 and Rentista regulation art. 99, checked 2026-10-13).

Unknown — not separately quantified Verify the current uplift with the consulate before applying.

No. The Pensionado (Rentista alt.) requires passive income — pensions, rental income, dividends or annuities — not salary from remote employment. Pensionado requires a guaranteed LIFETIME pension; the Rentista route needs $2,500/mo stable monthly income for at least 2 years, evidenced by bank documents. A standalone $60,000 deposit alternative is not stated in the current regulation. (Older $600 figures circulating online are from a superseded decree.)

The rule is statutory; the exact amount is index-linked and re-floats (source: Costa Rica SINALEVI — Pensionado law art. 81 and Rentista regulation art. 99, checked 2026-10-13). Requirements change — often yearly as minimum-wage or index figures re-float — so re-verify before any decision.

WhereNext's reviewed budget models about $2,200 a month for one person and about $3,100 for a couple, before the visa's own income test (Pensionado (Rentista alt.) needs ≈ $1,000/mo equivalent).

The WhereNext retirement tax map records for Costa Rica: pension regime: Territorial Tax System (0% on foreign-source income, Indefinite). Tax residency usually follows from the days you spend there — check the tax map entry and your home treaty before relying on it.

Yes — Costa Rica clears the three floors (GPI ≤ 2.0, life expectancy ≥ 75, HDI ≥ 0.80).