A sunset from Dominical a couple hours from San Jose
Table Of Contents
Disclaimer – This is largely a review of Barrio Escalante, as that’s mostly where I stayed while in San Jose.
- Digital Nomad FAQ’s – An Overview Of The City
- The 5 Quick Scores – An Overview Of The City
- Wifi Speed Tests
- Where I Stayed
- My Favorite Place To Work From
- Transportation
- What I Ate
- What I Drank / Nightlife
- Exercise / Outdoors
- Other Spots In Costa Rica I Would Recommend
Digital Nomad FAQ’s
Is San Jose, Costa Rica a good city for digital nomads?
San Jose, Costa Rica can be a decent city for digital nomads, but it depends on your preferences and needs as a remote worker.
How is the internet connectivity and speed in San Jose, Costa Rica?
The internet connectivity in San Jose, Costa Rica can be described as okay. While some areas offer high-speed internet suitable for video calls, other areas may have slower connections. It’s advisable to check with your accommodation provider or coworking space regarding their internet speed before committing to a location. Additionally, the reliability of the internet connection may vary, so it’s recommended to have backup options available.
Is it easy to meet people and make friends in San Jose, Costa Rica?
Yes, it is possible to meet people and make friends in San Jose, Costa Rica. The city has a vibrant expat community and locals are generally friendly and welcoming. Engaging in activities such as language exchanges, joining local clubs or groups, or attending social events can help facilitate meeting new people.
How much should I budget for a month in San Jose, Costa Rica?
On average, you should budget around $1500 to $2000 per month for a comfortable lifestyle in San Jose, Costa Rica as a digital nomad. This includes accommodation, food, transportation, entertainment, and other expenses. Keep in mind that prices may vary depending on your lifestyle choices and preferences.
Are there lots of places to work from in San Jose, Costa Rica?
Yes, there are several coworking spaces, cafes, and libraries in San Jose, Costa Rica where digital nomads can work from. Some popular options include Urban Station, Impact Hub, and Café del Patio. However, it’s essential to research and choose a workspace that meets your specific requirements in terms of amenities, atmosphere, and location.
What are the best digital nomad neighborhoods in San Jose, Costa Rica?
Some of the best neighborhoods for digital nomads in San Jose, Costa Rica include Escazú, Santa Ana, and Barrio Amón. These areas offer a range of amenities, including coworking spaces, cafes, restaurants, and recreational activities, making them ideal for remote work and living. Additionally, these neighborhoods are relatively safe and well-connected to the rest of the city.
Visitor / Working Visas
For digital nomads planning to stay and work in San Jose, Costa Rica, there are visa options available. The most common visa for short-term stays is the tourist visa, which allows visitors to stay in the country for up to 90 days. However, for those looking to stay longer or work legally, there are additional visa options:
- Rentista Visa: This visa is suitable for individuals who can demonstrate a stable monthly income from a foreign source, such as investments, pensions, or rental income. Applicants must prove a minimum monthly income, which can vary depending on the current regulations.
- Investor Visa: Individuals who invest a significant amount of money in a Costa Rican business or real estate may qualify for an investor visa. The investment amount required can vary and is subject to change based on government regulations.
- Temporary Resident Visa: Digital nomads planning to stay in Costa Rica for an extended period may apply for a temporary resident visa. This visa allows individuals to reside in the country for up to two years and can be renewed. Applicants must meet specific requirements, such as proving a stable income or demonstrating ties to Costa Rica.
- Work Visa: For those planning to work for a Costa Rican employer or establish their own business in the country, a work visa is necessary. Employers often assist in the visa application process for foreign workers, but individuals establishing their own business must meet certain criteria set by immigration authorities.
It’s essential to research and understand the requirements and application procedures for each visa type before planning your stay in San Jose, Costa Rica. Additionally, consulting with a local immigration attorney or contacting the nearest Costa Rican consulate can provide valuable guidance and assistance throughout the visa application process.
Cost Of Living / Traveling Through
- 🧍Avg. Cost Of Living (For Single Adult) – Approximately $1500 to $2000 per month, including accommodation, food, transportation, entertainment, and other expenses.
- 🏨 Avg. Price Per Night For Hotel Room (near city center) – Around $50 to $100 per night for a hotel room near the city center.
- 🏩 Avg. Price Per Night For Hostel Dorm Room (near city center) – Expect to pay around $10 to $20 per night for a dorm bed in a hostel near the city center.
- 🏡 Avg. Price for apartments (near city center) – The average price for apartments near the city center ranges from $500 to $1000 per month, depending on the size, location, and amenities.
- ☕️ Latte – The average price for a latte in San Jose, Costa Rica is approximately $2 to $4.
- 🍺 – .5 Liter Beer – A 0.5-liter beer in a bar or restaurant typically costs around $2 to $4.
- 🏋️♀️ – Monthly Gym Membership – The cost of a monthly gym membership in San Jose, Costa Rica ranges from $20 to $50, depending on the facilities and location of the gym.
- 🚊 – Local Transport – Avg. One Way Ticket Price – The average price for a one-way ticket on local transport in San Jose, Costa Rica is around $0.50 to $1.
- 🍝 Avg. Dinner Price – Expect to pay approximately $5 to $15 for an average dinner in San Jose, Costa Rica, depending on the restaurant and cuisine.
- 📱 – Avg. Data Plan Per Month – The average cost of a data plan per month in San Jose, Costa Rica is approximately $20 to $40, depending on the data allowance and provider.
- 🏢 – Avg. Cowork Per Month (near city center) – The average cost of a coworking space per month near the city center of San Jose, Costa Rica ranges from $80 to $200, depending on the facilities and location.
The 5 Quick Scores
- Internet Speed – 3.5/5
- Avg. Download Speed = 18.6 MBPS
- Avg. Upload Speed = 4.1 MBPS
- Avg. Latency = 47 MS*
- Fastest internet I Got In The City – was at Cabra Negra Cafe
- *Not sure what these metrics mean? Read my guide to get fast wifi here.
- Ease Of Connecting & Making Friends– 4.5/5
- There are plenty of other travelers around, and Costa Rican people are really easy to make friends with.
- Nightlife – 3.5/5
- Personally I liked this style of nightlife in Barrio Escalante, it was a bit more laid back not the loud, packed cluby vibe more of the wine bars & craft beer spots.
- Places To Work From – 3.5/5
- There are a decent amount of places to work from here, however many spots seemed to have weird hours, or closed super early More details on this below.
- Affordability – 2/5
- This spot is expensive, you can get hotels pretty cheap, but otherwise eating out and such is gonna cost you a bit, especially if you like drinking European wine.
Wifi Speed Tests
| Type / Device | Name | Upload | Download | Latency |
| Cafe | Cabra Negra | 69.22 | 4.63 | 33 |
| Hotel | Hostel Finca | 23.92 | 1.37 | 18 |
| Hotspot | Solis | 22.13 | 10.24 | 37 |
| Hotspot | Google Fi | 17.81 | 1.05 | 213 |
| Cafe | Entre Nous | 15.12 | 2.73 | 23 |
| Cafe | Starbucks – Central Ave & Calle 35 | 9.39 | 3.99 | 10 |
Where I Stayed
Hostel Finca Escalante
- OVERALL – 4/5
- Affordability – 4/5 – Affordable, at the time of writing this, it’s ~$10 for a shared dorm room & ~$35 for a private room
- Wifi – 3.5/5 – The wifi near the lobby wasn’t too bad, I was able to have multiple video calls but needed to connect my ethernet cord to do so.
- Avg. Download Speed = 19.33 MBPS
- Avg. Upload Speed = 21.42 MBPS
- Avg. Latency = 23 MS
- Sense Of Community – 5/5 – The staff is super cool and there are a lot of other single / nomadic folks here that are easy to connect with, they have a bad ass area in the back where I actually shot one of my digital nomad interviews at.
- Location – 5/5 – Right in the heart of Barrio Escalante
- Cleanliness – 4/5 – Overall pretty damn clean
My Favorite Places To Work From
Cabra Negra
- OVERALL – 4/5 – Killer spot, and they had plenty of space and were totally cool with me working there for what ended up being about a 6 hour stretch haha.
- Wifi – 4/5 – This was the fastest wifi I got at any cafe in Dominican Republic
- Download Speed = 22.7 MBPS
- Upload Speed = 10.2 MBPS
- Avg. Latency = 58 MS
- Service & Friendliness – 5/5 – The staff was super attentive and friendly. They were also totally cool with me camping out and working from there. The owners were very nice too, and super well travelled.
- Location / Ambiance – 4.5/5 – The ambiance is killer, I do have to say the location isn’t as prime as Cafe Conde. But as I mentioned, I’m partial to colonial plazas, so take that into consideration haha.
Transportation
- Getting There & Leaving
- Admittedly I rented a car to get to Monteverde, but also took a bus later on to get to Dominical. The buses run regularly via Tracopa, if you can’t read Spanish, Rome2Rio outlines it pretty well too.
- Getting Around
- UBER – Although you may find that it takes you 3 or 4 drivers to actually get a ride, the drivers will regularly accept your ride, then cancel it.
- DiDi – Cheaper than UBER, but same problem as above
What I Ate
Not So Healthy Food – I loved the Dulce De Leche, not too tough to find at markets.
Photo Credit : Soda Visquez on TripAdvisor
Casado Pescado – this is a traditional Costa Rican dish, with fish, beans, rice, salad and some fried plantains. Definitely my favorite Costa Rican food. If you’re in Dominical check out Su Raza.
Want to stay fit & eat healthy while traveling? Check out my guide to diet fitness while traveling here!
What I Drank / Nightlife
Photo credit: Trip Advisor
- If you’re looking for nice, European wine, Restaurant Isolina is quite good. It’s pretty damn pricey though.
- I didn’t do a crazy amount of partying in Barrio Escalante, not going to lie to you so instead of Googling some place that looks cheap and fun I’ll just be honest. I don’t have any recommendations for cheap nightlife
- For drinks, Imperial is the beer everyone drinks. I did come across a couple of Costa Rican rums but even the more expensive ones were a far cry from the rums of Dominican Republic. Check out my guide to Santo Domingo, Dominincan Republic.
Exercise / Outdoors
Want to stay fit & eat healthy while traveling? Check out my guide to diet fitness while traveling here!
Nature
There’s a lot of good mountain biking near San Jose, here’s a map of some trails nearby from AllTrails (my favorite app for hiking). Here’s a spot you can with some cool trails where you can even rent a bike.
I also drive through Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, which was a super beautiful spot that I haven’t heard anyone talk about before though for some reason.
Other Spots I Recommend
Dominical – A cool, laidback surf town on the Pacific coast
Manuel Antonio – Another cool spot on the Pacific coast, it’s a little busier and has more resorts and such not quite as chill as Dominical, but still bad ass.
Monteverde – A really cool spot far up in the mountains, it’s quite cold and constantly in the clouds, but a great spot!
La Fortuna – Great hiking, Arenal Volcano, and a kickass hostel that I wish I would’ve stayed at longer, Poshpacker.
Santa Teresa – Unfortunately I was only there for a bit over 2 weeks so I wasn’t able to check this place out, but it’s definitely on my list for next time it looks awesome and I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about it from other digital nomads.