Rental nightmares in Costa Rica

@Cheryl

1. Read articles like this one, and be VERY CAREFUL about where you rent: https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/cost … e-e2094f2e
2. Vet your prospective landlord before sending a SWIFT wire transfer as a downpayment.
3. Ask to speak to a tenant to get an insider's view.
4. Remember, C.R. is a developing nation. We had a 23.5 hour power outage in the past day: no Wi-Fi, internet,cable, phone,  electricity, or hot water. If one is a digital nomad, make sure you live in a place with reliable Wi-Fi, or be prepared to pay a lot extra for StarLink service.
5. Even the newest construction often has flaws, like fourteen (14!) months of unresolved leaks in a certain instance, with black mold and mildew. Pay extra and visit the site. NEVER rent sight-unseen. Check out several options before making a commitment.
6. You may NOT get a written lease.
7. If you are NOT married to a Tico-a, own property, or are able to post $50-60K USD, you will NOT get a local bank account (only a credit union account, which will not allow you to deposit checks, since they do not transact international business.
8. Tico mail service for expats, in my experience and others where I live, is NON-EXISTENT.  Use courier services and get a POB is So. Fla. It's worth the money.
9. Bring at least TWO (2!) debit cards with you. BE ADVISED that last year the #3 US Bank dumped Mastercard for its debit card when it subsumed DISCOVER and the KOHL's credit card systems. The result? NO ATMs will accept this card in C.R., not even in the airport or big hotels in the capital. You can use it to buy stuff, but NOT to withdraw CASH, in ATMS, at Banks, or at HOTELS. DO NOT EXPECT to get CASH BACK on a debit card sale in C.R.
10. In certain instances, one will hear music, conversations, late-night partying (including wafting cigarette smoke, omnipresent), and vibrating floors from various nocturnal activities). 
11. One will only know these things bu first-hand "scouting missions" and conversation with locals.
12. For those who pay in US dollars, the weakness of the currency, even in the past two years, has declined markedly (20% in the past two years). This may result in a surcharge in your rent. The USD had dropped precipitiously, and will not bounce back in the near future.
13. One would benefit from a tranquil area in elevated hill country, free of the need for expensive A/C. In beach communities, some people pay as much as $500.00 USD/month for utilities, in addition to rent or carrying fees.
14. For those who are religious, finding a worshipping community in which one is at home will prove to be a major asset. C.R. features many Roman Catholic Churches, along with Evangelical worshiping communities, a large LDS temple near the SJO airport, and very few Hebrew temples or synagogues.
15. Speaking Spanish well or attempting to learn it will open many doors. TICOS are simpatico, especially if one makes an effort to embrace the culture and mores and shed the image of the "ugly expat "[fill in the blank].
16. If you expect to establish a local BANK account (as opposed to in a credit union), be prepared for a run-around and massive frustration and ultimate disappointment in most cases, unless: a). One is married to a Tico-a; b). One owns property in C.R.; c). one is able to invest $60,000.00 USD locally.
17. The third LARGEST bank in the USA recently ditched its MASTERCARD debit card when it bought out DISCOVER and also the Kolh's department school credit card division. The result: its DEBIT CARD cannot be used at a SINGLE ATM/caja automatica in C.R. DO NOT come down with a single credit card or a single debit card. If you have to cancel it on account of FRAUD, you may not be able to get it replaced in C.R. via FED-EX or UPS (I have had the experience multiple times while combatting scams). While one can activate a new card for certain regular accounts, one cannot receive a "hard copy" of the card without returning to the USA or shipping it (very risky).
18. Avoid the noise, crime, and pollution of the big cities and consider some of the nicer communities in the mountain areas of the Central Valley, in Heredia or Alajuela Provinces.
19. Do your homework. Watch videos. Talk to expats. Read this forum. Take the best advice seriously.
20. Good luck. Costa Rica has great people and lots of PURA VIDA, but it's not the panacea that it was even five years ago, largely due to rising street crimes of opportunity and rising cost of living, decline of the dollar, and inflation in the housing and retail markets, especially food (though autos are 40% more than in the USA, owing to tariffs and the IVA tax, like the European VAT).

Basically if you are not wealthy, you are screwed in Costa Rica..Those minimal governmental administrative requirements for residency is just bait..

@edwinemora

Residency requirements loom as extremely complicated, whether for residency, pensionista, or digital nomad.

Newcomers are better off "testing the waters" on a six-month (renewable) indefinite tourist visa and "stamping out" by crossing land borders, by air, or by sea.

Six-month-old birth certificates apostilled (certified) by the individuals USA Department of State (individual Secretary of State within one's respective state) and an FBI background check to certify that one is free of felony convictions are a hassle for many.

The source of funds for the pensionista visa (@ $1,000.00/month) must come from a recognizable, permanent source, such as Social Security (USA), a federal railroad pension, or a documentable 401 (K) or KEOGH pension plan.

A lot of hassle for people who might not elect to stay, and who will have to pay into the health care system (CaJA).

For many, thiese options serve no productive purpose, certainlhy not initially upon arrival.

Some motivated individuals can accomplish the groundwork of their own; others retain legal services or agents to do so, in the USA or in C.R.

Some posters on this site provide incomplete and misleading information about rising petty crime and violent crime in areas of Costa Rica. Interested  parties should review this material attentively:

The Wall Street Journal

https://www.wsj.com › world › americas

Runaway Drug Violence Sets Off a Political Earthquake in Costa Rica

LIMÓN, Costa Rica—Once a beacon of democratic stability in a region beset by lawlessness, Costa Rica is facing a surge …

Tico Times

https://ticotimes.net › wall-street-journal-costa-rica-drug-violence-judiciary

Costa Rica Drug Violence Draws WSJ Alarm as Homicides Fall

1 day ago · A Wall Street Journal report ties Costa Rica's drug killings to a growing fight between the government and the courts. …WSJ Report on Crime in Costa Rica

The Wall Street Journal recently published a major report warning that drug-related violence is fracturing Costa Rica’s political system, with President Laura Fernández and her governing party in direct conflict with the judiciary

Tico Times

-)-

Rise in Drug Violence

The WSJ attributes the surge in crime to the 2019 opening of the Moín container terminal on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, which enabled criminal groups to move cocaine at an unprecedented scale. Since 2020, Costa Rica has become the leading transshipment point for cocaine from South America to the U.S. and Europe

Tico Times

Homicides rose 50% from 2020 to 2023, reaching 905 in 2023 — the highest annual total in history — and staying near that level through 2025

Tico Times

.

The Judicial Investigation Agency projects 2026 will see between 693 and 766 homicides, below the 800 mark for the first time since the surge began

Tico Timea

The province of Limón, home to the port, has the highest homicide rate, more than double the national average

Infobae.

Political Conflict

The WSJ describes a “political civil war” between the executive and judicial branches.

President Fernández has accused the judiciary of being infiltrated by organized crime, filed a criminal complaint against constitutional court judges, and pushed for tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts to the judiciary

Tico Times

The finance ministry announced significant reductions to the judicial budget, covering courts, the attorney general’s office, and the Judicial Investigation Agency

Tico Times

The WSJ notes that the proposed cuts could create disorder, making it easier for the government to curtail citizens’ rights

Tico Times

Organized Crime and Payments

A senior prosecutor told the WSJ that transnational drug cartels from Mexico, Colombia, and Europe pay local groups in cocaine. These local groups then sell the drug domestically, fueling territorial disputes and homicides

Infobae

WSJ Report on Crime in Costa Rica

The Wall Street Journal recently published a major report warning that drug-related violence is fracturing Costa Rica’s political system, with President Laura Fernández and her governing party in direct conflict with the judiciary

Tico Times.

Rise in Drug Violence

The WSJ attributes the surge in crime to the 2019 opening of the Moín container terminal on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, which enabled criminal groups to move cocaine at an unprecedented scale. Since 2020, Costa Rica has become the leading transshipment point for cocaine from South America to the U.S. and Europe

Tico Times

Homicides rose 50% from 2020 to 2023, reaching 905 in 2023 — the highest annual total in history — and staying near that level through 2025

Tico Times

The Judicial Investigation Agency projects 2026 will see between 693 and 766 homicides, below the 800 mark for the first time since the surge began

Tico Times

The Wall Street Journal

https://www.wsj.com › world › americas

Runaway Drug Violence Sets Off a Political Earthquake in Costa Rica

LIMÓN, Costa Rica—Once a beacon of democratic stability in a region beset by lawlessness, Costa Rica is facing a surge …

Tico Times

https://ticotimes.net › wall-street-journal-costa-rica-drug-violence-judiciary

Costa Rica Drug Violence Draws WSJ Alarm as Homicides Fall

A Wall Street Journal report ties Costa Rica's drug killings to a growing fight between the government and the courts. …

The province of Limón, home to the port, has the highest homicide rate, more than double the national average

Infobae

Political Conflict

The WSJ describes a “political civil war” between the executive and judicial branches.

President Fernández has accused the judiciary of being infiltrated by organized crime, filed a criminal complaint against constitutional court judges, and pushed for tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts to the judiciary

Tico Times

The finance ministry announced significant reductions to the judicial budget, covering courts, the attorney general’s office, and the Judicial Investigation Agency

Tico Times

The WSJ notes that the proposed cuts could create disorder, making it easier for the government to curtail citizens’ rights

Tico Times

Organized Crime and Payments

A senior prosecutor told the WSJ that transnational drug cartels from Mexico, Colombia, and Europe pay local groups in cocaine. These local groups then sell the drug domestically, fueling territorial disputes and homicides

Infobae

The report cites a 50% drop in cocaine seizures from 2020 to 2023 (from over 45 tons to ~21.4 tons), reversing later trends

Diario Extra

Implications

The WSJ warns that while homicide rates have eased slightly in 2026, violent crime remains high in key provinces and the political standoff could undermine judicial independence and public trust. The paper frames the situation as both a security crisis and a political crisis, with organized crime exploiting institutional tensions to expand its influence

Tico Times

For the full article, see the WSJ’s coverage titled “Runaway Drug Violence Sets Off a Political Earthquake in Costa Rica”

The Wall Street Journal

The report cites a 50% drop in cocaine seizures from 2020 to 2023 (from over 45 tons to ~21.4 tons), reversing later trends

Diario Extra

Implications

The WSJ warns that while homicide rates have eased slightly in 2026, violent crime remains high in key provinces and the political standoff could undermine judicial independence and public trust. The paper frames the situation as both a security crisis and a political crisis, with organized crime exploiting institutional tensions to expand its influence

Tico Times

For the full article, see the WSJ’s coverage titled “Runaway Drug Violence Sets Off a Political Earthquake in Costa Rica”

The Wall Street Journal

.

A few more items for ready reference might prove useful. NOTE the STEP -type warning from CANADA. Visitors and prospective expats should weigh this material into their calculus and all advisable precautions should be taken to "take a bite out of crime" when determining WHEN and WHERE to visit tourist sites and WHERE to consider relocation in retirement or as a digital nomad:

Canada Updates Costa Rica Travel Advisory Over Crime Concerns

Tico Times - May 5, 2026

Canada has updated its travel advice page for Costa Rica, keeping our country under a nationwide recommendation to “exercise a high degree of caution”...

Crime Concerns in Cartago Raise Questions About Costa Rica Safety

Guest Author - April 24, 2026

A rise in violence and theft in downtown Cartago is changing the way merchants do business, with some closing earlier, reinforcing storefronts and watching...

US Bases Proposed in Limón, Puntarenas and Guanacaste to Target Drug Traffickers

Tico Times - February 26, 2026

Fabián Silva Gamboa, a constitutional lawyer who advises President-elect Laura Fernández, proposed a reform to the Political Constitution that would allow the United States...

Costa Rica Slides Further in Global Fight Against Organized Crime

Tico Times - December 30, 2025

Costa Rica has fallen to 58th place out of 193 countries in the 2025 Global Organized Crime Index, a drop of 14 positions from...

U.S. Seeks Extradition of Costa Rican Drug Leader from Limón

Tico Times - November 6, 2025

Federal authorities in New York have formally asked Costa Rica to hand over Gilberth Bell Fernández, a 62-year-old man known as “Macho Coca,” to...

AN EXCELLENT SUMMARY:

https://ticotimes.net/2025/11/02/canada … e-concerns

Theft remains a persistent problem nationwide. Tourists often face pickpocketing and bag snatching in crowded places like bus stations, airports, and hotels. Criminals target passports more during busy months from November to May and July to August. Groups of thieves distract people to steal items, and rental cars parked at beaches, parks, or eateries draw break-ins.

Beyond minor theft, armed robberies and assaults occur in San José and along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Some attacks happen at rental homes or during transit. Provinces such as Alajuela, Limón, Puntarenas, and San José see higher rates of violent acts, often tied to drugs.

Specific trouble spots include downtown San José areas near the Coca-Cola bus terminal, central market, and public parks. On the Pacific side, places like Dominical, Jacó, Manuel Antonio, Quepos, and the Cóbano region report incidents. The Caribbean coast, including Cahuita, Puerto Limón, and Puerto Viejo, also carries risks.

Canadian officials advise travelers to stay in populated, illuminated zones, lock up valuables, and skip solo outings at night. They warn against taking food or drinks from unknown people. For drivers, check car locks manually, park in guarded lots, and avoid leaving items in view. Use licensed taxis—orange ones at the airport or red with a yellow triangle elsewhere—and confirm the meter runs. On buses, hold onto belongings and remain alert.

This update follows earlier notices, including one that we wrote about in June that first highlighted rising crime, and another in August that echoed similar warnings. The October revision includes editorial tweaks but keeps the core message intact, aligning with advisories for other Latin American spots like the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. Canadian sources note that while Costa Rica draws eco-tourists and beach seekers, these safety issues persist...

...As Costa Rica enters its high season, this guidance serves as a reminder for all visitors to plan with care.