Homes for rent in San José

Yes. In San José, foreign buyers have the same ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens over titled (fee-simple) property — you can own it outright in your own name, with no residency requirement. The one exception is beachfront inside the Maritime Zone.

The median monthly asking rent in San José is $1,600. There are 12,386 rentals available right now.

No. You can buy titled property without any residency or citizenship. An investment of $150,000 or more in property (a threshold temporarily reduced from $200,000) can, in fact, qualify you to apply for temporary residency as an investor.

A one-time 1.5% transfer tax at purchase, charged on the higher of the sale price and the registered fiscal value; then an annual property tax of 0.25% of registered value. Homes whose construction value exceeds the yearly luxury-home threshold (₡143 million for 2026, about $270,000) also pay the annual Solidarity — "luxury home" — tax on a sliding scale.

Both are common. Many buyers hold property in a Costa Rican corporation (S.A. or S.R.L.) for estate-planning and liability reasons; others hold it personally. A local attorney can advise which fits your situation.

A licensed notary (who in Costa Rica must be an attorney) handles the transfer and registers it with the Registro Nacional. Budget roughly 3.5–4% of the price for closing costs (transfer tax, legal fees and stamps). Buyers commonly use an escrow service — verify its SUGEF registration, which is anti-money-laundering oversight, not a guarantee of the funds.

Right now, San José listings for rent are mostly apartments / condos (5,838). Use the type filter to see only houses, apartments, lots or commercial units.