Lifestyle
Costa Rica — Living: Safety
Costa Rica's 2025 homicide rate was about 16.8 per 100,000, trending down to roughly 13.9 per 100,000 in year-to-date 2026 data — high by North American/European standards but still one of the lower rates regionally, and concentrated in specific urban districts tied to drug-trafficking conflict rather than affecting most residential/expat areas. Costa Rica ranked 8th of 62 countries in the Expat Insider 2026 livability index. The most common crime affecting expats/travelers is petty theft (pickpocketing, purse-snatching); notably, virtual kidnapping scams targeting foreigners rose sharply in 2026 (58 cases Jan-May 2026 vs. 8 in the same period of 2025).
Why this matters
Petty theft is the realistic day-to-day risk for most expats, while homicide/violent crime is concentrated in specific districts tied to drug trafficking rather than spread evenly across the country — and the sharp 2026 rise in virtual kidnapping scams targeting foreigners with visible online profiles is a newer, specific risk worth knowing about.
Key facts
- Costa Rica's homicide rate was about 16.8 per 100,000 in 2025, trending down to roughly 13.9 per 100,000 in year-to-date 2026 data.
- Violent crime is concentrated in specific urban districts and is predominantly criminal-on-criminal, tied to drug trafficking — most residential/expat areas (Escazú, Atenas, Santa Ana, popular coastal towns) report feeling safe.
- Petty theft (pickpocketing, purse/bag snatching, opportunistic theft from parked cars) is the most common crime affecting travelers and expats.
- Virtual kidnapping scams targeting foreign business owners and job seekers rose sharply in 2026 (58 cases Jan-May 2026 vs. 8 in the same period a year earlier), often exploiting personal information found online.
- Costa Rica ranked 8th of 62 countries in the Expat Insider 2026 livability ranking, reflecting generally positive expat sentiment despite the crime headlines.
- Costa Rica is seismically active (earthquakes) and has active volcanoes; residents in higher-risk zones should be aware of local emergency preparedness resources.
Steps
- Research safety by specific district, not just nationally — Crime is concentrated in specific urban districts; check current conditions for the specific neighborhood you're considering rather than relying on national averages.
- Take basic petty-theft precautions — Standard precautions (not leaving valuables visible in cars, being alert in crowded tourist areas) address the most common risk.
- Guard personal information online — Given the 2026 rise in virtual kidnapping scams targeting foreigners, be cautious about publicly sharing details that could be used to impersonate you or a family member in a scam call.
Common mistakes
- Assuming national crime statistics apply evenly across all neighborhoods — violent crime is concentrated in specific districts
- Not being aware of the 2026 rise in virtual kidnapping scams targeting foreigners with publicly available personal information
- Underestimating petty theft risk in tourist-heavy areas while overestimating violent crime risk