Working in Costa Rica as a Digital Nomad

by Matt Lloyd in Costa Rica

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine that you’re sipping from a delicious cocktail beneath a palm tree, on some beach in Costa Rica, while you’re digging your toes into the warm sand.... Sounds great, doesn’t it? That’s because spending your holiday in Costa Rica IS great!

But now imagine, that somehow, this would be the scenery you’d have on a regular working day. How’s that possible, you ask? Simple! Choose the life of a digital nomad!

Keep reading to find out about the benefits of a life as a digital nomad in Costa Rica. We’ll show you some steps you can take to transition to a life of working online!

Photo by Playa Carrillo Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

Working in Costa Rica

Since you’re most likely entered the country on a tourist visa, you’re technically not allowed to work during your stay. To be allowed to legally work in Costa Rica, you need to obtain legal residency.

But that’s the beauty of working online, right? Who’s going to notice? As long as you pay your taxes somewhere, you’re probably fine.

A valid question that you might ask yourself is; “What kind of job can I do that’s fully online?”

What Online Jobs Are There?

There are hundreds of jobs you can transition to that allow you to work fully remote. Think about it. How many people earn a very decent income freelancing? Maybe you even know a few!

You could take a course in design and offer your services on an online freelancing platform. You can read up about SEO-writing and start a blog, so you can earn from the affiliate links and ads. Or how about starting a drop-shipping business? The opportunities are endless, and only limited by your mindset!

Online Freelancing Platforms

There are plenty of online platforms where companies from all over the world post jobs like; content writer, blogger, virtual assistant, translator, designer, you name it.

Here are just a few:

• Upwork
• Fiverr
• Toptal
• Simply Hired
• PeoplePerHour
• Crowded

They work quite simple. A client from anywhere in the world will post their job on the platform. Freelancers can bid on the posting by writing a proposal, a job application if you will. The client chooses the freelancer with the best proposal and the contract is started.

Of course, you will need a few things to make your new life as a digital nomad possible. These, however, come down to a laptop and a decent internet connection. And this last one can sometimes be a bit tricky in Costa Rica.

Photo by Langstonrealty.com

Wi-Fi in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is still developing its communication infrastructure. And unfortunately, Wi-Fi is also part of that.

If you’re planning on renting a house, make sure you ask the owner what internet speed the property has. In the Greater Metropolitan Area, and tourist towns like Jacó, Uvita, Puerto Viejo, etc. it's quite common to have fiber optic cable.

However, when you're planning to live in the more rural areas in the Central Valley, for example, high-speed internet might be an issue.

There are more and more internet companies in Costa Rica that offer Wi-Fi. Below are a few and with an indication of the cost per month.

• Claro 10 Mbps for US$33
• Cabletica 30 Mbps for US$36
• Movistar 10 Mbps for US$27
• Tigo 30 Mbps for US$35
• Telecable 30 Mbps for US$35

Keep in mind that the infrastructure in Costa Rica is still a work in progress, and that some parts of the country are not covered by high-speed internet services.

Many providers do a check before to see if their service covers the specific location of your property.

So, there you go! With a few small steps you can begin to plan your life as a digital nomad in Costa Rica!

Are you already living in Costa Rica and have made the switch to working remotely? Let us know in the comments!

• Discover everything you need to know about moving to Costa Rica while enjoying 7 relaxing days at a beachfront resort, click here.