Costa Rica ranked 44th out of 82 countries in the 2026 Remitly Immigration Index, placing it in the middle of the global list of immigrant destinations but near the top of the world for happiness and social well-being. The index, which compares countries across 34 indicators in 16 categories, ranked Switzerland No. 1 overall, followed by Iceland, Luxembourg and Australia.
Remitly said the study considered factors such as healthcare, employment, safety, family support, environmental performance, public transport, banking access, cost of living and immigrant communities. The company did not include visa rules, noting that requirements vary widely depending on nationality, job profile and personal circumstances.
Costa Rica’s overall score was 40.4 out of 100, putting it just behind Uruguay, which led Latin America and the Caribbean at No. 41 with 45.6 points. Costa Rica tied Mexico on score, though Mexico was listed one place lower at No. 45. Brazil, Chile and Argentina followed in the regional ranking.
The stronger result came in the happiness category, where Costa Rica placed sixth worldwide and finished as the highest-ranked country outside Europe. Mexico also entered the top 10 in that category, giving Latin America two of the strongest showings in social well-being.
Costa Rica’s high happiness ranking was tied to the same qualities that have long shaped its international image: environmental protection, community well-being and access to universal healthcare. The country’s emphasis on conservation also remains a major part of its appeal, with protected areas covering more than a quarter of the national territory and new financing tools approved this year for the national protected-area system.
For expats and potential residents, the results point to a familiar tradeoff. Costa Rica continues to rank highly for quality of life, nature, social stability and health access, but it does not match wealthier European countries on income, infrastructure or affordability measures. That gap helps explain why our country performs better in happiness than in the overall immigration index.
Costa Rica also remains one of Latin America’s main receiving countries for migrants and refugees. The BTI 2026 country report estimates that migrants and refugees make up about 10% of the population, well above the regional average of 2%. Nicaraguans account for the large majority of Costa Rica’s foreign-born population.
The index does not mean Costa Rica is the easiest country to move to. Residency rules, work permits, income requirements and healthcare enrollment still depend on each applicant’s situation. But the ranking reinforces Costa Rica’s position as one of the region’s most attractive destinations for people seeking long-term quality of life rather than only higher salaries.
The result also comes at a time when Costa Rica’s reputation is under pressure from rising crime, infrastructure complaints and higher living costs in some expat-heavy areas. Even so, our country’s showing in happiness and social well-being suggests that its core appeal remains intact: a stable democracy, strong nature-based identity, established foreign-resident communities and a lifestyle that continues to draw people looking for a slower, community-centered place to live.
