Costa Rica’s appeal to international buyers is evolving. Long celebrated for its natural beauty and relaxed way of life, the country is increasingly being recognized for something more consequential: its ability to attract globally mobile wealth.
The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2026 includes Costa Rica among its Global Wealth Mobility Leaders, with a Wealth Mobility Competitiveness Score of 70.2 out of 100. When the selected leaders are ordered by their published scores, Costa Rica places within the top 15 globally.
70.2 / 100
Costa Rica’s Wealth Mobility Competitiveness Score
Top 15
By published score among Henley’s selected 2026 leaders
The Global Wealth Mobility Leaders
Henley’s framework considers factors including investor access, institutional quality, rule of law, quality of life, geopolitical resilience and international optionality. The following are the 15 highest published scores among the jurisdictions identified by Henley as Global Wealth Mobility Leaders for 2026.
| Position by Score | Flag | Jurisdiction | Score / 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 79.5 | |
| 2 | New Zealand | 75.8 | |
| 3 | Cayman Islands | 74.3 | |
| 4 | Cyprus | 73.5 | |
| 5 | Netherlands | 72.8 | |
| 6 | Portugal | 72.5 | |
| 7 | Italy | 72.3 | |
| 8 | Bermuda | 72.0 | |
| 9 | Uruguay | 71.8 | |
| 10 | Latvia | 71.7 | |
| 11 | Panama | 71.5 | |
| 12 | Hong Kong | 71.2 | |
| 13 | Switzerland | 70.8 | |
| 14 | Greece | 70.5 | |
| 15 | Costa Rica | 70.2 |
Source: Henley & Partners, Private Wealth Migration Report 2026. Henley notes that its classifications are not intended as a formal league table or as a measure of actual millionaire inflows. Positions above simply order the published scores for clarity.
A Different Costa Rica Buyer Is Emerging
The significance goes beyond the score. Henley describes Costa Rica as an increasingly important destination for American and European high-net-worth families, pointing to political stability, institutional credibility, climate, quality of life and the country’s long-standing neutrality as part of its appeal.
That aligns with a transition already visible in the real estate market. Costa Rica’s international reputation was built in large part around adventure, surfing, eco-tourism and a more informal travel culture. Those qualities remain part of its character, but they are now complemented by a markedly more sophisticated buyer profile.
International families are increasingly evaluating Costa Rica not simply as somewhere to vacation, but as a place to establish a second residence, diversify geographically, invest in high-quality real estate and spend a meaningful portion of their year.
“We’ve seen a meaningful influx of high-net-worth clients looking to make Costa Rica home. This raises the standard across the board.”
— Clari Vega, Managing Partner, The Agency Costa Rica
For the luxury property market, this distinction matters. Buyers at this level tend to place greater emphasis on privacy, architecture, professional property management, international accessibility and long-term value. Prime communities in Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula, as well as established residential markets such as Escazú and Santa Ana in the Central Valley, are increasingly being considered within that wider global conversation.
From Destination to Long-Term Base
Costa Rica does not need to become a traditional financial center to compete for global wealth. Its proposition is different: stability paired with lifestyle, international connectivity and the ability to create a sophisticated home base in one of the world’s most distinctive natural settings.
The 2026 Henley report gives that proposition greater international context. For Costa Rica’s luxury real estate market, it also reinforces a trend already taking shape on the ground: the country is attracting buyers with increasingly global expectations.
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