Global Retirement Radar 4 - COSTA RICA: “Where the Silver Retire to Find Longevity, Peace, and Unity”

Nestled between misty volcanoes and cobalt-blue waters, Costa Rica’s landscapes are lush and welcoming

It's no surprise that retirees—especially Americans—are drawn here in search of what locals call Pura Vida: a simple, joyful, purposeful life. But there’s more than sunshine behind the allure. Below the serene skies is a nation quietly emerging as a model for aging with dignity—if not without its own challenges.

Few nations speak longevity like Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, one of the world’s five official Blue Zones.

Here, locals commonly live past 100, fueled by nutrient-rich "three sisters" diets of beans, squash, and corn, active outdoor living, and deep community ties. In fact, Nicoyan men are seven times more likely than Japanese men to reach centenarian status. These clues suggest an ecosystem where aging is less a burden, more a well-tended chapter.

Costa Rica’s Pensionado Visa has made this accessible for retirees from abroad.

Offering permanent residency after just two to three years, the program requires as little as a $1,000/month pension and includes family dependents. Visa holders gain access to Costa Rica’s universal public healthcare system (CCSS)—for as low as $150/month—and enjoy tax exemptions on foreign income and household imports. Its proximity to the U.S. and widespread English proficiency make integration easier—even as diverse climates let retirees choose coast, mountain, or cloud forest living.

Yet Costa Rica is not perfect.

Its long-term care infrastructure remains largely informal and family-driven, with no national LTC insurance framework in place. Some medical waits persist in rural areas, despite over 30 Joint Commission–accredited private hospitals in San José and the Central Valley. Additionally, cultural shifts—like rising rates of seniors living alone (up 36% between 2011 and 2017)—are signaling a growing need for elder support mechanisms beyond the Red Cuido network.

What Costa Rica Gets Right

• Eco-aged wellness: Its Blue Zone status and high life expectancy (79+ years) reflect deep-rooted, healthy habits.
• Affordability: Retirees can live well on $1,600–$2,000/month, enjoying real estate, food, and services often 38% cheaper than in the U.S.
• Accessible public health: Through CCSS, retirees receive broad care access for a modest monthly fee.
• Secure residency: Pensionado Visa offers stability, family inclusion, and potential citizenship after seven years.

 Where it Falls Short

• Limited long-term care and aged care policies at a national level.
• Infrastructure strained in rural health coverage—public clinics sometimes have long waits.
• No formal eldercare protections or age-specific laws beyond Red Cuido initiatives

CONCLUSION 

If aging abroad is a journey toward meaning, Costa Rica doesn’t just offer endpoints—it offers the journey itself: cleaner air, community, and environmental richness that mirror an ideal retirement. But this paradise is not turnkey.

Retirees should weigh rural limitations, limited state-backed eldercare, and changing family structures before making the move. Costa Rica isn’t simply an escape—it’s an invitation to age intentionally, under a national ethos that values life, community, and natural simplicity.

But aging well abroad means planning with eyes wide open—knowing that dignity is built as much by policy as it is by palm trees.

Will Costa Rica become your sanctuary—or is it a pit stop on the long way home?

© 2025 by Mariza L. Lendez. All rights reserved. www.chikicha.com 

This article is part of the Global Retirement Radar —a published segment of the author’s ongoing dissertation titled “Designing a Purpose-Driven Retirement Model Based on the IKIGAI Philosophy.” All materials herein are protected under Philippine intellectual property law and international copyright treaties and academic intellectual property laws. No part of this work may be reproduced, published, or distributed in whole or in part without express written permission from the author, except for academic citation or fair use with proper attribution.

For licensing , citations, or syndication requests, please contact the author directly. 

This article highlights Costa Rica as a viable retirement destination, based on verified data, peer-reviewed literature, and insights from national and global agencies. Structured and supported with the help of AI technology. 

Citation Format 

Lendez, Mariza  (2025). Global Retirement Radar– [Costa Rica]: ["Where the Silver Retire to Find Longevity, Peace, and Unity"] In "Designing a Purpose-Driven Retirement Model Based on the IKIGAI Philosophy" (unpublished dissertation). Philippine Women's University

 References

1. International Living. (2024). Costa Rica is one of the top countries to retire in 2024. https://internationalliving.com/countries/costa‑rica/ 
2. OECD. (2021). Pensions at a glance 2021: Costa Rica country profile. https://www.oecd.org/countries/costarica/PAG2021‑CRI.pdf 
3. World Health Organization. (2023). Global Health Observatory data: Life expectancy. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/mortality‑and‑global‑health‑estimates/ghe‑life‑expectancy
4. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2023). World Population Prospects 2022. https://population.un.org/wpp/ 
5. Numbeo. (2024). Cost of living in Costa Rica. https://www.numbeo.com/cost‑of‑living/country_result.jsp?country=Costa+Rica 
6. OECD. (2021). Costa Rica health system review. https://www.oecd.org/publications/costa‑rica‑health‑system‑review‑2021‑4c90bd7c‑en.htm