Costa Rica vs Mauritius: which nomad visa wins?
Mauritius is easier to qualify for, Mauritius is lighter on tax, and Mauritiusis 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 | 🇲🇺 Mauritius |
|---|---|---|
| Income needed (single) | $3,000/mo | $1,500/mo |
| Tax on foreign income | 0% | 0% |
| Special tax regime | — | — |
| Path to citizenship | No residency path | No residency path |
| Comfortable budget (solo) | $1,904/mo | $1,708/mo |
| Visa length | 1 year | 1 year |
| Safety index | 60/100 | 78/100 |
| Internet | 80 Mbps | 90 Mbps |
| English | Moderate | High |
| Region | Americas | Middle East & Africa |
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 | 🇲🇺 Mauritius |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| $6,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| $12,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
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 🇲🇺 Mauritius if…
An Indian-Ocean idyll with a free visa, low taxes and English-French ease — safe, beautiful and refreshingly simple to set up.
- No visa fee at all.
- Foreign income tax-free unless remitted.
- Safe, bilingual and beautiful.
Want the numbers for your income and family, with more countries?
Costa Rica vs Mauritius: FAQ
Is Costa Rica or Mauritius better for digital nomads?
Mauritius has the lower income bar, Mauritius taxes foreign income more lightly, and Mauritius is cheaper to live in. Neither nomad visa leads directly to citizenship.
How much income do you need for Costa Rica vs Mauritius?
Costa Rica requires about $3,000/mo for a single applicant; Mauritius requires about $1,500/mo.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Costa Rica or Mauritius?
Costa Rica: The DNV grants a clean exemption on foreign-earned income plus duty-free import of work equipment. — Mauritius: Foreign income is taxed only if remitted to Mauritius; resident rates are progressive (0% to MUR 500k, 10% to MUR 1M, 20% above) since July 2025.
Figures are 2026 planning estimates in USD for a single applicant. Confirm details on each country's official source before applying.