Investing in Costa Rica real estate
An investment starts with a clear goal: own use, rental or long-term appreciation. Each goal calls for different criteria.
- Purchase and closing costs (indicative – always verify)
- HOA, management, insurance, maintenance, local tax
- Occupancy and nightly rate as a scenario, not a certainty
- Liquidity and time to resell
Investment calculator
Enter your own assumptions. Results are model scenarios, not a promised return.
| Conservative | Base | Optimistic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total investment | $310,500 | $310,500 | $310,500 |
| Gross yearly income | $22,848 | $38,400 | $48,576 |
| Operating costs | $9,305 | $12,882 | $15,222 |
| Net operating income (NOI) | $13,543 | $25,518 | $33,354 |
| Loan payments yearly | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Cash flow yearly | $13,543 | $25,518 | $33,354 |
| Gross yield | 7.4 % | 12.4 % | 15.6 % |
| Net yield (NOI / investment) | 4.4 % | 8.2 % | 10.7 % |
| Cash-on-cash return | 4.4 % | 8.2 % | 10.7 % |
Formulas: income = nights × 12 × nightly rate; NOI = income − commission − (HOA + fixed management + utilities) × 12 − insurance − tax and maintenance on price − reserve; net yield = NOI / total investment. Conservative = 70% of nights and 85% of rate; optimistic = 115% and 110%. Defaults of 3.5% closing, 20% commission, USD 150 fixed management, 16 nights and USD 200/night are a developer's assumptions for one specific model (email of 14 Oct 2026), not audited market data; 0.25% reflects the general Costa Rican property tax rate (confirm with the municipality). Verify current terms with the developer, a lawyer and a tax adviser.