Stories, Guides & Queer Life in Costa Rica

OUT in Costa Rica was created to give LGBTQ travelers, expats, and locals a safe, trusted, inclusive community. Our mission — Connect. Empower. Belong. — guides everything we do, from our verified business directory to relocation resources and storytelling. Learn how we’re building a more visible, connected, and joyful queer future in Costa Rica.

Queer joy in Costa Rica is more than celebration — it’s resistance, culture, and economic power. This guide explores how visibility, community, and everyday kindness have shaped Costa Rica into a beacon of inclusion for LGBTQ travelers and expats alike. Discover the stories, people, and pura vida spirit that make queer joy one of Costa Rica’s most powerful exports.

Costa Rica is one of the safest, most inclusive countries for LGBTQ digital nomads. This guide covers the Digital Nomad Visa, cost of living, Wi-Fi quality, the best queer-friendly regions, trans and non-binary experiences, co-working spaces, and how to build community while working remotely. Live pura vida, work freely, and thrive as your most authentic self.

Moving to Costa Rica as a queer expat is both beautiful and challenging. This personal guide shares what I wish I knew: how safe Costa Rica truly is, how pura vida changes your pace of life, how queer community is built, not found, and what to expect with housing, cost of living, and trans visibility. If you’re dreaming of a fresh start, this is your roadmap to belonging.

Thinking about moving to Costa Rica? This LGBTQ expat guide covers everything you need: digital nomad and residency visas, queer-friendly regions to live in, finding housing, navigating bureaucracy, healthcare, cost of living, and building community. Learn how LGBTQ expats create safe, joyful lives in Costa Rica — and how to start your own pura vida chapter.