What it costs to buy property in Costa Rica
A foreign buyer should budget roughly 3.8% of the purchase price on top of the price itself. No licence or permit is required.
What you pay
- Transfer tax1.5% of the price$7,500
- Notary fees1.4% of the price$7,050
- Registration stamps0.9% of the price$4,250
| On a purchase of | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax | $3,750 | $7,500 | $15,000 |
| Registration stamps | $2,125 | $4,250 | $8,500 |
| Notary fees | $3,525 | $7,050 | $14,100 |
| Total on top of the price | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% |
Can you buy as a foreigner?
No licence required
Foreigners hold titled property on the same footing as nationals, with no permit and no rate difference. The one real exception is the maritime zone — the first 200 metres from the high-tide line, which is held under concession rather than freehold and carries its own restrictions on foreign participation.
No approval to wait for
With no permission to obtain, the timeline is set by conveyancing rather than by a government queue.
Take it with you
These figures as a PDF, worked out at the price you enter, with every source and the date it was checked.
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Nearby markets compared
What a foreign buyer pays on top of a $500,000 price, here and in the markets around it nearest in cost.
An estimate for budgeting, not legal or tax advice. These rates are traced to published sources but have not been reviewed by a practitioner in this jurisdiction. Confirm the current position with an attorney before you commit.
Shown as wholly the buyer's, which is the common arrangement, but a 50/50 split of transfer tax and stamps with the seller is frequently negotiated here — worth asking for.
Sources: [1]