Costa Rica vs Mexico
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Mexico is approximately 28% less expensive than Costa Rica based on cost of living including rent. This makes Mexico a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Mexico has a FIRE Score of 80/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement.
The country's safety index is 47.3, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Mexico is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Side by side
Best in rowSan José
Costa Rica
Mexico City
Mexico
Country-level averages. N/A or Not enough data means no figure is published for that country. * Women's inclusion scores are unverified.
About these countries
About Mexico
Safety-sensitive retirees should pause: a 46.6 safety index and a significant safety index gap may signal real risk. But budget-conscious Americans willing to navigate that tradeoff get low rent (a one-bedroom city-center apartment averages $659.65\/mo), a large expat network, and an easy $3,738/mo income visa path to permanent residency.
Mexico costs roughly 28% less than Costa Rica, though Costa Rica has significantly faster internet infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Mexico is approximately 28% less expensive than Costa Rica based on cost of living including rent. This makes Mexico a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Mexico has a FIRE Score of 80/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement.
The country's safety index is 47.3, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Mexico is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Costa Rica
Costa Rica works for retirees who want a rubber-stamp visa, not bargain hunters chasing rock-bottom prices. A one-bedroom near the city center runs $903/mo, pushing this above typical Latin America budget destinations. The Pensionado visa only requires $1,000/mo in retirement income, but progressive income tax up to 25% and a clear path to permanent residency mean this is a lifestyle purchase, not a tax play.
$1,153/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About Mexico
Safety-sensitive retirees should pause: a 46.6 safety index and a significant safety index gap may signal real risk. But budget-conscious Americans willing to navigate that tradeoff get low rent (a one-bedroom city-center apartment averages $659.65\/mo), a large expat network, and an easy $3,738/mo income visa path to permanent residency.
$1,638/mo
Not sure which Mexico visa you qualify for?
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Costa Rica | Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 127 +3.0 | 124 |
| Healthcare Index | 64.8 | 72.3 +7.5 |
| Safety Index | 45.8 | 47.3 +1.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 57 | 44.4 +12.6 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $944 | $701.9 +242.1 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $3,504.1 | $2,604.9 +899.2 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $903.45 | $659.65 +243.8 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $642.83 | $430.55 +212.28 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1,721.95 | $1,227.82 +494.13 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,157.73 | $816.48 +341.25 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 184.72 Mbps +64.9 | 119.81 Mbps |
| Ballpark effective tax rate ($80,000) | 15.0% +6.0pt | 21.0% |
| Top income tax rate | 25.0% +10.0pt | 35.0% |
| Capital gains tax rate | 15.0% | 10.0% +5.0pt |
| Dividend tax rate | 15.0% | 10.0% +5.0pt |
Rights & Inclusion
Published indices. Legal protection and public attitudes are kept separate, and neither is folded into a single score.
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Costa Rica
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Mexico
LGBTQ+ legal protection score
Attitudes
Scores run from 0 to 100. Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified. Sources: Equaldex, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index. See the full inclusion ranking.
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Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for Costa Rica and Mexico, side by side.
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