Enter the numbers for any property or project, from any listing or offer. The model shows the equity you would need, the return you would earn, and what price, revenue or build cost you would need to hit your own target.
Read this first. The starting numbers are examples to show how the model works, not market data or forecasts. Fields tagged Sourced use a published figure (see the data table below). Fields tagged Your input are placeholders that you should replace with real quotes. Nothing here is investment, tax or legal advice.
The data behind the sourced fields
| Input | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wages, private sector (monthly equivalent, daily rate x 30) | Unskilled ₡373,092; semi-skilled ₡405,711; skilled ₡419,756; specialized ₡487,335 | Decree 45303-MTSS, in force 1 Jan 2026, via AG Legal. Check the official MTSS list before budgeting payroll. |
| Employer social charges | 26.83% of payroll | La Nación, December 2025 |
| Home build cost per m² | US$349 (La Unión) to US$727 (San José) by canton, first half of 2024 | INEC, reported by La Nación, February 2025. Dated; use a current contractor quote. |
| Tax on rental income, individuals | 15% after a 15% deduction, about 12.75% of gross rent | Global Property Guide, September 2026 |
| Municipal property tax | 0.25% of taxable value | Same source |
| Buyer closing costs | About 3.3% to 5% of price | See our land buyer's guide |
| Legal ceiling on ordinary dollar loans | 30.11% (second half of 2026) | Delfino, July 2026. A ceiling, not a market rate. |
Capital gains tax: the source we checked is inconsistent, so the exit-tax field is your own input. Confirm the treatment of your sale with a Costa Rican tax advisor.
The steps of an acquisition
- Set the target and the budget. Use the calculator above to find the highest price and the equity you can justify before you talk to a seller.
- Check the land. Water availability, protection zones and the maritime strip decide whether a lot can be built on. See the land guide.
- Check the title. Ask for a registry search, the surveyed plan and proof that taxes and dues are paid, and compare registered area with buildable area.
- If you are buying a business, review creditor notice, employee liability, permits and merger-control thresholds. See the hotel and business guide.
- Replace placeholders with quotes. Contractor bids, lender terms and operating history, then rerun the model.
- Make the offer through your attorney, with conditions tied to your checks.
- Close with a Costa Rican notary, register the transfer and set up taxes, insurance and permits.
- Track actuals against the model once you own the asset.
Data as of 18 October 2026. This tool is an illustration of how assumptions drive returns. It is not investment, tax or legal advice, it does not use or copy any agency listing, and its results are only as good as the numbers you enter. Use a Costa Rican attorney, notary and accountant before committing capital. See our Disclosures.