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SUMMARY
We analyzed residential property rental yields in Costa Rica as of 2026, for foreign residential property buyers, using the raw Costa Rica dataset provided and the methodology explained below.
Using this research, we built a practical view of current residential purchase prices, average monthly rents, gross rental yields, and net rental yields across the Costa Rica areas covered in the tracker.
The study covers 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom residential properties, which is the most useful structure for Costa Rica because the same bedroom count can mean an urban apartment, a condo, a townhouse, a house, or a coastal villa depending on the area.
We conduct this research regularly and update this page constantly, so the numbers should be read as a May 2026 Costa Rica residential property rental yield snapshot, not as a permanent rule.
The main finding is simple: 1-bedroom properties usually offer the cleanest balance of entry price, rental yield, operating cost control, and liquidity in Costa Rica.
Jacó has the strongest modeled gross yield in the dataset, with 1-bedroom properties at 7.2% gross and 4.8% net. That makes Jacó attractive for income, but the real return depends on management quality, vacancy control, and building selection.
La Sabana / Rohrmoser is the strongest urban yield-and-stability market in the table. Its 1-bedroom properties show 4.9% net yield, while 2-bedroom properties show 4.6% net yield.
Playas del Coco, Santa Ana, Heredia, Escazú, and Alajuela also look useful for beginner buyers because they combine credible rental demand with net yields that are stronger than many premium lifestyle markets.
The weakest yield profile is found in high-priced lifestyle areas and larger coastal properties. Nosara, Santa Teresa / Mal País, high-end Tamarindo, and larger Manuel Antonio / Quepos homes can generate high rent, but purchase prices and operating costs compress net yield.
For a foreign individual buyer, the safest Costa Rica rental strategy is not to chase the highest gross yield. The better strategy is to compare net yield, tenant depth, property type, operating cost burden, rental model, title risk, access, management needs, and resale liquidity together.
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Residential property rental yields in Costa Rica in 2026
This table compares residential property rental yields in Costa Rica by neighborhood or area and by bedroom count.
For each area, the table shows estimated average purchase price, estimated average monthly rent, gross rental yield, and net rental yield for 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom properties.
Finally, please note you'll find much more detailed data in our real estate pack about Costa Rica.
| Neighborhood | 1-bedroom property average purchase price | 1-bedroom property average monthly rent | 1-bedroom property gross rental yield | 1-bedroom property net rental yield | 2-bedroom property average purchase price | 2-bedroom property average monthly rent | 2-bedroom property gross rental yield | 2-bedroom property net rental yield | 3-bedroom property average purchase price | 3-bedroom property average monthly rent | 3-bedroom property gross rental yield | 3-bedroom property net rental yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alajuela | ₡68m | ₡310k | 5.5% | 4.3% | ₡105m | ₡480k | 5.5% | 4.2% | ₡150m | ₡650k | 5.2% | 3.8% |
| Cartago | ₡58m | ₡260k | 5.4% | 4.2% | ₡90m | ₡400k | 5.3% | 4.1% | ₡130m | ₡560k | 5.2% | 3.8% |
| Escazú | ₡120m | ₡580k | 5.8% | 4.4% | ₡190m | ₡900k | 5.7% | 4.3% | ₡300m | ₡1.30m | 5.2% | 3.7% |
| Heredia | ₡75m | ₡360k | 5.8% | 4.4% | ₡120m | ₡560k | 5.6% | 4.2% | ₡175m | ₡760k | 5.2% | 3.8% |
| Jacó | ₡80m | ₡480k | 7.2% | 4.8% | ₡140m | ₡760k | 6.5% | 4.0% | ₡230m | ₡1.15m | 6.0% | 3.5% |
| La Sabana / Rohrmoser | ₡105m | ₡560k | 6.4% | 4.9% | ₡165m | ₡850k | 6.2% | 4.6% | ₡250m | ₡1.15m | 5.5% | 4.0% |
| Liberia | ₡65m | ₡310k | 5.7% | 4.5% | ₡105m | ₡470k | 5.4% | 4.1% | ₡160m | ₡680k | 5.1% | 3.7% |
| Manuel Antonio / Quepos | ₡85m | ₡450k | 6.4% | 4.2% | ₡150m | ₡700k | 5.6% | 3.5% | ₡250m | ₡1.10m | 5.3% | 3.1% |
| Nosara | ₡155m | ₡750k | 5.8% | 3.8% | ₡285m | ₡1.25m | 5.3% | 3.3% | ₡480m | ₡2.00m | 5.0% | 2.9% |
| Playas del Coco | ₡75m | ₡440k | 7.0% | 4.6% | ₡135m | ₡720k | 6.4% | 4.0% | ₡220m | ₡1.05m | 5.7% | 3.3% |
| Puerto Viejo | ₡70m | ₡360k | 6.2% | 4.1% | ₡125m | ₡600k | 5.8% | 3.6% | ₡210m | ₡950k | 5.4% | 3.1% |
| Santa Ana | ₡95m | ₡480k | 6.1% | 4.6% | ₡155m | ₡750k | 5.8% | 4.4% | ₡240m | ₡1.05m | 5.2% | 3.8% |
| Santa Teresa / Mal País | ₡145m | ₡700k | 5.8% | 3.8% | ₡270m | ₡1.20m | 5.3% | 3.3% | ₡460m | ₡1.95m | 5.1% | 3.0% |
| Tamarindo | ₡110m | ₡620k | 6.8% | 4.5% | ₡205m | ₡1.05m | 6.1% | 3.8% | ₡360m | ₡1.75m | 5.8% | 3.4% |
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Which neighborhoods offer the best net yield among areas people actually want to live in Costa Rica?
The best net-yield neighborhoods among areas people actually want to live in Costa Rica are La Sabana / Rohrmoser, Santa Ana, Playas del Coco, Jacó, Heredia, and Escazú.
La Sabana / Rohrmoser is the strongest urban answer in the Costa Rica residential property market. A 1-bedroom property shows 4.9% net yield, while a 2-bedroom property shows 4.6% net yield.
Santa Ana is also attractive because it keeps a good balance between price and rent. A 2-bedroom property costs about ₡155m, rents for about ₡750k per month, and produces a 4.4% net yield.
Playas del Coco and Jacó are the stronger coastal yield choices. Playas del Coco 1-bedroom properties show 4.6% net, while Jacó 1-bedroom properties show 4.8% net.
Escazú is not the highest-yield market, but it remains investable because tenants pay for security, schools, clinics, shopping, and western San José access. The trade-off is that expensive 3-bedroom homes produce weaker net yields, around 3.7%.
Where can I find residential properties with above-average yields and below-average entry prices in Costa Rica?
The clearest Costa Rica value pockets are Playas del Coco 1-bedrooms, Jacó 1-bedrooms, Alajuela 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom properties, Liberia 1-bedrooms, and Heredia 1-bedrooms.
Playas del Coco is the cleanest coastal value example. A modeled 1-bedroom property costs about ₡75m, rents for about ₡440k per month, and produces a 7.0% gross yield and 4.6% net yield.
Jacó has the highest modeled gross yield in the table at 7.2% for 1-bedroom properties. The entry price is around ₡80m, which is still accessible compared with Tamarindo, Nosara, or Santa Teresa / Mal País.
Alajuela and Liberia are less glamorous, but they are useful for beginner investors. Alajuela 1-bedroom properties show about ₡68m entry price and 4.3% net yield, while Liberia 1-bedrooms show around ₡65m and 4.5% net yield.
The mistake is buying cheap without tenant depth. Cartago is cheaper than Heredia, but Heredia usually has stronger rental depth because of jobs, universities, services, and easier access to the western Central Valley.
Where does the rent level justify the purchase price most clearly in Costa Rica?
The rent level justifies the purchase price most clearly in La Sabana / Rohrmoser, Jacó, Playas del Coco, Santa Ana, and Heredia.
La Sabana / Rohrmoser is the most rational urban case. A 2-bedroom property at ₡165m with ₡850k monthly rent produces 6.2% gross yield and 4.6% net yield.
Jacó and Playas del Coco look rational because entry prices remain moderate while rents are supported by tourism, domestic weekend demand, local services, and searchable condo stock.
Santa Ana looks rational for 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units, not always for large family homes. A 1-bedroom at ₡95m and ₡480k rent gives 6.1% gross yield and 4.6% net yield, while a 3-bedroom falls to 3.8% net.
Nosara and Santa Teresa / Mal País are the opposite. Rents are high, but purchase prices are so high that 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom net yields fall toward 3.0% to 3.3%.
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Where is the best place to buy if I want stable rental income rather than maximum yield in Costa Rica?
For stable rental income rather than maximum yield in Costa Rica, the best choices are Santa Ana, Escazú, Heredia, La Sabana / Rohrmoser, and selected Alajuela locations.
Santa Ana and Escazú are strong because many tenants are families, professionals, expats, executives, and people who want western San José access. Santa Ana 2-bedrooms show 4.4% net yield, while Escazú 2-bedrooms show 4.3% net yield.
Heredia is a practical stability market. A modeled 1-bedroom property has a 4.4% net yield, while a 2-bedroom has 4.2%.
La Sabana / Rohrmoser is the best stability-plus-yield urban option. A 1-bedroom shows 4.9% net, which is high for a central, liquid area.
Beach markets can produce higher gross returns, but income is less predictable. Tamarindo, Jacó, and Playas del Coco depend more on seasonality, guest reviews, platform competition, electricity costs, cleaning, and tourism cycles.
What type of residential property should a beginner investor buy to maximize rental profitability in Costa Rica?
A beginner investor in Costa Rica should usually buy a 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom condo or apartment in a liquid area, not a large villa.
The table supports this. Across most Costa Rica neighborhoods, 1-bedroom properties produce the highest modeled net yields, including Jacó at 4.8%, La Sabana / Rohrmoser at 4.9%, Playas del Coco at 4.6%, Santa Ana at 4.6%, and Heredia at 4.4%.
Two-bedroom properties are often the safest compromise. They cost more, but they can attract couples, remote workers, small families, and medium-stay tenants.
Three-bedroom homes and villas can earn high rent, but they are harder for beginners. A Tamarindo 3-bedroom rents for about ₡1.75m per month, but the modeled net yield is only 3.4% after higher running costs.
The beginner rule is simple: buy the smallest property that still has deep tenant demand. In Costa Rica, that usually means a good 1-bedroom urban condo or a well-located 2-bedroom condo in a beach town.
We give you more details in the our real estate pack about Costa Rica.
Which neighborhoods offer strong rental income with the lowest vacancy risk in Costa Rica?
The best Costa Rica neighborhoods for strong rental income with lower vacancy risk are Santa Ana, Escazú, Heredia, La Sabana / Rohrmoser, and selected Tamarindo or Playas del Coco condos.
Santa Ana and Escazú have the clearest long-term rental base. Santa Ana 2-bedrooms produce about ₡750k per month, while Escazú 2-bedrooms produce about ₡900k per month.
La Sabana / Rohrmoser has strong income and strong access. A 2-bedroom rents around ₡850k per month and produces about 4.6% net yield.
Heredia is less expensive, but vacancy risk can be lower for the right property because the tenant pool is broad. A 2-bedroom rents for about ₡560k, with a modeled 4.2% net yield.
In coastal Costa Rica, Tamarindo and Playas del Coco can work, but vacancy risk is more seasonal. The practical takeaway is to value occupancy quality and management execution as much as the rent number.
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Which areas look overpriced relative to their rental income in Costa Rica?
The areas that look most overpriced relative to rental income are Nosara, Santa Teresa / Mal País, high-end Tamarindo, and large Escazú homes.
Nosara is the clearest example. A modeled 2-bedroom property costs about ₡285m, rents for ₡1.25m per month, and produces only 3.3% net yield.
A Nosara 3-bedroom property is even more yield-compressed. It costs about ₡480m, rents for about ₡2.00m per month, and falls to 2.9% net yield.
Santa Teresa / Mal País is similar. The 3-bedroom modeled purchase price is ₡460m, with ₡1.95m monthly rent, giving only 3.0% net yield.
Escazú should not be called a bad neighborhood. It is one of Costa Rica’s most desirable residential areas, but a large Escazú 3-bedroom property at ₡300m and ₡1.30m rent produces only 3.7% net.
Which neighborhoods should I avoid even if the rental yield looks attractive in Costa Rica?
Beginner investors should be careful with overly seasonal beach properties, weaker inland fringe locations, and cheap properties with poor access or unclear title.
Jacó can show attractive yields, especially 1-bedroom properties at 7.2% gross yield and 4.8% net yield. But buyers should avoid poor buildings, weak HOA management, and units that depend only on weekend or short-term demand.
Puerto Viejo can also look attractive, with 1-bedroom modeled net yield around 4.1%. The risk is liquidity, infrastructure, and buyer depth.
Manuel Antonio / Quepos requires caution for larger homes. A 3-bedroom may rent for ₡1.10m, but the modeled net yield is only 3.1% because management and maintenance absorb much of the income.
Coastal buyers must also avoid misunderstanding beachfront ownership. In Costa Rica, coastal land inside the Maritime Terrestrial Zone is structurally different from normal titled property, so title and concession checks are essential.
Which neighborhoods look risky even though the rental yield is high in Costa Rica?
The higher-yield but riskier Costa Rica neighborhoods are Jacó, Playas del Coco, Puerto Viejo, Manuel Antonio / Quepos, and some lower-priced Liberia or Alajuela submarkets.
Jacó 1-bedrooms show the highest modeled yield at 4.8% net. But the town has a large tourism component, strong weekend swings, and a wide spread between good managed condos and weaker older stock.
Playas del Coco 1-bedrooms show 4.6% net, which is attractive. The risk is that the market is more tourist and retiree dependent than Santa Ana or Heredia.
Puerto Viejo has affordable entry prices, but weaker resale liquidity. A 2-bedroom modeled at ₡125m and ₡600k rent gives 3.6% net, which is not high enough to ignore liquidity and maintenance risk.
A safer alternative is to accept a slightly lower yield in Santa Ana, Heredia, or La Sabana / Rohrmoser. Those markets have deeper long-term tenant pools and less dependence on tourism execution.
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What neighborhoods should I avoid when buying a rental property in Costa Rica?
A beginner rental investor in Costa Rica should avoid unclear-title beachfront properties, weak-access fringe areas, poorly managed older condo buildings, and expensive lifestyle markets bought purely for yield.
In Nosara, avoid buying purely for rental yield unless the property has a clear premium use case. The modeled 3-bedroom net yield is only 2.9%, so the investment case depends more on lifestyle, scarcity, and long-term resale than annual income.
In Santa Teresa / Mal País, beginners should avoid high-maintenance villas unless they can manage seasonality and operations. A modeled 3-bedroom produces 3.0% net, despite very high rent.
In Manuel Antonio / Quepos, avoid large homes that require constant upkeep but do not command premium occupancy. A modeled 3-bedroom has 3.1% net, and the maintenance burden can be high.
In any coastal ZMT location, avoid assuming you are buying normal freehold beachfront property. For a foreign beginner, legal structure can matter as much as the rental yield.
Which neighborhoods are seeing rental demand weaken, and why, in Costa Rica?
Rental demand looks softer in over-supplied short-term-rental pockets of Tamarindo, some high-end Nosara and Santa Teresa listings, and weaker older stock in Jacó.
The issue is usually not lack of visitors. The issue is too much expensive or similar rental supply, which makes average properties depend more heavily on reviews, pricing, design, and management.
Tamarindo is still liquid, but 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom yields show the pressure clearly. A 2-bedroom has 3.8% net yield, while a 3-bedroom falls to 3.4% net despite ₡1.75m monthly rent.
Nosara and Santa Teresa / Mal País are not collapsing, but affordability pressure matters. When purchase prices rise faster than sustainable rents, investors need near-perfect execution to maintain returns.
Jacó’s weaker stock can also struggle. The best-located, well-managed condos can rent well, while older units with poor amenities, weak security, or tired maintenance can sit longer even in a high-demand town.
Which neighborhoods are seeing new developments that could create stronger rental demand in Costa Rica?
The strongest development-linked demand areas are Liberia, Playas del Coco, Tamarindo, Santa Ana, Heredia, and La Sabana / Rohrmoser.
Liberia is important because it connects Guanacaste tourism, the Daniel Oduber airport area, services, and regional employment. A modeled 1-bedroom costs about ₡65m and produces 4.5% net yield.
Playas del Coco benefits from Guanacaste tourism while staying more affordable than Tamarindo. A 2-bedroom modeled at ₡135m and ₡720k rent gives 4.0% net after heavier coastal costs.
Santa Ana and Heredia benefit from Central Valley growth, services, offices, schools, and family demand. Santa Ana 2-bedrooms show 4.4% net, and Heredia 1-bedrooms show 4.4% net.
The caution is supply. New projects help demand only when they bring jobs, access, schools, services, or better livability, not just more similar rental units.
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Which neighborhoods are becoming more attractive to renters because of recent infrastructure or transport changes in Costa Rica?
The neighborhoods becoming more attractive because of access and infrastructure are Liberia, Alajuela, Heredia, La Sabana / Rohrmoser, Santa Ana, and Playas del Coco.
Alajuela benefits from airport-linked demand and relative affordability. A modeled 1-bedroom costs ₡68m, rents for ₡310k, and produces 4.3% net yield.
Heredia benefits from employment, education, and Central Valley connectivity. A 1-bedroom modeled at ₡75m and ₡360k rent produces 4.4% net yield.
Liberia is becoming more useful as Guanacaste’s service base. It is not a pure beach-rental play, but it benefits from regional growth without Tamarindo-level pricing.
Playas del Coco benefits from Guanacaste airport access and beach-town services. The investment case is strongest in 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom condos, where entry prices remain below Tamarindo.
Which neighborhoods have become less attractive for property investors over the last 12 months in Costa Rica?
The neighborhoods that have become less attractive for yield-focused investors are Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa / Mal País, and high-end Escazú homes.
Tamarindo is still liquid, but short-term-rental competition makes the average investment more execution-dependent. The table shows this through the drop from 4.5% net yield for 1-bedrooms to 3.4% net yield for 3-bedrooms.
Nosara and Santa Teresa / Mal País remain desirable, but the table shows net yields of only 2.9% to 3.8% depending on size. That means investors are paying for scarcity and lifestyle more than income.
High-end Escazú homes are stable but yield-compressed. A 3-bedroom modeled at ₡300m and ₡1.30m rent gives 3.7% net, below smaller Escazú units.
This does not mean these areas are bad places to live. It means they are weaker for a beginner whose main goal is rental income.
Which property types are becoming harder to rent in Costa Rica, and in which neighborhoods?
The property types becoming harder to rent are high-priced coastal villas, older weak-amenity condos, and oversized premium urban homes.
In Tamarindo, larger short-term rentals face more competition and higher operating pressure. A 3-bedroom rents for ₡1.75m per month, but its modeled net yield is only 3.4%.
In Nosara and Santa Teresa / Mal País, 3-bedroom homes can be hard for beginners because the rent is high but the cost base is higher. Modeled net yields are 2.9% in Nosara and 3.0% in Santa Teresa / Mal País.
In Escazú, large premium homes are not impossible to rent, but the renter pool is narrower. A 1-bedroom has 4.4% net yield, while a 3-bedroom falls to 3.7%.
In Jacó and Playas del Coco, older condos without strong security, parking, pool, walkability, or HOA discipline can lag behind better-managed stock. The town may rent well, but not every building does.
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Which bedroom count offers the best balance between entry price, rental yield, and tenant demand in Costa Rica?
The best bedroom count for a beginner investor in Costa Rica is usually the 1-bedroom property, followed by a carefully selected 2-bedroom property.
The numbers are consistent. In Jacó, 1-bedrooms show 4.8% net, while 3-bedrooms show 3.5%. In Playas del Coco, 1-bedrooms show 4.6% net, while 3-bedrooms show 3.3%.
In Tamarindo, 1-bedrooms show 4.5% net, while 3-bedrooms show 3.4%. That is a clear sign that larger coastal properties can earn more rent but still produce weaker income efficiency.
In the Central Valley, 1-bedrooms also perform well. La Sabana / Rohrmoser 1-bedrooms show 4.9% net, Santa Ana 1-bedrooms show 4.6%, Heredia 1-bedrooms show 4.4%, and Escazú 1-bedrooms show 4.4%.
Two-bedroom properties are the safer middle ground when tenant stability matters. They attract couples, remote workers, small families, and longer-stay tenants, especially in Santa Ana, Heredia, Escazú, Tamarindo, and Playas del Coco.
INSIGHTS
These insights are drawn from the Costa Rica residential property rental yield dataset, with a focus on what a foreign individual buyer should understand before buying a residential property to rent out.
You’ll find even more insights in our our real estate pack about Costa Rica.
- Jacó 1-bedrooms show the strongest modeled gross rental yield in Costa Rica at 7.2%. The real signal is not only the high gross number, but whether the buyer can control vacancy, building quality, and management costs.
- La Sabana / Rohrmoser is the most balanced urban market in the dataset. Its 1-bedroom net yield of 4.9% combines central access with stronger tenant depth than a purely seasonal beach market.
- Playas del Coco offers a better entry-price story than Tamarindo. Its 1-bedroom properties cost about ₡75m, compared with ₡110m in Tamarindo, while still producing 4.6% net yield.
- Smaller properties usually win the Costa Rica yield comparison. Across most areas, 1-bedroom properties produce higher net yields than 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom properties because the purchase price stays more efficient.
- Two-bedroom properties are the most useful compromise for cautious buyers. They often give slightly lower net yield than 1-bedrooms, but they can attract couples, remote workers, small families, and medium-stay tenants.
- Three-bedroom coastal homes are not automatically better income assets. They generate high monthly rent, but management, utilities, maintenance, furnishings, cleaning, and seasonality can cut the net yield sharply.
- Nosara and Santa Teresa / Mal País look stronger for lifestyle and scarcity than for rental income. Their 3-bedroom net yields of 2.9% and 3.0% are too low for a buyer whose main goal is cash return.
- Escazú remains a stability market, not a maximum-yield market. It has strong tenant appeal, but larger homes show weaker net yields because the purchase price rises faster than rent.
- Santa Ana is one of the best beginner markets for stable rental income. It does not have the highest gross yield, but its 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom properties combine good net yield with a deeper long-term tenant base.
- Heredia is a practical rental market rather than a prestige market. Its 1-bedroom net yield of 4.4% is supported by jobs, universities, services, and Central Valley commuting demand.
- Liberia is useful because it benefits from Guanacaste growth without coastal pricing. A 1-bedroom at ₡65m and 4.5% net yield gives investors a lower-ticket way to enter the regional demand story.
- Cartago is cheap, but cheap is not the same as strong. The dataset suggests that Heredia and Alajuela can offer deeper tenant pools even when entry prices are higher.
- Puerto Viejo requires extra caution because liquidity can be thinner. A 1-bedroom net yield of 4.1% can work, but the resale and infrastructure risk must be priced carefully.
- Manuel Antonio / Quepos is more difficult for larger homes. A 3-bedroom at 3.1% net yield leaves little margin for poor management, maintenance surprises, or weak occupancy.
- Gross yield is not enough in Costa Rica. Coastal areas can look strong before costs, but net yield is the number that better reflects vacancy, management, utilities, repairs, taxes, HOA fees, and seasonality.
- The most important Costa Rica property risk is often property-specific. A good condo building, disciplined HOA, clear title, strong access, and realistic rental model can matter more than the neighborhood name alone.
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OUR METHODOLOGY TO BUILD THIS TRACKER
To estimate purchase price, monthly rent, and rental yield in different Costa Rica neighborhoods and areas, we built this dataset ourselves from the ground up. We did not reuse a third-party yield dataset. We manually researched current residential sale and rental listings, then organized the data by area and property type.
For each neighborhood, area, and property type, we collected comparable sale listings from recognized Costa Rica property platforms such as Encuentra24, Costa Rica Real Estate MLS, and FazWaz Costa Rica. We used the property categories shown in the tracker, then compared only listings that were reasonably similar in location, size, condition, and property format.
We cleaned the sale sample manually. Duplicate listings, unrealistic asking prices, luxury outliers, distressed assets, serviced-style offers, incomplete listings, non-residential assets, raw land, and clearly non-comparable properties were removed before calculating the estimates.
Sale prices were normalized in Costa Rican colones. We used the median price as the main reference where possible, or the average only when the sample was clean enough to avoid distortion from unusually expensive lifestyle homes or unusually weak stock.
We then built the rental side of the dataset separately. For the same neighborhood and property type, we manually collected rental listings, removed outliers and non-comparable listings, and estimated a realistic monthly rent using the median rent where possible.
The gross rental yield was calculated as: Gross rental yield = annual rent / estimated purchase price.
To estimate net yield, we avoided applying one flat discount across all Costa Rica segments. The deduction was adjusted by neighborhood and property type, reflecting differences in HOA fees, vacancy risk, maintenance, management costs, repairs, insurance, furnishing costs, utilities, tax friction, cleaning, garden costs, pool costs, and short-term-rental seasonality when relevant.
This matters because a small central apartment, an urban condo, a townhouse, a family house, and a coastal villa do not have the same operating cost profile. A villa-heavy beach market can show a strong gross yield but still deliver a weaker net yield once management, utilities, cleaning, and maintenance are included.
For residential property markets, we also paid attention to property-level factors when available. These include building condition, HOA quality, age, access, parking, security, rental restrictions, tenant depth, resale liquidity, property title structure, and whether the property is realistically suited to long-term rental, medium-stay rental, or short-term rental.
Each estimate was assigned a confidence level. 30 to 40 comparable listings means higher confidence. 20 to 30 comparable listings means usable but less robust. Below 20 comparable listings means directional only, unless we widened the comparable area carefully.
These estimates are updated regularly and should be read as structured market estimates, not as guarantees of future rental income. Honesty, quality, and rigor are at the core of our work, and they are also what you will find in our real estate pack about Costa Rica.
