Should you rent or buy in Costa Rica?

How To Read This

A model, not a prediction.

Rent-vs-buy math is only as good as its assumptions — and the biggest one, appreciation, no one can promise. Treat the breakeven year as a guide, not gospel. The real answer also depends on how long you'll truly stay and whether you'll rent the home out when you're away.

• Net cost to own counts closing, carrying and selling costs, minus the equity you'd gain from appreciation.
• Opportunity cost — owning ties up capital that could be invested; we charge owning a 5%/yr return on that cash.
• Rental income isn't modeled here — if you'd rent the home out, buying looks materially better (see the estimator).
• Shorter stays favor renting — transaction costs need years of appreciation to earn back.

A planning model, not financial advice. Defaults: closing 3.7%, carrying 1.6%/yr (property tax 0.25% + maintenance ~1% + insurance ~0.35%), selling 3%, rent inflation 3%/yr, opportunity cost 5%/yr. Appreciation is user-set and not guaranteed. Confirm your own numbers with a licensed advisor.