Costa Rica vs Greece: which nomad visa wins?
Costa Rica is easier to qualify for, Costa Rica is lighter on tax, and Greeceis cheaper day to day. Here's the full breakdown — then model it with your own income.
Updated June 2026 · figures in USD for a single applicant.
| Metric | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 🇬🇷 Greece |
|---|---|---|
| Income needed (single) | $3,000/mo | $3,815/mo |
| Tax on foreign income | 0% | Up to 44% |
| Special tax regime | — | — |
| Path to citizenship | No residency path | Citizenship in 7y |
| Comfortable budget (solo) | $1,904/mo | $1,777/mo |
| Visa length | 1 year | 1 year |
| Safety index | 60/100 | 73/100 |
| Internet | 80 Mbps | 90 Mbps |
| English | Moderate | Moderate |
| Region | Americas | Europe |
See it with your numbers
Set your household, how you earn and your income — both countries recompute live.
Optional — unlocks age- and savings-gated visas (retirement, youth-mobility, golden visas).
Live — adjust who's going, how you earn and your income above and both columns update.
Effective tax at different incomes
Approximate all-in rate for a solo employee who becomes tax-resident.
| Monthly income | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 🇬🇷 Greece |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000/mo | 0.0% | 21.2% |
| $6,000/mo | 0.0% | 31.7% |
| $12,000/mo | 0.0% | 37.9% |
Choose 🇨🇷 Costa Rica if…
Pura vida with a tax exemption: stable, safe and stunning, Costa Rica trades rock-bottom prices for nature, calm and zero tax on what you earn abroad.
- Foreign income is fully tax-exempt.
- Duty-free import of your work gear.
- Stable, peaceful and famously green.
Choose 🇬🇷 Greece if…
Island living on a Western-European budget, with full Schengen access and a residence permit that genuinely counts toward EU permanent residency and citizenship.
- Time on the visa counts toward EU permanent residency (5 yrs) and citizenship (7 yrs).
- Some of the lowest costs in Western Europe.
- A renewable 2-year residence permit with full Schengen access.
Want the numbers for your income and family, with more countries?
Costa Rica vs Greece: FAQ
Is Costa Rica or Greece better for digital nomads?
Costa Rica has the lower income bar, Costa Rica taxes foreign income more lightly, and Greece is cheaper to live in. Greece offers the faster route to citizenship.
How much income do you need for Costa Rica vs Greece?
Costa Rica requires about $3,000/mo for a single applicant; Greece requires about $3,815/mo.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Costa Rica or Greece?
Costa Rica: The DNV grants a clean exemption on foreign-earned income plus duty-free import of work equipment. — Greece: Tax residents (183+ days) pay standard progressive rates on worldwide income. Greece's Article 5C 50% relocation exemption requires Greek-source employment or a Greek business, so it does not apply to foreign-employer/foreign-client nomad income.
Figures are 2026 planning estimates in USD for a single applicant. Confirm details on each country's official source before applying.