Moving to Costa Rica 2026 — The American's Guide to Visas, Taxes & Real Costs

"Pura vida" is real — but the move has sharp edges most blogs skip. Costa Rica uses territorial taxation (your foreign income generally isn't taxed locally), yet there's no US–Costa Rica tax treaty and no totalization agreement — so self-employed Americans can pay US self-employment tax and CAJA with no offset. This guide gets the tax picture right.You'll compare the three residency routes, understand how the mandatory CAJA health contribution is actually calculated, and learn why opening a bank account before you have residency is so hard.Inside (28 pages): Pensionado vs Rentista vs Investor vs Digital Nomad Visa — requirements & process Taxes — territorial system + nuances, no-treaty reality, FEIE/FBAR, SE-tax Healthcare — CAJA enrollment cost, public + private hospitals Real cost of living — Central Valley, Tamarindo, the coast (and the "gringo tax") Setting up — DIMEX, the banking chicken-and-egg, housing; pets, driving, shipping Toolkit: document checklist, 90-day timeline, budget worksheet, decision tool For: US retirees & remote workers planning a move to Costa Rica.Instant PDF. Updated May 2026. Not legal or tax advice — confirm with a professional.

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