Renting in Costa Rica

At International Living, we always recommend that you rent before you buy. Before you plunk down money on a house or condo in a new place, stay awhile and see if it suits your needs.

You might find that although you always dreamed of living on the beach, you discover after a few months that you find the heat and humidity uncomfortable. So you move to the mountains of the Central Valley, which has a more temperate climate. Or you might discover that you prefer one town—or neighborhood—over another. If you buy, it’s much harder to make the transition.

Even though you may already have visited Costa Rica several times, actually living there will give you a better perspective. You’ll get to know the locals and find out firsthand whether the area offers the type of social life, lifestyle, climate, and activities you’re looking for. If possible, rent during the change of seasons to get an idea of what the climate will be like all year round. (Remember, the rainy season lasts from May to November with certain areas experiencing daily rainfall for weeks at a time.)

Knowledge of the climate is essential in places like the Central Valley, where variations can occur within a distance of only a few miles, thanks to drastic changes in elevation. Ryan Piercy, head of the Association of Residents of Costa Rica, tells the cautionary story of an American who bought a beautiful house in one part of Atenas, only to put it on the market again when he discovered that the summers were much warmer than he’d expected due to his experiences with cooler weather in other parts of the Central Valley.

It’s fairly easy to find short-term rental properties in Costa Rica, especially in low season. Nearly all real estate companies deal in them and list rentals on their websites. And most brokers are eager to find rental property for clients who may later become purchasers. They’ll even pick you up where you’re staying and take you on a tour of the town and properties that fit your needs. Also, when you look at a property to buy, it often pays to ask what it would rent for. By renting their houses out for part of the year, many homeowners have an extra source of income.

Say you had a home in a quiet Pacific Coast beach town like Esterillos with a total sales price of $149,000. By renting it, you, the owner, could potentially make $50,000 to $60,000 a year. Short-term vacation rentals are the most lucrative because nightly prices can earn you as much in one week during the “high season” that you might make in a month with a long-term rental.

The classifieds section of online local newspapers is also a good source for rentals (especially to get a feel for prices). Pay someone to help if you don’t understand the language. In Latin America, this might cost $10 an hour. However, most search engines now have a translate button. And you can also use Google Translate. Craigslist Costa Rica and Encuentra 24 are also becoming a popular way for owners—both locals and expats—to rent their properties. But remember, unless you go through a reputable agency, you should never send money to reserve a rental sight unseen since too many things can go wrong using this method.

Better advice is to start your search once you’re there. Book a hotel or guest house for a few days. Explore. Decide what neighborhood you want to live in and what type of rental you need (house or apartment, number of bedrooms, swimming pool, security, or other specifications). Talk with expats and locals you meet and ask them if they know of places for rent—they know the best deals and properties not listed online or in the newspaper.

Most major cities have well-known expat meeting places where you can ask around. There are also a number of Facebook groups for each city or region. This is a great place to find listings. Hire a bilingual taxi driver to show you these properties and you’ll do well—he can drive you around and also translate. Your hotel may recommend someone.

Once you’ve identified potential rentals, go for a look. Walk through the property, check out the neighborhood and, if possible, talk with some neighbors. Does it look like this will be a quiet place? (To make sure there are no discos or other noisy establishments nearby, come back at night and walk around the block.) You’ll probably need a furnished rental, so try out the furniture (especially the bed). Is it comfortable?

Kathleen Evans, a long-time contributor to International Living, tells this story. “We first rented a condo in a building we were considering buying in. The furniture was very nice-looking and of rental-grade quality. However, sitting on the couch longer than 30 minutes gave us a backache from the wood frame and the mattress was a rock.”

Try the water and make sure there is enough pressure and that the hot water actually is hot. Check the kitchen for all the utensils you may need. Check the cell phone reception and internet.

Then, if you’re satisfied, talk price. It will help if, through your initial research, you know what the going prices are. Never be afraid to negotiate; often you can get the monthly payment reduced or a benefit like weekly maid service thrown in. You’ll probably be asked for a deposit and the first and/or last month’s rent payment, particularly if you have pets. This can be negotiated, too—especially payment terms—if you can’t come up with all of it at once.

You may be asked to sign a contract or lease. Before you do, have the document translated if you don’t speak Spanish. It’s a good idea to have an attorney (independent from the landlord’s attorney) look it over on your behalf. Understand your rights and obligations and voice any concerns. (Make sure you know who is responsible for paying utilities, phone, internet, and cable TV bills—usually that burden falls to the renter.)

Once you’ve signed on the dotted line, move in, unpack, and start enjoying your new home.

Tips For Renting a Home in Costa Rica

Smart renting tips to find your perfect home abroad—avoid common pitfalls!|©iStock/mihtiander

When moving abroad, renting a place to stay is an attractive option that offers a lot of advantages, whether you’re headed to Costa Rica, Malaysia, France, Mexico, Ecuador, Ireland... or any country. If you plan to buy or build a home eventually, renting allows you to investigate a region and/or community... or several... before you put down roots.

You don’t want to be stuck in a neighborhood, region, or home you don’t like. Heck, you might discover that your first choice as far as country was off the mark and decide to move elsewhere. That’s much easier to do without having to sell a home first.

So, renting has a lot of advantages. And the great news: It’s a relatively painless process that, in many cases, is very similar to renting in the U.S. For instance, you’ll sign a lease (most landlords prefer a year, but three- and six-month contracts can also be found). And put down a security deposit (an extra deposit if you have pets).

You will find some cases, though, that are just different; after all, you are in a new country. Some places will offer the option to just pay rent month-to-month. You always have the option to request a “contract” or lease if it will make you more comfortable. Here again is where the help of a lawyer comes in handy to ensure you’re protecting yourself and your rights. But thanks to the low cost of living, you’ll most likely pay much less than you would in the U.S. for a similar property.

1. Start Your Search From Home

Property management companies and real estate agents in most countries have extensive listings of rental homes, condos, and apartments online. Simply Googling “long-term rentals in [add the region you’re interested in]” is a great way to find these types of sites. And you’ll save a lot of time on the ground, too. Scan the properties available and create a list of potentials. Once you get into the country, meet with your local contacts and tour the properties in person. One thing to remember is that sometimes, a website's listings are out of date, or another agency has rented out a property, so always check that a property is still available.

Of course, keep in mind that the best deals can often be found “on the ground.” Local newspapers and magazines, as well as classified websites and Facebook pages, have listings. And you can get a lot of leads by “networking” with expats and locals—many properties are snatched up before they make it online because they’re such great deals.

2. Don’t Pay Sight Unseen

Don’t put down a deposit or send money without seeing the property. Yes, this might mean the extra expense of staying in a hotel while you narrow down your search. But this is better than discovering the photos on the website don’t match up with reality... the supposedly “beachfront” property is anything but... or your neighbors play loud music into the night. Most property managers and owners are honest folks, but better safe than sorry.

3. Contact Vacation Rentals

If you’re striking out in a certain area when trying to find long-term rentals, it may be because too many owners are offering only vacation rentals of their properties. This is especially the case in popular beach resorts. In this case, you should try to contact a vacation rental owner or manager and offer to stay in the home long-term. Sometimes, the allure of guaranteed income for 12 months is enough incentive to come up with a long-term arrangement.

4. Read the Lease Carefully

A lease is a legally binding document, so it’s important that you read and understand every line. Check for things like who’s responsible for maintenance and repairs of the structure and appliances. Or how much notice should be given to terminate the lease early. You don’t want any surprises. If the lease is in a foreign language, don’t be shy about getting someone to translate the document for you.

5. Study Up on the Requirements

In the U.S., landlords will often want to run a credit report on a tenant to determine their financial stability. When you move overseas, you have no credit history in that country. So, in some places, they’ll ask for other documents to help them assess the risk of renting to you, including proof of income (as in France, for instance) or a letter of recommendation from a local (as in Panama). This is usually not the case in Costa Rica, although a letter from a previous landlord never hurts.

6. Always Negotiate the Price

There’s always a list price. But many owners and property managers are flexible with long-term renters because they have guaranteed income for a certain period. And that means you have some bargaining power. So be sure to ask for a break in the monthly rent before signing a lease. You’d be surprised at how often the landlord agrees. And it’s definitely worth trying if you could get a few hundred bucks off your monthly payment.

As far as the deposit, the standard in most places, including Costa Rica, is one month’s rent.

7. Check for Cellphone and Internet Coverage

In today’s digital world, you probably want to stay connected when you move overseas, whether it’s for Skyping with friends and family or for working remotely. To do that, you need a reliable way to get online and/or make calls or surf the web on your mobile phone. These days, most countries, including Costa Rica, offer reliable and widespread high-speed internet and 4G cell networks, and in February 2023, the testing of 5G service started in the country. But even today, there are “dead zones” where signals or cables still don’t reach. So before moving into that incredible house in the jungle—check out the connections

Rental Property Examples

To give you an idea of prices, here are some examples of rentals in Costa Rica:

• In Jacó, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom furnished apartment is only a 10-minute walk to the center and beach, has A/C’s in every room, and a small balcony. You can lounge by its pool or in its tropical gardens. Rent: $1,500 a month.

• In Santa Ana, in the Central Valley, a two-bedroom, one-bath furnished apartment is available with all of the amenities, including a gym, tennis court, recreational pool, lap pool, hiking paths, and a BBQ area. Rent: $1,150 per month.

• A two-guest studio in Tamarindo is close to the beach and the center of town. It has a kitchenette, television, brand new air conditioner, and high-speed WIFI. Beach walks and a surfing beach break are a short walk away. Rent: $1,225 per month.