Alajuela Centro
Alajuela, Costa Rica
Guide Price
$109920
$109920 USD · $22/sqft
PROPERTY TYPE
Condo
BEDROOMS
3
BATHROOMS
2
SIZE
4930 sq ft
Description
¡Tu mejor inversión está aquí! Lotes en Condominio Riviera, un proyecto exclusivo con excelente ubicación, amenidades modernas y alta demanda. Disponibles en 3 medidas: 458 m², ...
Location
Open in Google MapsLiving in Alajuela
Costa Rica's second-largest city sits in the Central Valley near the international airport, with spring-like weather year-round and easy access to both Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Cost of living is roughly 40-50% less than the US, and there's a well-established American retiree community. You'll want basic Spanish for daily errands, though English is common in expat-frequented areas.
Howler monkeys as your morning alarm, surfing before breakfast, and a country that dissolved its army in 1948 so it could spend the money on rainforests and schools instead.
Visa
Digital Nomad Visa — requires $3,000/mo income ($4,000 for families). Valid 1 year, renewable once. Tax-exempt on foreign income. Rentista Visa — for those with $2,500/mo passive income or $60,000 deposit. Pensionado Visa — for retirees with $1,000+/mo pension. Both lead to permanent residency after 3 years.
Learn more: The Complete Guide to Moving to Costa Rica→Key Fact
Costa Rica has excellent universal healthcare (ranked above the US by WHO) and no military — the budget goes to education and environment instead. The "Pura Vida" lifestyle is real but imported goods and cars are expensive due to import taxes.
Learn more: Health Insurance for Americans Living Abroad→Costa Rica at a glance
How Costa Rica scores for American expats
Cost of buying in Costa Rica
Estimated fees and ongoing costs for this property
Closing Costs
4-6% of purchase price
- ·Transfer tax: 1.5%
- ·Legal fees: 1-1.5%
- ·Stamps and registration: 0.5-1%
- ·Notary: included in legal fees
Annual Costs
Property Tax
0.25% of registered value (very low)
Insurance
$300-800/yr
HOA / Condo Fees
$100-400/mo for condos
Good to Know
Agent Fees
Seller pays (5%)
Foreign Buyer Note
Foreigners have same property rights as citizens. Maritime zone (first 200m from high tide) requires concession, not ownership.
Legal help in Costa Rica
Hire your own attorney — not the seller's. We'll match you with a vetted local lawyer.
Need a local attorney in Costa Rica?
We'll connect you with an independent, English-speaking real estate attorney experienced with foreign buyers. Not the seller's lawyer — yours.
Next steps for moving to Costa Rica
Interested in this property? Here's how to move forward.
Understand the buying rules
Foreign ownership laws vary wildly by country. Some welcome you, others restrict or ban foreign buyers entirely.
Sort out your visa
Owning property doesn't give you the right to live there. Research residency options before you buy.
Plan your finances
Understand currency risk, international wire transfers, and whether you can get a local mortgage.
Know your tax obligations
US citizens are taxed on worldwide income. You'll need to file US taxes from abroad and may owe local taxes too.
Set up healthcare
Medicare doesn't cover you overseas. You'll need international health insurance or a local plan.
Run the full checklist
Banking, mail forwarding, power of attorney, pet import rules — the complete pre-move checklist.
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